Photo of Michael Zyrek's family. Photo courtesy of the Zyrek family.
"They did it," Michael Zyrek's father Scott Zyrek said to his oldest son James Zyrek on Feb. 20 over FaceTime.
The news came after the neurological team at the University of Michigan was able to successfully clip the aneurysm and put Michael Zyrek on the road to recovery. After several days of bad news, the Zyrek family was told that Michael is on the comeback.
On Feb. 17 the medical team within the neurology unit at U of M attempted to remove the aneurysm. According to the GoFundMe update, they were unable to shut down the aneurysm with the two available procedures. After being under for five hours, the medical team had to retreat.
The following day, the neurosurgeons made a third attempt at shutting down the aneurysm. Instead of utilizing fluids, they turned to coils.
"They put in very, very small micro coils and then within that vain, once they're in the aneurysm, they will clot and stop the blood flow to it so that way it does not rupture again and cause a brain bleed," James Zyrek, Michael Zyrek's older brother, said. "That first surgery was five hours, and they planned to go back on Friday, and this really is the last shot."
After 3 1/2 hours, the medical team informed the Zyrek family that they were successfully able to shut down the aneurysm. As a fundraiser update on the GoFundMe page expressed, "Hail to the Victors."
Although the operation was a success, Michael Zyrek still has a long road to recovery ahead of him. Every small improvement is a step in the right direction. He was taken off the ventilator and is now working on removing the feeding tube. Once he is cleared from the Intensive Care Unit, it is all about rehabilitation and getting him back to where he was.
"Our family is forever indebted to (Dr. Aditya Pandey) and the entire medical team at U of M," James Zyrek said. "... It is going to be a long haul. A huge goal I think would be for him to go back to school in the fall and that is really high ... but he is a guy who achieves over expectations frequently, so we will see what he can do."
The Spartan community and its surrounding networks continue to raise awareness and fundraise for Michael Zyrek. As of Thursday, the GoFundMe page has raised over $244,000.
"It is really amazing seeing the impact that everyone has in the community and how much everyone cares for him," sophomore Nick Kania, one of Michael Zyrek's fraternity brothers, said.
At the time of publication, the GoFundMe is still accepting donations.
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