12-year-old Clay Township boy dies after developing flu-like symptoms

Michael Messenger loved annoying his big sister, playing with his big brother and protecting his little sister. 

The 12-year-old Clay Township boy died Thursday morning after having flu-like symptoms. 

Michael's mom, Jessica Decent-Doll, said the family is coping as best as they can. 

She advised seeking medical treatment as soon as symptoms worsen. "Don't wait, it's all I can say. This flu or whatever is going around this year is unbelievably dangerous," she said.

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Decent-Doll said Michael first showed symptoms the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 9, when he vomited during dinner.

With his symptoms persisting, Decent-Doll said her husband took him to urgent care Wednesday evening, where his vitals were found to be normal and he was given anti-nausea medication. 

"The doctor said to keep an eye on him and keep giving him fluids," she said. A rapid flu test came back negative, she said. 

So she spent most of Wednesday night up with her son and determined they would make a trip to the emergency room in the morning after her other children were off to school. 

Decent-Doll said they let Michael rest. But shortly after 9:15 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, her husband went to wake him and found him barely responsive. 

"I ran upstairs and I sat with him and I tried to get him to respond to me, but there was no response, nothing," she said. 

Decent-Doll said 911 dispatchers instructed them on how to perform CPR while emergency crews responded. An hour and a half later at St. John River District Hospital, her son was pronounced dead. 

"It's indescribable, it really is," she said. 

Clay Township Police Chief Michael Koach said the death is not being investigated as suspicious.

Decent-Doll said they are still awaiting autopsy results to determine Michael's cause of death. He had received a flu vaccine in December. 

"The boy never stopped, ever. He loved science. He loved his family," she said. 

He was smart and creative and wanted to be an engineer. 

"Just a little guy but he was so mighty, he really was," Decent-Doll said. 

A gofundme account has been started for the family. More than $7,800 had been raised as of Tuesday afternoon. Donations are still being accepted at https://www.gofundme.com/4zv9vyg. 

"Mikey was so full of life and so energetic he lit up the room with his smile," the page reads.

Arrangements have been made for the family to have visitors from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at Kaul Funeral Home, 35201 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, with visitation starting at noon. 

Michael was a sixth-grader at Algonquin Elementary.  

Superintendent Al Latosz said a member of St. Clair County Community Mental Health came to the school Monday to speak to students who needed to talk. 

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lvshepard.