Memorial Details and Obituary

Dear Friends and Family,


For those of you located in KC, you can find a full obituary in Wednesday's Lee's Summit Journal and an abbreviated version in the Kansas City Star.  We've also included the copy at the end of this post.


We are looking forward to celebrating Michael's life this Saturday, and we are grateful to share that the United Methodist Women group will be organizing a lunch following the service (potluck details below).  We welcome your presence and thank you for spreading the word:

A Celebration for Michael Smith Hill
Saturday, October 1
Visitation from 9am-Noon
Memorial Service from Noon -1pm
Lunch starting at 1pm
Lee's Summit United Methodist Church
114 SE Douglas St, Lee's Summit


In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations to the following causes:

• Nicaragua Missions at Lee's Summit United Methodist Church (Payable to LSUMC, Memo: Nicaragua in Memory of Michael Hill, 114 SE Douglas St, Lees Summit, MO 64063)
• Triangle Fraternity Education Foundation (Memo: In Memory of Michael Hill, 120 S. Center Street, Plainfield, Indiana, 46168)

ISU students and out-of-town relatives: our many local friends have opened their homes to you. To set up a homestay, contact Tracey Cook at cooks7894@gmail.com

Volunteering and Potluck Details for the Memorial Service:  Please contact Rachel at randrisevic@reachingthesummit.com in order to sign-up for potluck food or hosting/greeting at the service and/or the lunch.  Food/Desserts could be brought to LSUMC as early as Friday from 8:30 am - 8 pm or anytime on Saturday morning before the lunch.

Here is Michael's obituary:

MICHAEL SMITH HILL, 23,fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. A 2007 graduate of Lee's Summit High School, and student in Community and Regional Planning and member of Triangle Fraternity at Iowa State University, Michael passed away on September 17, concluding a 21 month battle with Lymphoma and complications from a stem cell transplant. Throughout his battle, Michael remained faithful to the Lord and never stopped fighting. Michael Smith Hill was the cherished son of Mark Lee Hill and Brenda Smith Hill and brother of Melissa Renee Hill. He is also survived by his paternal grandmother Betty Marshall Hill and maternal grandparents Kathleen Smith Harness and Jay Harness. Visitation from 9am-Noon and a Memorial Service at Noon will be held on October 1 at Lee's Summit United Methodist Church. Donations can be made in Michael's honor to the Nicaragua Missions at Lee's Summit United Methodist Church (Payable to LSUMC, Memo: Nicaragua, 114 SE Douglas St, Lees Summit, MO 64063) and to Triangle Fraternity Education Foundation (120 S. Center Street, Plainfield, Indiana, 46168).

As always, we thank you for your support of Michael throughout his journey.  Saturday will be a difficult day, but we welcome the opportunity to meet with you in fellowship and celebrate Michael.  God bless you.

Memorial Contribution Information

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

An obituary for Michael will be coming out this Wednesday, but we wanted to respond to several questions we have received about making contributions in Michael's honor.  Mike was a loving and compassionate young man, and we believe a charitable gift is a fantastic way to honor his memory.

Reflecting on Michael's most impactful experiences as a young man, we have identified 2 charitable donation opportunities that we feel celebrate his life.  In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations to the following causes:

• Nicaragua Missions at Lee's Summit United Methodist Church (Payable to LSUMC, Memo: Nicaragua in Memory of Michael Hill, 114 SE Douglas St, Lees Summit, MO 64063)
• Triangle Fraternity Education Foundation (Memo: In Memory of Michael Hill, 120 S. Center Street, Plainfield, Indiana, 46168)

Michael's mission to Nicaragua was one of the most poignant and spiritual experiences of his life; and we continue to marvel at the stories his fellow mission-goers relate to us of the dedication and maturity Michael demonstrated during his time there.

As a member of the Triangle Fraternity (an academic fraternity for architects, engineers, and scientists) at Iowa State University, Michael found a community of welcoming and supportive peers that helped him to excel academically and socially.  Through Triangle, Michael received immeasurable opportunities to develop as a leader and a developing professional.

Both of these causes continue to offer these same opportunities to those who seek them, and financial support of them is a meaningful way to honor the significance they brought to Michael's life.  Thank you for considering a gift in Michael's name.

PS: Several individuals have inquired about supporting the medical and environmental-testing expenses incurred by the family during Michael's long illness.  Please note that if you choose to give a personal gift to the family it is not tax-deductible (unlike the gifts described above).

Memorial Service Info

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

We want to sincerely thank you for your incredible support and love.  We have received visits, calls, cards,meals  and prayers from so many of our friends, family, and church family.  Michael's friends are sending us pictures and stories of their time with Michael.  And our pastor Jim Preisig has beautifully contemplated the blessing of Michael's life in his blog: http://www.jimpreisig.com/

In the midst of mourning, making arrangements, and meeting with friends and family, it is easy to become overwhelmed, but we have received such amazing support that we have been able to move through this time as a family.

We are glad to extend this invitation to Michael's Memorial Service.  Michael was friendly, kind, and compassionate; and so was loved by many.  Please help us spread the word about the service.

