Jeremiah Mitchell Adjusting To Life After Meningitis

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TALALA, OK -- Jeremiah Mitchell continues to amaze his family, friends and doctors. The 6-year-old Talala boy is recovering at home before going back to Ohio for a checkup, then on to St. Louis to be fitted for prosthetics.

6/19/2010 Related Story: Jeremiah Mitchell Attends Fundraiser For Oologah Meningitis Victims

It's truly an impressive scene. Ninety-six days after having his arms and legs amputated Jeremiah Mitchell can walk across the floor.

"He's my hero," Andrea Mitchell, Jeremiah's aunt, said. "He's the strongest, bravest little boy I have ever met."

And this brave little boy is starting to lead a normal life.

"Yeah, I'm Tails now," he said.

He's mastering Sonic the Hedgehog, no problems maneuvering the controller. He even schooled me on the finer points of the game.

"Yeah, because I'm on a different level," Jeremiah said. "Every time you get on a different level you're a different person."

He's even learning how to write with the help of a special adapter and encouragement from mom.

Michaela Mitchell, Jeremiah's mother: "You wrote me nice, pretty things yesterday. You were drawing me hearts."

Jeremiah Mitchell, six-years old: "I like drawing and coloring books."

Jeremiah's story and the tragic death of two Oologah elementary school children from bacterial meningitis has touched thousands of lives across the country.

"We got Rockford, Ohio, Havana, Kansas, Atlanta, Georgia, and Lakefield, Florida," said Gidget Mitchell, Jeremiah's grandmother.

The Mitchell's have received hundreds of letters and cards from complete strangers; even Oklahoma sports celebrities, offering encouragement and prayer.

The letters and cards have been filled with phrases like "Thinking of you and praying for you and your folks every day,"; "May God walk beside you always, just call on him and he will be with you always"; "You are a real blessing and a miracle"; "We have followed your story and want you to know that we are praying for you daily."

"We got Steve Owens, Bill Simms, and Jason White," Gidget Mitchell said.

Loretta Richardson is another one of those strangers. She's been watching Jeremiah's story from her home in Inola. She was so touched she made a do-rag and handkerchief and plans to make dozens more. Her reason is simple.

"To bring a little sun in his life," she said.

"I can't believe the outpour and people and how caring," Andrea Mitchell said. "I don't even know what to say."

The compassion and the love mean more than Jeremiah's family can say, but they're confident it's the driving force behind his amazing recovery.

"It gives you strength and courage because so many people love and praying him and that's why he's doing so well," Gidget Mitchell said.

Jeremiah will go to the Shriner's Hospital in Cincinnati July 7th for a checkup. Then goes to St. Louis for physical therapy and to begin the process of getting his prosthetics.

6/18/2010 Related Story: Oologah Meningitis Survivor Returns Home