Student brain-dead after aneurysm, hundreds attend prayer service

St. Thomas sophomore Erik Nielsen has been declared brain-dead after he suffered a brain aneurysm Monday, according to a university spokesman.

Jim Winterer, director of news services, said Nielsen wished to be an organ donor, so his body remains on life support at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Sophomore Sawyer Phillips, a friend of Nielsen’s, said Nielsen’s family has been strong and brave.

“They’ve really been letting Christ work through this situation in any way they can,” Phillips said. “His father was very welcoming to all of us who came and saw him.”

Students leave Tuesday's prayer service for sophomore Erik Nielsen outside the Florance Chapel. Nielsen is brain-dead after suffering a brain aneurysm Monday. (Simeon Lancaster/TommieMedia)
Students leave Tuesday’s prayer service for sophomore Erik Nielsen outside the Florance Chapel. Nielsen is brain-dead after suffering a brain aneurysm Monday. (Simeon Lancaster/TommieMedia)

Several hundred people attended a prayer service for Nielsen, a Catholic studies student, Tuesday afternoon in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Senior C.C. Rode said the service was beautiful, and the chapel was “nearly full,” something Nielsen would have loved.

“I think it’s a real testament to how strong people in the community, especially in St. Thomas, realize the need for one another,” Rode said. “No matter what connection people had to him, there’s going to be sorrow, and there’s going to be mixed emotions.”

An adoration is planned for 9-10 p.m. Tuesday in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Winterer said it is not clear where the aneurysm happened, but Nielsen was on campus, and an ambulance transported him to HCMC. Winterer also said the aneurysm was not the result of trauma such as a fall.

Phillips described Nielsen as a joyful individual who loved playing music.

“I just saw him last Thursday, and we had a great conversation and got to sing together. It’s those little things that make our lives meaningful, and Erik filled everyone’s lives with those little things – bringing joy and laughter to people,” Phillips said.

Rode described him as the most joyful man she’d ever met.

“It was this peaceful joy,” Rode said. “He was really a great friend. He was friendly to all and like a brother to so many people on this campus, and I think that’s why there’s so much hurt and so much confusion right now because people don’t know why someone like that was taken away from us so soon.”

Simeon Lancaster contributed to this report.

2 Replies to “Student brain-dead after aneurysm, hundreds attend prayer service”

  1. Erik and his family and friends will be in my prayers during this difficult time.

  2. I just want to note, then when I went to “share” this link on Facebook the thumbnail picture isn’t the photo for this article. It reads, “Just another reason college is the best time of your life. Click here to find out why” laid over a purple background. Due to the content of the article, I wanted to bring that to your attention.

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