A Celebration for Michael Smith Hill
Saturday, October 1
Visitation from 9am-Noon
Memorial Service from Noon -1pm
Lee's Summit United Methodist Church
114 SE Douglas St, Lee's Summit
(more details to follow)

For our out of town visitors and visiting students from Iowa State University, we have many loving friends who have opened their homes to you.  If you need a place to stay while visiting for the service, please contact Tracey Cook at cooks7894@gmail.com

Many people have asked us if there is anything to do during this time.  We have updated our care calendar with some additional needs for the next few weeks.  We always appreciate your prayers, and we would love to see you at the memorial.


http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/82346
CALENDAR ID : 82346
SECURITY CODE : 5377


Quick Note: we do have a pressing need on the CareCalendar scheduled for tomorrow.  There is a lovely journal there we would like to use for our sign-in book at the Memorial, and we think they are running low.  Please sign-up for it if this is something you can do (details in the calendar item).

Thank you so much, and God bless you.

Finally Home

Dear Friends and Family,

It is with sad yet faithful hearts that we share that Michael went to be with the Lord this evening.

Surrounded by his loving family and close friends, and hearing the comforting words of calling pastor Rich Olson, Michael passed peacefully and without pain.

Through the past few days, friends and family have visited Michael, sharing stories with us and with Michael.  Even more have posted on his FaceBook, and Mike's dear friend James has read them to Mike.  We also know many unseen souls have kept us close to their hearts in their thoughts and prayers.  For all of this support and love, we are grateful.

Many tears will be shed for his absence, but Michael was assured of his salvation through Christ.  His passing takes his daily presence from us, but we know he is freed of his imperfections and of the pain he has endured these many months.  He is now free to be the beautiful and perfect child of God he was meant to be.

In the coming days, we will be planning a Memorial Service so that we can share and celebrate Michael's blessed life.  When this information becomes available, we ask you assistance getting the word out.

Michael was an extravagant blessing in our lives.  We are grateful for the time we had with him, and grateful for our opportunity to celebrate it with you.  Thank you, dear friends.

Giving It All to God

Dear Friends and Family,

As you have seen in our past few blogs, Mike has steadily been losing his reflexes and responses.  His CTs, EEGs, and MRIs have confirmed that he has increasing amounts of brain damage, and our neurologists believe it is irreversible damage.

In order to establish any activity in the brain, the neurologist conducted a series of tests today, to which he received no response from Michael.  They pronounced him brain dead this afternoon.

We have began our care consults with the palliative nurse on staff at research, and on the basis of this diagnosis, the doctors have to alter the care given to Michael.  He can't continue to receive valuable blood products from local blood banks, and they will be reducing the amount of medical support.  His body is still alive under high levels of medical support, but his brain has stopped.  His blood pressure is currently precarious, and his tired body is fragile.  

One of our wonderful caring pastors, Rich Olson came to the hospital this afternoon.  He read a passage which spoke to our hearts:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  (2 Timothy 4: 7-8)

Although Mike is still on high levels of medical support, he could leave us at any time.  Tomorrow we will be removing the rest of the support, and we think he will leave us shortly after that, though it could be longer.

We love and cherish Michael and the precious time we have had with him.  We thank God for his blessings on this family, and his gift of Michael Smith Hill to us.

Latest Test Results

Dear friends and family, thank you for your touching support and love.

Since our last post, Mike has not shown any further signs of waking up or regaining his reflexes.  While we are still waiting for all of the results of the lumbar puncture last week, none of the current results are helping us understand what has caused his condition.

Our doctors have performed several tests to assess his neural status.  An EEG shows a slowing of the neural processes, especially in relation to the previous EEG.  And a CT scan shows additional brain damage since last week's scans.  Neither test shows the cause of the symptoms, but they do confirm that his neural state is not improving.  Although the cause is not known, the doctors are not optimistic that he could recover from the damage.

Mike's heart rate is better, but his blood pressure varies greatly and he sometimes requires higher support from the ventilator.

We have an MRI planned for Friday, which may be able to give us greater detail of his neural status.

We continue our prayers for Michael's care and wellbeing, and we are working to ensure that someone is always with him.  Thank you so much for your support and fellowship.

Waiting for More Test Results

Hello to everyone.  Since Michael has been back in the ICU, he has not been waking up any more.  Michael had a lumbar puncture last Friday.  Some of the results are back, some may take a week or two longer to find the results.  So far, nothing has come back as positive and the doctors have had differing views as to if what he has is related to an infection.  
So far he is being covered for infections in case something comes up and also for an auto immune reaction.  
Michael will be having more tests as well later this week.  The doctors have not been encouraged that he is not responding more.
So we can't tell you how much all of your prayers have meant to us as we wait for Michael to wake up and for more test results.  We thank you for all of your prayers for Michael to wake up, for all infections to clear, for his kidney function to return and for all the prayers for his healing.
Thank you so much!!

