Parents say Joliet teen who died from COVID-19 was a curious kid who liked corny jokes

Last month marked a year since 18-year-old Caitlin Whisnant died from COVID-19.

The Joliet resident was one of the youngest COVID-19 victims in Will County. As of this month, the Will County Health Department has reported that three teenagers have died from COVID-19.

Whisnant’s father, Jody Whisnant, and stepmother, Kristin Whisnant, described Caitlin as a curious and intelligent kid who like corny jokes.

“She was really on the cusp of adulthood and independence and starting to grow. ... She was a wonderful young woman,” Jody said.

Caitlin was born in 2002 in Tennessee, where Jody worked in information technology. Growing up, he said, she was a sweet and sensitive kid.

When Caitlin was 7 years old, her birth mother, Angela, unexpectedly died from what Jody said was a heart attack.

Before Angela’s death, Jody and Kristin had met in an online support group meant to help the loved ones of individuals with chronic illness. Despite never actually meeting in person, Kristin said, she and Jody became much closer after his wife’s death.

He and Caitlin eventually visited Kristin and her kids in Joliet. Jody and Kristin fell in love, got married and tried to blend their families.

Jody got another IT job in Chicago and moved in with Kristin in 2010. Kristin’s kids all were older than Caitlin, but they said she easily transitioned from being an only child to the youngest of five. One of Kristin’s four children, Natalie Zychal, 22, said she and Caitlin grew particularly close.

“I kind of felt like we were a family right from the beginning,” Zychal said. “Having Caitlin made everything more fun for me.”

From an early age, Caitlin had a knack for math and science. Her parents said she joined a robotics club in middle school and even wanted to study virology or immunology in graduate school. Jody said all of Caitlin’s siblings were high academic achievers, so she didn’t have to look far for inspiration.

“We tried to encourage them, not force them, into whatever their interests were,” he said.

After her freshman year at Plainfield Central High School, Caitlin was accepted into the prestigious Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora.

To attend IMSA, Caitlin had to live on campus. While Caitlin was able to handle her classes, her parents said she faced health challenges because of a rare genetic immune disorder, which made her more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.

Her parents decided to bring Caitlin home and re-enroll her at Plainfield Central.

Caitlin was hospitalized multiple times because of her condition. Despite the challenge, Caitlin’s interest in science was apparent even during her many visits with doctors.

Her parents said she didn’t need them to speak for her when discussing the particulars of the disease. They said Caitlin’s curiosity and knowledge of science allowed doctors to discuss the particulars of her condition with her in great detail.

“She was very articulate, able to express herself and communicate what she was feeling,” Kristin said.

Jody added, “It was really neat to see.”

Jody said he thinks Cailtin’s interest in virology and immunology likely came from having her condition.

“I think she was very interested and curious about how it worked,” he said.

Last year, when the pandemic hit and schools and businesses began to close, Jody said the family decided to ride out the lockdown together in their Joliet home. Zychal came home from college and worked remotely.

Jody said the family was taking the pandemic seriously. They designated Kristin’s eldest daughter’s house in Aurora as the place to quarantine in the event anyone fell ill.

It didn’t take long for Caitlin to start feeling sick, and both she and Kristin tested positive for COVID-19. Both went to stay in the other house.

While Caitlin had chest pains and felt fatigued, a few days after testing positive, it seemed she was feeling better.

But on April 18, Jody said, he spoke to Caitlin on a video call. He recalled her saying, “Daddy, I feel fine. I’m just tired.”

Just a few minutes later, Jody and Kristin were talking on the phone. Kristin went to the bedroom where Caitlin was to ask her a question, where she saw her lying on the floor and looking blue in the face.

Jody said Kristin called 911 and tried to resuscitate Caitlin.

“At that point there was nothing to be done,” he said. “It was that quick.”

Caitlin had turned 18 just 13 days before.

While they aren’t certain what caused her death, Jody said it might have been due to a blood clot, which other COVID-19 patients have experienced. Jody said the Will County Coroner’s Office could not perform a full autopsy because, at the time, the morgue there was not equipped to handle COVID-19 cases.

In the months after her death, the Whisnants said it’s been difficult to watch so many people flout public health guidance and downplay the danger.

“It’s been very frustrating over the last year to watch people not take it seriously,” Jody said.

In recent weeks, the Whisnants all got vaccinated, something Kristin said was an emotional experience considering they had lost Caitlin to COVID-19.

Jody said Caitlin’s death has left them depressed and grief-stricken, something they hope no other family has to endure.

“We’re all kind of walking wounded because there’s this big hole in our lives,” he said.