On September 14th, my sweet 4-year-old brother, Messiah, went from having what seemed like a simple cold to fighting for his life within hours. His condition worsened so quickly—he became unable to walk or talk, began experiencing terrifying delusions, and suffered multiple seizures.

After being rushed to Cabell Hospital, tests revealed he had rhinovirus, an extremely high white blood cell count of 20k, and symptoms that pointed to meningitis. He was admitted to the PICU, where a lumbar test confirmed the heartbreaking diagnosis: bacterial meningitis—a disease that is uncommon today, but still so dangerous.

Even though Messiah is vaccinated, his immune system is weak, which left him vulnerable to this infection. Doctors believe the rhinovirus may have entered his bloodstream or brain, triggering the meningitis. Now, Messiah’s heart rhythm is irregular, requiring cardiology testing, and he’s undergoing MRI scans to check for swelling or fluid in his brain. His recovery will be long and difficult. He must remain on IV antibiotics and steroids for at least 21 days, with more testing ahead to understand his immune system.

Bacterial meningitis is a very serious illness. Even with the best treatment, it can leave long-term health challenges such as hearing loss, cognitive difficulties, and learning disabilities. We don’t yet know how long Messiah and my mom will be in the hospital, but we do know the road to recovery will be long and uncertain.

Messiah is the smartest, sweetest boy I know. He lights up every room he enters, loves everyone he meets, and has a gentle spirit that would never harm a soul. Seeing him endure this painful, frightening illness has been gut-wrenching for all of us. Even more heartbreaking is watching my mother stay by his side, hour by hour, not knowing what each moment may bring.

Because this will be such a long hospital stay, my mother must take a leave from work to care for her baby boy full time. While Messiah’s father, James, is continuing to work, he cannot carry the heavy financial burden of hospital bills, medications, and living expenses on his own. I created this fundraiser to help relieve some of the financial stress—covering costs such as Messiah’s treatments, medications, and daily needs—so they don’t need to worry about bills while focusing on what truly matters: Messiah’s healing and recovery.

Every donation, no matter the amount, is a blessing. If you cannot give, please share this page and keep Messiah in your prayers. If you’re not comfortable donating through GoFundMe, contributions can also be sent directly through:

CashApp: $Jnatty812

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for supporting our family during this unimaginably difficult time.