Worrying Changes in the Brain + Back in the ICU

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

Today has been a long day.  We started the day on the fourth floor.  Mike had trouble maintaining his blood pressure, and when it got to low he was moved to the ICU.  When they did an assessment in the ICU they found he was not exhibiting the responses and reflexes he should, specifically did not have a corneal reflex. 

This can be a very serious problem, as the corneal reflex is controlled by the brainstem, which controls such basic functions as breathing.  So the doctors did many tests today including a CT and an MRI with contrast.  The scans showed different results than we have seen in the past.   There are visible changes in the brain, showing areas near the brainstem, the temporal lobe, back of the midbrain, and the occipital lobes that seem to have restricted water distribution.  They are not sure what is causing them, but they seem to be changes that have been made over time since our last scans.  They are also not sure the status of these areas where the brain has changed, but they know there is increased risk for stroke when they are present.

There are several theories on what may be causing these changes.  They will be starting treatment for auto-immune disorders; if this is what he has, he should respond within a few days.  It can also be due to a drug interaction or bacterial/viral meningitis, so we are changing our antibiotics and anti-fungals.  We are also getting a Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap) tomorrow to evaluate the spinal fluid and hopefully figure out what is wrong.  Some of the results of the LP will be back tomorrow.  Some may take several weeks.

Mike had a very tiring day with the multiple tests and dialysis to remove the contrast from the MRI.  He is on much higher ventilator support and a higher percentage of oxygen in the air he receives.  We’re praying for a quiet night of rest for him. 

I know you can tell it has been a stressful and frustrating day to return to the ICU and receive news like this.  But please believe me when I tell you that we continue to see the blessings of God throughout this journey.  Yesterday, Michael was cared for by a dear brother in Christ who accompanied Michael in his mission trip to Nicaragua, and by a family friend whose own family was recently the recipient of a caring ministry and is now giving care to us.  Tomorrow, we will have the support of Brenda’s lifelong friend, a beloved family friend whose son grew up with Michael, and Michael’s loving Uncle .  Every day we feel the love of Christ through the miracles he performs, not just through Michael’s medical team, but also through the loving hands and hearts of our friends and family.

If you want to help, please know the first service we ask for is your prayer.  If you would like to give time or food, please check our Care Calendar, it is a comfort to have you with us:

http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/82346
CALENDAR ID : 82346
SECURITY CODE : 5377

We cannot thank you enough for the blessings you bring us.  We thank God for you.

Prayers for Michael to Wake Up

Hello everyone and thank you for your prayers.  Michael is still not waking up.  We feel he can hear us and does open his eyes a few times a day to someone's voice.  But he is opening his eyes not as far and less often than he had been.  He does respond a little to pain and a few times a day we have been able to have Michael move just slightly to command, but that has become less.  He was moving more in the ICU, so we are praying he begins waking soon. 
The unit we moved to is a step down unit and not long term care, so they will be determining where he will be receiving care next.  If he begins waking up more, he will be able to stay here longer.  Another issue complicating the move is that Michael is still on dialysis and on the ventilator, which limits the places where he can go.
If Mike's kidneys would begin functioning again, in addition to being truly wonderful for the healing of his body it would be really helpful to his lungs (some of the fluid that builds up in his body in between dialysis goes to his lungs), it would make it much easier to find a place for Michael to go.  The doctors have been able to stop the drug causing the most potential damage to his kidneys as the adenovirus has cleared from his blood.  That change was about a week ago, so hopefully that will help.
So in addition to prayers for Michael to wake up soon, also prayers for the healing of his kidneys would be so appreciated.  The white blood and red blood cells have been bouncing around, so we appreciate prayers on that as well.  And we thank you for prayers for the care providers as they make decisions.   
Thank you for all of the prayers that have been lifted for Michael for his body to heal and our family.  And thank you for the meals, visits--we thank you so much!!

A Couple of Rough Days for Waking Up

Hello everyone.  Thanks for your continued concern and prayers.  Michael has not been as awake this last week.  We are continuing to hope and pray it is because his body is so busy making new blood cells that it does not have the energy to wake up as well--and hopefully he can start waking up soon.
Also, in the last two days, Michael has had what appears to be seizure activity again.  The doctors stopped a drug he had been on about 12 days ago that they thought was responsible for his bone marrow being depressed and when it was stopped is when his red and especially white blood cells started producing a lot more (plus there were a lot of prayers for Mike).  Yesterday, they stopped a drug he was on to help wake him up that may have been causing these new seizures.  So we will have to wait and see.
The drug stopped yesterday may also have been causing an increase in his heart rate and blood pressure, which are lower today.   So we will have to wait and see if this drug was effecting these as well.
We can't thank you enough for all of your prayers.  We appreciate so much your prayers to help his body make the healthy blood cells he needs--white and red cells and platelets.   And thank you for prayers to protect him from infection and from Graft vs Host Disease.  And thank you for your prayers to help Michael wake up and move and no more seizures.  
We cherish all of your prayers, positive thoughts and visualizations for Michael's recovery.  
Thank you so much!!
The Iowa State football game is on in Michael's room now.  Aunt Glenda and Uncle Lyle and James and many other friends are cheering on the Cyclones for Michael (as well as the Triangle on the bench).