“I hope the fundraiser is a very big help:” Community rallying around teen with COVID-19

SOMERSET COUNTY, Md.- “She’s got one of the most bubbly personalities I have ever seen, that light up the room kinda girl,” Lynne Brumley, Washington Academy and High School SADD Advisor and school nurse, said.

That’s how local community members describe Meredith Taylor, a caring, hardworking senior at Pocomoke High School who loves theater.

But, her world took a turn this September when she was diagnosed with COVID-19.

“We’ve learned that your life can change in a blink of an eye and to cherish every single moment and just always treasure your children,”Christa Taylor, Meredith’s mom, said.

Meredith is currently at a hospital in Baltimore where she is on a ventilator and ECMO machine.

“It really breaks my heart that shes this sick because she is such a bubble of life, but the prayers and the community support has been tremendous and I am grateful for that,” Brumley said.

“It’s just kinda scary, to think that everyone could be doing just fine one day and then the next you’re just down fighting for your life,” Jamira Hutt-Robles, a Washington High School Senior, said.

And, during Meredith’s time at the hospital her mom and dad are staying at her bedside.

But, Lynne Brumley, who is friends with the family and is the advisor of the SADD Chapter, at Washington Academy and High School, said this journey hasn’t been easy.

“I think its been really hard knowing how critical she is,” Brumley said.

So, she’s helping by gathering students from the SADD Chapter to host a fundraiser at Caesars Pizza Palace in Princess Anne.

“I think it will be a huge impact in that financially they are both up there and neither of them are working,” Brumley said.

“I hope the fundraiser is a very big help, like I hope it has a very big turnout, which I’m pretty sure it will because everyone is very supportive in the community,” Hutt-Robles said.

We’re told people have already started donating money to the family.

“We are definitely overwhelmed with all the support, I just do think its a testament of her character 40 that she just touches so many people,” Christa Taylor said.

And while the road ahead is unknown, everyone is keeping the faith.

“We are very confident that she is going to fully recover,” Christa Taylor said.

“My hopes is that that sunshine comes out that hospital, yea I think everyday like I said we are taking baby steps now and that makes my heart happy, hopefully pretty soon she will be back to the Meredith we all know,” Brumley said.

The fundraiser will happen next Tuesday from 4 to 8 with 10% of all proceeds going to the family.

The SADD Chapter is also planning another fundraiser for the family at Snow Biz.

No date has been set yet.