DeLIVERance: Micah's Transplant Journey - *click here*

Hi everyone, and thank you for checking in on Micah. Your support means more than we can say. Many of you saw the first update my mom shared on Facebook, and because things are moving quickly—and we can’t respond individually—we’re using this space as the central hub for updates.

Here’s what’s happening right now.

What Happened

Late last week, Micah got very sick. One of his closest friends—and roommate—recognized the danger and got him to the ER. That decision likely saved his life.

At the hospital, doctors discovered advanced liver failure and early kidney issues. Because of the severity, he was transferred to Largo, a transplant-capable hospital.

Micah will ultimately need a liver transplant to survive. Right now, he’s not eligible yet—there are medical, physical, and logistical requirements we are working through. He is in critical condition, but we’ve seen some encouraging progress.

Current Medical Overview

1. Liver & GI Bleeding

• Micah initially had a major upper gastrointestinal bleed, which caused significant blood loss.
• Good news: as of two nights ago, the bleeding has stopped! 🎉
• He’s now getting nutrients through a newly placed Dobhoff tube (a feeding tube that bypasses the stomach and enters into the small intestine directly, which we’re hoping helps him regain some strength.
• His bilirubin is elevated due to liver dysfunction, which has given him the unmistakable hue of…Bart Simpson. Yes, it’s yellow. Yes, it's shocking. We've come up with a few jokes surrounding his color. We'd love to hear yours!

2. Lungs & Pneumonia

• Some blood from the GI bleed entered his airway and left lung, causing respiratory distress.
• He’s developed pneumonia, which has delayed extubation. We were hoping he could come off the ventilator yesterday, but that will have to wait.
• The team is closely monitoring him and providing care to help him fight the infection.

3. Kidney Function

• A bright spot: Micah’s kidneys have improved significantly since arrival. For how sick he was, this is huge. We are very grateful.

4. Neurological Status

• We’ve seen positive signs in his responsiveness:
  • Nods “yes”
  • Classic Micah eyebrow raise (with a hint of humor)
  • Gives a thumbs up
  • Wiggles toes on command
  • And he seems to be a bit more calm with music playing. So on the little TV, we have constant MTV tunes and music videos. I'm not sure if those have been more entertaining for Micah or for us.
• These small victories feel enormous and give us hope.

From Our Family

We are overwhelmed by your support. Friends and family have filled the hallways with encouragement, and the hospital staff has noticed. His support system is truly incredible.

We’re considering a GoFundMe as needs grow. If we do, we’ll share it here.

Next Steps

Before Micah can be extubated, he needs:

• Higher oxygen levels
• Pneumonia under control
• Enough strength to stay alert and responsive

Once he’s able to come off the ventilator, the liver team can step in and treat his liver more aggressively. For now, we’re focusing on these critical steps to get him strong enough for the next phase of treatment.

Moving Forward

This blog will remain the central spot for updates. Things change fast, and while we may not respond to every message, we read them all and feel every bit of love you send.

Micah is not okay. He's fighting for his life. We are fighting too. We remain hopeful and grateful.

Thank you for your prayers, good thoughts & vibes, compassion, and support for my brother. It means the world to our family.

We’ll keep updating as we can.

-Hannah (Sassdur, Stupah)