Hi there!

If you don’t know me, my name is Mikayla Falteisek. I’m 20 years old, 2 weeks away from graduating at UMD with degrees in psychology and cognitive science. My parents are Michael and Tara Falteisek. Sunday, April 14th I drove up back to college at UMD, only for my mom to say she called 911 and my dad was getting taken to United Hospital in St. Paul. If this is your first time hearing of this and you are close with anyone in the Falteisek family, please do not take offense. We have been focusing on surviving.

On Sunday, Dad was all ready to go golfing with mom, and I had just left to go back to Duluth. Then it started with a severe headache, then bad flu like symptoms, where my mom called 911 and he got rushed to St. Paul. He ended up having a seizure once he arrived at the hospital, which led to a medically induced coma with heavy sedation, pain medication, and intubation in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit. Monday through Friday was all just trying to figure out what the hell was going on with him with infectious specialists, ENT doctors, and medical directors within the unit.

After a 6 hour MRI on his brain and spine, numerous CT scans, 2 spinal taps/lumbar punctures, lots of medical care, and family and friends visiting him, they finally found out that he had bacterial meningitis. In layman’s terms, inflammation of the brain. Still unsure where it came from.

Thursday, April 18th, after 4 full days of sleep, they lightened my dad’s sedation and he started suddenly wanting to talk and write and was so responsive and expressive. He started fighting the ventilator, so it was time to wean off of it!

As of Friday, April 19th, he was no longer intubated. He was breathing, eating, and learning to walk on his own. The first things said were “Oh my god”, and “Baby I am back!” and we will never forget him flirting with the nurses while high off fentanyl.

As we learned my dad was getting out of the ICU, my mom started feeling tight pain in her chest and right arm, which spread to her shoulder and jaw. I led her to the emergency room to get blood drawn. High levels of troponin were found, detecting blockage in her heart leading to a heart attack. It is highly likely the attack was stress-induced. We got a room overnight in the emergency department due to no beds available in the hospital. At the moment she is getting tested, waiting for an actual room, all while smiling and telling jokes.

We are still learning more every minute. I am learning more every minute, about these events and about myself. All I want is for a healthy rest of 2024. Everyone in my life has been so supportive and compassionate, it makes us emotional seeing the amount of love you have given us. So I am not asking for much, we simply need expenses for meals, gas money, rehabilitation/therapy, and making these changes within our lifestyle to be healthier. This is such a scary time. My mind can’t fathom the amount of expenses all of this will be, so anything helps.

I appreciate you all and much love,

Mikayla