Oologah Student Stricken With Meningitis To Have Multiple Amputations

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- Six-year-old Jeremiah Mitchell, the Oologah student hospitalized from bacterial meningitis, had surgery Wednesday to have all four limbs amputated, according to his grandmother Carolyn Mitchell.

She says the second grader had been placed in a medically induced coma and doctors amputated his arms above the elbows and his legs above the knees.  

Mitchell tells The News On 6, she is Carolyn is very hopeful that with the advancement in prosthetics, Jeremiah will be able to adapt.

3/21/2010 Related Story: Oologah-Talala Students Return To Class Monday Following Meningitis Outbreak

Mitchell said her grandson was out of the coma but on heavy pain medication as of Thursday morning.

An account has been set up at Lakeside State Bank in Oologah to help Jeremiah's family with medical bills.  The account is called "Jeremiah Mitchell."

Checks can be sent to the bank at Box 190 Oologah, Oklahoma, 74053.

"People can donated anonymously but if they want to leave their names, that would be great, too," said Lakeside Bank employee Kelley Rivera.

"The family wants to send thank you cards.  People really care, and the family appreciates that."

Donations can also be dropped off at the bank's physical address: 12602 S. Highway 169 in Oologah.

Two other students, 7-year-old Andrew Thomas and 8-year-old Shuache Moua, died in the meningitis outbreak.