When Jeremy Medina got his driver’s license, he signed up to become an organ and tissue donor. Although a minor at the time, the Gainesville High School senior’s family has agreed to honor his decision.
Medina has been in a coma since suffering a “devastating head injury” during batting practice at his high school last month. On Sunday, doctors informed his family that he is brain-dead.
Gift of life
The young student-athlete, whose fate has been closely watched by friends and strangers alike, remains on life support at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. The hospital is arranging an honor walk so that those closest to him and the medical staff can say their final goodbyes ahead of his life-giving donation.
The Medina family held a press conference at the hospital on December 6 to share the news. And while it was not what people had hoped to hear, the family shouldered through with grace. They expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support they’ve received and conviction in their deep and abiding faith.
Jeremy’s uncle, Pastor Efrahim “Frank” Medina, read a statement from the family expressing heartbreak over Jeremy’s death. It also expressed hope for those who will benefit from his decision to be an organ donor.
“Not only will lives be saved and improved, the family members, friends, and communities of those who receive his organs and tissues will be forever impacted by the memories made possible thanks to a second chance at life,” the statement said. “Although his life ended so young, Jeremy’s legacy will continue through his selfless decision to give the gift of life.”
The family encouraged others to follow Jeremy’s example and become organ donors.
Medical assessment
Dr. Michael Cormican, Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s director of surgical critical care, joined in the press conference at the family’s request. He said the bat strike to the head Jeremy suffered on November 20 caused significant trauma, causing him to lose consciousness.
“As he lost consciousness, he lost the ability to maintain his airway, and that is what prompted the arrest that required CPR,” Cormican explained. He added that the sequence of medical events that followed “is not unique in these sort of significant head injuries and respiratory arrests.”
Jeremy’s medical team relied on a variety of procedures and protocols before declaring him brain-dead on the afternoon of December 3.
“We look for evidence of brain function which includes reflexes, breathing, things like that – things that happen without us consciously telling them to happen. And we also rely on imaging to assess blood flow to the brain.”
Breaking the news
The family has lived with the sad reality of Jeremy’s condition for days, and on Wednesday, Gainesville High School administrators broke the news to students and staff.
“With the blessing of the Medina family, we had the opportunity to speak directly to Jeremy’s teammates, to his coaches, and to his teachers at 10:15 this morning and inform them of this update in person,” said Gainesville High Principal Jamie Green. “They received the message in a private space surrounded by love and all the supports that we have available to them at the high school.”
The rest of the student body was notified after the press conference.
Green said counselors and social workers would be available to all students and staff “to support them for as long as need be.”
Strength rooted in faith
Both Green and Cormican acknowledged the Medina family’s faith, saying they were inspired by how the family has handled this tragedy.
“It’s been inspiring to see how they’ve handled this with grace and with prayerful thought,” said Cormican.
Speaking directly to Jeremy’s father, David, Principal Green said, “your leadership is about as good as an example as I’ve ever seen in my whole life, and it’s helped me lead this school community through this very challenging time.”
David Medina said his strength and that of his family “is rooted in Jesus Christ.” Without faith, he said, “There’s no other way that we would be able to be at this moment.”
“People around the world don’t even know my son, don’t even know my family, but they are together with us in prayer and supporting us at this moment,” he said.
Northeast Georgia Health System officials say they will announce the honor walk time so that those closest to Jeremy and the Medinas may attend. Due to limited space in the hospital hallways, they ask others to honor him at that moment, wherever they are.
The hospital will release a video of the honor walk after it’s concluded.
Before the press conference ended, Jeremy’s father shared several scriptures and devotions, one of which read, “This is what God is saying to you today; your testimony could be the very reason someone decides to keep fighting. Let me use you to help others. Your story to save a life.”
“There’s no other message that we are able to give everyone,” said Medina. “People around the world, we are very grateful for your prayer.”
WATCH MEDINA FAMILY PRESS CONFERENCE
