Paying Tribute to Mary Elizabeth Manville

Our world turned upside down on February 27th when our beloved 19-year-old niece, daughter, granddaughter and cousin, Mary Elizabeth, fell critically ill and has been on life support since. Mary Elizabeth had just begun the second semester of her first year on scholarship at Indiana University where she has been studying ballet, her love since she was three, and she had just made a 4.0 in her first semester. However, what was originally thought to be pneumonia has now been diagnosed as an extremely rare form of vasculitis called Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis presenting with Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage.

Mary Elizabeth's condition has been life-threatening and she has required ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a form of life support, due to her trouble with the functioning of her heart and lungs. She is being heavily sedated to rest and allow her body to heal. Her journey has not been without significant complications as she has experienced blood clots and issues with her organs functioning, requiring over 7 specialists to be involved in her overall treatment. Mary Elizabeth is receiving excellent medical care at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, and we are incredibly thankful for the work their staff is doing. Given her condition, each day that she is still with us is a blessing and we are mindful of that fact.

We are humbly asking for any assistance you can give to support Mary Elizabeth and her family during this difficult time. As we keep our hopes alive that Mary Elizabeth will recover fully, the reality is that she has a long road to recovery ahead of her, including a lengthy hospitalization, rehabilitation, and other healthcare needs for the rest of her life when she comes through this. Mary Elizabeth has always been a strong and resilient individual, and we are confident that with the support of her loved ones, the excellent medical care she is receiving, and her determination, she will overcome this challenge. When she is able at times, she has shown us her continued resilience through hand movements or nods. These simple events let us know she is continuing to fight for her life.

Your generous donations will go towards easing the financial burden of Mary Elizabeth's hospitalization, treatment, and ongoing care. We are grateful for anyone who can take a moment to give, and in turn, energetically support and will her to recovery. We also ask for your prayers for Mary Elizabeth's full and speedy recovery. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.