Please pray for Michael.
Hello friends and family,
Today is Wednesday, December 12th. Michael is in critical, life threatening condition. He has been heavily sedated for the last 14 days while supported by a ventilator and an oxygenation machine called ECMO, as he fights like hell to rid his body of infection and virus. Michael is in the thoracic ICU at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, getting the absolute best care in the world.
We have decided to create this website as a call for prayers and as a place to provide updates on Michael's condition. For an outline of how we got here today, please feel free to read the previous journal entry that details Michael's condition from November 13th through December 1st.
On December 1st, we received 2 diagnoses: HLH and the adenovirus. At this time, doctors emphasized that this will be a long process with many ups and downs. This has certainly proved true. Since December 1st, doctors have changed course and believe that Michael in fact may not have HLH. They have pulled back on that treatment (which was a chemo-like drug that suppressed his immune system), and are now focusing solely on defeating the adenovirus. In the past couple of weeks, the virus levels were rising (from 30 million up to 115 million). After three doses of medicine, the levels have lowered to 95 million. We pray they continue to decline.
Ridding Michael of the adenovirus is the primary concern right now. We are also concerned about Michael's low blood pressure, the large amounts of fluid inside and outside the left lung, as well as preventing and treating secondary infections.
Recognizing the gravity of Michael's condition, we remain positive. We are confident in the doctors' treatment plans. The doctors are encouraged by Michael's youth - he is a young, healthy, strong 19 year old. We will continue to provide updates here on a weekly basis. We are very grateful so many of you want to help us during this time - what we ask for is unceasing prayer for Michael's healing. Thank you.
Comments (22)
Dear Sarah and Family, Tom and Will just told us about Michael and our hearts are sick. We have put Michael on the prayer list at St. David's Episcopal Church where he will be prayed for on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. He is, as well, in our personal prayers. Hugs and love to you all. Keith and Cathy Zub...and family.
Sarah and family, Jack just let me know and my heart is full of well wishes and prayers for Mike and all of you. Sending strength. Paula Reetz and family
Heavily praying for Michael. Thinking and praying for you all. ❤️ All our Loveand Prayers - The Dermignys
Praying for Mike and all the family. Prayers, candles and love to all of you. The Aaskovs and Whitneys
Sarah, Faith, Timmy, Spencer, and Melissa- My heart is with you all and I am thinking of you often. Please know that we are here for whatever you may need. Prayers and hugs to you all. xoxo.
Melissa, The Teravainen Family is thinking of you and praying for Mike every day. 🙏 Kate
Dear Meads Family, You are all in our thoughts and prayers throughout the days. If there is anything we can do, please let us help. Sending love from Kate and the Sessler family
Dear, Sweet Melissa, Spencer, Faith, Sarah, Tim, Michael, & Tom: We want you to know that our hearts are hurting for each of you as you travel this unsteady, uncertain road, & scarey road together. * I included Michael in this comment because even though physically, he is unable to read this, I know his spirit is receiving all the Grace & Blessings that are being poured out upon him & into the deep recesses of his very being. *** I truly believe that Prayer is the Greatest Power we have on Earth! Myself, Julianne, Jon, Jenna & her family, along with Lauren & hers, my 2 sisters, 52 members of the St. Julian Prayer Chain, and Fr. Tran & other parishioners from Precious Blood Parish in Culpeper are all Praying that Michael Meads’ condition will take a BOLD turn & continue to improve until he returns to fullness of HEALTH- body, soul & spirit. **We started praying as soon as we heard of Michael’s condition, & will not stop until he is fully recovered & well. 2 scripture passages that may be meaningful : ** “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me” * “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —-Philippians 4:6-7 We love you all dearly, & trust in His Loving Care. The Brick Family💞🙏🏻
Tommy told us the news...Sending prayers of healing strength and love to Mike and family. He is in our constant prayers and thoughts. Elaine, Chris Madden and family
We are praying for you all.
Faith. Such a simple word. It can also be a name. Just like Grace, Joy, and Hope. My connection to the Meads family is fittingly through Faith. I recently came across this about Faith: "Faith is hard and does not come easily. Just like the muscles of the body, faith must be exercised to grow. You may go one inch the first day, two inches the second day, three inches the third, etc. Just like with any other activity into which you are growing, faith must be exercised every day." This song by Michael W. Smith called "Do it Again" brought me much comfort during my own crisis. I pray it over Michael: "Walking around these walls I thought by now they'd fall But You have never failed me yet Waiting for change to come Knowing the battle's won For You have never failed me yet Your promise still stands Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness I'm still in Your hands This is my confidence, You've never failed me yet I know the night won't last Your Word will come to pass My heart will sing Your praise again Jesus, You're still enough Keep me within Your love My heart will sing Your praise again Your promise still stands Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness I'm still in Your hands This is my confidence, You never failed Your promise still stands Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness I'm still in Your hands This is my confidence, You never failed me yet" This prayer warrior has you all lifted up. Feel surrounded by our love and prayers. Jackie Doyle
Jacquelyn Doyle, what a heart warming comment. Faith is built one request, one inch as you noted at a time. My faith states Michael is in His hands. Thank you for reminding us.
I am Brainna Adams a twirler of susan plas,and a senior at kennebunk high school , I just want to say we are all praying for Micheal and your family.
Sarah-my son Donnie is a friend of Michael’s at Wisconsin and my husband enjoyed hanging out with Michael and Donnie when he was up visiting Donnie in the fall. Your family has been constantly in my thoughts since Donnie told me about Michael’s condition. We are praying for Michael. Love, Kathy Dockery
Sending you, Michael and your entire family, friends and hospital staff prayers, love and the strength to overcome this terrible battle you are fighting. My heart is with you all. ❤️
Dear Meads family, I am a fraternity brother of Phi Gamma Delta and have had the pleasure of getting to know Michael this semester. It is the utmost desire of the entire chapter that Michael make a successful recovery so that he may return to school as the confident, and bright young man that he is. We send our prayers and thoughts to him and your family during this time. Herald Park
The Fry family is sending love to you all...prayers for Micheal and family..stay strong. Praying God wraps his arms around Micheal and will carry him until he is strong enough to make it on his own. We will light a candle in church and puts him down in the prayer book...
Dear Meads family, Our family Jane (Monette) and Chris Jones and our boys, David, Christopher and Brendan, are keeping you in our prayers, about to pray a Rosary right now for Michael. We love you and are hoping for a full recovery. We will also offer our Masses, prayers and next few days for his recovery. God Bless and keep you all in his care. I am also going to send this out to everyone I know, and ask for many prayers for him.
We are sending lots of love and prayers. The whole class of Abbey’18 and all current Abbey students and families are saying prayers. His dorm has been praying, and we joined the mass at school for him. All our hearts are with you, Beth, Colin, Karl, Ian, and Thais Jackson
Our hearts are so heavy. I pray for Michaels recovery. God bless you all. Love The Taggarts. Greg, Michelle and Chris.
Prayers from all the Falvey's for Mike, for his family, and for the doctors that are treating him. He is also on the prayer list for a powerful rosary group in our parish -- May God watch over Michael and give him the strength and ability to heal - Love Deb, Chris , MaryBeth and Ted
Many prayers for mike , his family and friends and caregivers. May the love and prayers of so many bring healing, comfort and strength to you all. Susan Colinet