Detroit – Meghan Salter’s story – that of a young Dearborn girl stricken with a tragic medical condition and her parents’ steadfast commitment to care for her — has become an inspiration to many people throughout metro Detroit.
Not only have pro-life activists seen it as exemplary of their principles, but it has also drawn others and even led to conversions to the Catholic faith.
Now Meghan’s story will reach an even wider audience, thanks to a half-hour television documentary that will have its first showing this Sunday on CTND, the cable TV station of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Former Channel 50 news anchor Audrey Sommers narrates “Stories of Faith – Meghan’s Miracle,” in which Meghan’s parents – Mike and Ellen Salter – tell the story of their daughter’s ordeal and how they continue to hold out hope for her.
Sommers also interviews people who have been touched by Meghan’s story, including those, such as Fr. John Riccardo and Bishop John Quinn, who have played pivotal roles in advising the Salters on Church teaching and spiritual matters.
It is an “inspirational story of people having great faith in their beliefs and turning to God in prayer during times of trials and tribulations,” Sommers says.
It is also a story of Catholic parents refusing to accept medical professionals’ recommendations to let their daughter die.
The saga began when Meghan, now 8, was just a few months old. After being given a bath by her mother, Meghan began suffering a seizure.
The parents called 9-1-1, and Meghan was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to diagnose her condition.
Repeated seizures and hospital trips continued, until eventually she suffered a grand mal seizure. With her life seemingly in peril, Fr. Riccardo (then an associate pastor at Divine Child Parish in Dearborn) was called in to administer extreme unction.
But as soon as he did, the violent seizure ceased. And while Meghan’s condition has not improved since then, neither has it worsened.
Although Meghan continues to require around-the-clock care and is for the most part unresponsive, she sometimes smiles — and that helps keep hope alive for the Salter family that her condition might one day improve.
And it was one of those smiles, which came when she was asked if she wanted to be able to receive Christ in the Eucharist, that led to Bishop Quinn giving the OK for her to receive Communion.
But even if her condition never improves, Meghan is a loved member of the Salter family, and has come to be loved by many others besides.
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“Her story is a wonderful example of tremendous love and faith in God,” says Sommers, whose career also included five years as a reporter for The Michigan Catholic. She also hosted the former “Madonna Magazine” program on cable, and has taught broadcasting at Madonna University.
Now an account executive with WWJ Newsradio (950 AM), she is hoping “Stories of Faith – Meghan’s Miracle” will generate sufficient interest and financial backing to launch “Stories of Faith” as a new series for Catholic television.
This first installment, or “pilot,” will also be shown on the worldwide EWTN cable channel in coming months.
“I see it as a way to increase people’s faith and to bring people back who have fallen away from the Church,” says Sommers, a member of St. Colette Parish in Livonia.
In the meantime, she is eager to receive feedback about this first program at [email protected].
More photos can be seen at www.meghansmiracle.com.
