The family of Gainesville High School baseball player Jeremy Medina said in a press conference Wednesday morning they are proceeding with organ donation and will soon pull him off life support.
The announcement at Northeast Georgia Medical Center's Gainesville campus followed a tragic November 20 accident at the school's batting cages which left him in a coma for several weeks.
Medical officials with Northeast Georgia Health System said Medina was still on life support as of Wednesday morning but was declared brain dead Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
"He arrived in very serious condition from a devastating head injury," Dr. Michael Cormican, director of surgical critical care for NGHS said. "Unfortunately, he has progressed to death by neurological criteria, or brain death."
Gainesville High School Principal Jamie Green said the school's baseball team was informed of Medina's status Wednesday morning.
"We're very grateful to the Medina family for allowing us to do that," Green said. "(The team) received the message in a private space, surrounded by love and all the supports that we had available to them at the high school."
Green said counselors will be made available for students and staff at the school moving forward.
Medina was practicing in the batting cages at Gainesville High School when he was reportedly accidentally struck in the head by a baseball bat at approximately 1:20 p.m. on Nov. 20.
“A small group of players were working on hitting drills in the indoor batting facility,” Green said at a previous press conference. “Players were hitting balls from the tee in one of the two netted areas … Jeremy approached the netting as another player was hitting from the tee. As the player followed through on his swing, Jeremy leaned into the net and was struck in the head. There was no horseplay, no misconduct.”
David Medina, Jeremy's father, also spoke at Wednesday's press conference and said he's appreciative of the support from the community and others during the ordeal.
"I just want everyone to be sure that our strength, my family's strength, my strength since day one has only been rooted in the most amazing power of Jesus Christ," Medina said. "We are very grateful for your prayer."
Those looking to support the Medina family can do so by clicking here.
The Gainesville City School System posted a tribute video to Medina on their social media page Wednesday afternoon.
