RTP-area local music and culture

[Ben Davis <ben_dontspamme_davis AT unc.edu>]

Hello
As many of you have heard - Michael Tripplet is in the UNC hospital 
right now.  I have recieved many calls and emails asking about  how is 
he doing - I just left his room today (Monday , Feb 23rd) at 5 pm so I 
wanted to let folks know was was going on and how is doing as of now.

Mike went to the hospital Feb 11 with a high fever and pain - He was 
diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis.  He spent the next week suffering 
through high fevers and intense pain.  The doctors then diagnosed 
Pneumonia in addition.  So his body was battling both of those things 
plus dealing with the antibiotics and pain medications they were using 
to treat him - On Friday Feb 20th,  he started suffering some 
complications from these factors - his fever came back and they had to 
put him on a respirator to get his breathing going.  He suffering a tear 
in hisesophagus from either vomitting or the intabation of the 
respirator so the doctors were very concerned - He was moved to the 
CCUon Saturday - which is called the Coronary Care Unit to monitor him. 
  The doctors were giving him a 50/50 chance to survive.  This (Monday 
Feb 23rd) morning he was moved to the Respiratory Intesive Care Unit to 
monitor him and keep an eye on the esophagus tear and his lungs.  The 
tear seems to be healing on his own, and he is doing better today.  The 
are trying to wean him of the oxygen and the respirator gradually.  He 
is not conscious but he is not in a coma.  He hasn't been able to eat 
since Feb 10th but they are pumping fluids and antibiotics through him. 
  It has been a trying rollercoaster for Mikes friends and family.

The doctors are still unable to give a cause for why things have been so 
intensely bad for him and are still working on figuring that out.  They 
do not know how or where he contracted the bacteria from.   They are 
really taking things hour by hour at this point but his mom was 
optimistic today.  She is a head trauma nurse in Florida so she has been 
by his side this entire time keeping the doctors in line.

So Mikes mom and friends appreciate all the calls and emails which have 
been passed along to her and to Mike. and They ask for continued support 
through prayers, thoughts, or various hippie techniques. Get your 
parents prayer groups going!

We are going to try and post updates to a page on the Lovitt Records 
website as we get them to try and keep people in the loop as much as 
possible.   the URL for that will

http://www.lovitt.com/triplett.html

We will post updates as frequently as we get them and as things change.

Mike's  Mom has requested that people refrain from sending flowers right 
now - and we plan to establish a fund to contribute to the medical bills 
that are stacking up.  Donations can be made at Go! Room 4 and we will 
establish a route through PayPal for online contributions.

Mike has really touched so many people in this area and the music 
community nationwide.  The calls and emails have been pouring in - So 
thanks and keep the positive thoughts up.

Feel free to email me with questions - I don't know much more than what 
I have written.  Mikes roomates and coworkers have been amazing 
throughout all of this helping Mike and his mom.  and so I'm sure they 
could all use a hug too if  you see them around.

Thanks
Ben Davis
bendavis AT lovitt.com