About Meredith
This fundraiser is all about hope and healing, a celebration of what we all can accomplish together. Meredith would not want our events to be anything but joyful! We have included her obituary below, which captures her perfectly. However, we also know that many of you wonder what exactly Meredith struggled with, and also want to know more about Myositis, the focus of our fundraiser.
For seven years, Meredith suffered with three different autoimmune diseases. They complicated her treatment; some of the available medications that would be beneficial for one disorder could cause increasing challenges for one of the others.
The focus of this fundraiser is Antisynthetase Syndrome and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). Antisynthetase Syndrome falls into the Myositis category. It is very rare, and could be considered an ‘orphan disease’ – one that does not get priority funding for research. Antisynthetase Syndrome results in scarring and destruction of lung tissue (ILD). Why is a lung disease included in the Myositis category? Antisynthetase Syndrome frequently also affects the muscles. Meredith, however, was fortunate that her biopsies never showed any muscle involvement.
She also dealt with Crohn’s Disease and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). ITP destroys platelets, and it was the cause of her last hospitalization.
Our Meredith’s Legacy fundraisers will allow us to award grants to those researchers studying this devastating disease – hopefully resulting in treatments that will assist others in the future.
Meredith endured this tremendous burden with great strength, courage, faith, and perpetual compassion for everyone around her. She hid her struggles from others, never wanting to bring down the ‘vibe’ in a room or at an event – even when she was ill. We know her hope was that someday, there will be an effective treatment for all of these diseases.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts that you are participating in the fundraiser in person or via the campaign.
Peace and Love,
The Thomas Family
Meredith Claire Thomas came into this world a fighter, born prematurely on January 9th, 1990 at 28 weeks, 2 lbs 14 oz. She passed away a fighter on November 25th, 2023, surrounded by her family – her world, her support, her everything.
Meredith, known to her loved ones as “Nonnie,” lived every single day of her life with the most genuine joy, passion, kindness, compassion, and pure selflessness. She was a true firstborn – fiercely loyal, a protector, a confidant, and the heartbeat of our family. We could not have asked for a more authentic daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend – she embodied the essence of authenticity in its truest and purest form.
Mere’s dream day would include playing with her nieces for hours on end, reading a book in a cozy spot, cooking a yummy batch of soup, stopping by a Notre Dame tailgate, checking in with her friends and cousins, quizzing someone on Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings trivia, planning her next trip, cuddling a few dogs, and ending the day with a concert – but none of this could happen unless she first knew that everyone around her was settled, happy, and comfortable. Even through her toughest battles, her only thoughts were of the well-being of others.
Our only wish is that Meredith’s magical, authentic, pure spirit lives on in all of us – those who cherished her and loved her so deeply. From the moment you met her, she was your biggest fan and your best friend, and you could never forget her contagious energy. Her love radiated so vibrantly while she was with us, and now that love radiates exponentially in everyone that loves her.
Meredith graduated from St. Francis High School in Wheaton (2008) and the University of Notre Dame (2012), studying English and Spanish. She moved to Washington D.C. after graduation, and then made her way back home to Chicago in 2015. She left an enormous impact on all those she worked with along the way, and she also filled her time volunteering with the Children’s Hospitals and dog shelters in both of these special cities.
Our Nonnie will live on through her family: her parents, Rick and Brenda Thomas; her siblings, Grace & Kyle Wood and William Thomas; her nieces, Addison & Poppy Wood; her grandparents, Ken & Marie Thomas and Connie Matthews; her cherished aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her many lifelong friends who became family. She is preceded in death and welcomed into heaven by her grandfather, Russell “Pa” Matthews and her furry best friends, Pappy and Posie.
“Nevertheless, she persisted.” She is strong, she is grace, she is fight.
Meredith's Legacy 