Oologah Meningitis Victim Undergoes Surgery in Ohio

News9.com

CINCINNATI, OH -- An Oologah School kindergartner had surgery Thursday morning as he takes another step on his long road to recovery.

Jeremiah Mitchell, a survivor of the Oologah meningitis outbreak in March, underwent skin graft surgery at the Shriners Hospitals For Children in Cincinnati.

The surgery began at 7:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. Oklahoma time) and wrapped up several hours later.

He is expected to be at the Ohio hospital for about a month before returning to Tulsa. Another surgery is scheduled for next week.

The 6-year-old had both legs and arms amputated at a Tulsa hospital last month and faces many more surgeries.

Upon arrival in Cincinnati earlier this week, Jeremiah was immediately placed in a specialized Intensive Care Unit.

NEWS 9 reporter Jeffrey Smith is with Jeremiah Mitchell's family in Cincinnati and will have a special interview with the family following Thursday's surgery on NEWS 9 at 10 p.m.

Cox Radio said the fundraiser it hosted on behalf of the family on Wednesday has now raised more than $70,000.

3/31/2010 Related story: Tulsa Area FOPs, Shriners Raise Funds For Jeremiah Mitchell

The fundraiser lasted less than four hours Wednesday morning and was staffed by employees of AM 740 and FM 102.3 NewsTalk KRMG, F&M Bank and members of the Fraternal Order of Police from the Tulsa area, including Tulsa, Jenks, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Glenpool, Bixby and Collinsville.

A fund has also been set up for the Mitchell family at Lakeside State Bank in Oologah. Call (918) 443-2474 to donate or mail donations to:

Jeremiah Mitchell Fund
c/o Lakeside State Bank
Box 190

More on News9.com: Oologah Boy Arrives At Ohio Hospital For Facial Reconstruction Surgery | Facial Reconstruction Surgery Planned For Oologah Boy Stricken With Meningitis