Submitted photo.
"Will I have time to catch frogs after school?" "Will my parents let me get a puppy?" "Can I go fishing with Dad this weekend?" "Will Mom let me have my favorite cookie?" Those are the types of things that are generally the greatest concerns of seven-year-old boys. The parents of seven-year-old boys generally are concerned with making sure he washes his hands after catching those frogs, keeping the mud off the carpet after the boy and his dog are done playing outside, making sure there are enough snacks and warm clothes for the fishing trip, and making sure their son doesn't eat too many cookies. Sometimes, however, those concerns become very small when a greater concern becomes the focus.
For Brad and Stacy Meskill, the greater focus for their eldest son, Owen, is helping him recover from a brain mass that was discovered because Owen was having some concerning symptoms. After an MRI, Owen was diagnosed on Friday, January 16, 2026. Having the answer to what was causing Owen's symptoms, Brad and Stacy drove him to the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison during a snowstorm. Five days later, Owen had a lengthy surgery. Every parent can only imagine what it feels like waiting for your child to come out of brain surgery, each minute dragging on with wonder and worry.
Fortunately, Owen got through the surgery. He is recovering at a children's hospital and will likely be there for a number of weeks. The next portion of his treatment will depend on several factors, which will become clear as healing progresses. It is likely that Owen will miss the next couple months of school. Owen has a younger sibling, Rolan, who is looking forward to his big brother getting better, so, of course, this is a difficult time for him, too.
The Meskills have had many people reach out to them during this time, and they shared, "We are blessed with an incredible community, and we are so grateful." When asked what more the community can do, Owen's aunt, Valerie "Val" Anderson, said, "Both Brad and Stacy will need significant time off from their jobs. As we all know, this will be a great loss of income while accumulating notable expenses. Many have asked about where to send monetary gifts to ease their financial stress so they can continue to focus on their child’s health and recovery; because of this generous inquiry, there will be an account set up at Prevail Bank under the 'Owen Meskill Sunshine Fund.'" Those wishing to donate via Venmo can send directly to @Stacy-Franz-1.
When asked what the community could do to lift Owen's spirits, Val said he loves books and animals. My Price County asked if he might appreciate greeting cards, and Val figured that would be appreciated as he loves to read. She added, "He loves and appreciates every gift he receives, but his parents are hopeful to get a therapy/service dog for Owen to cuddle. They recently learned that he may be able to get a dog through a foundation. If not, they’ll use some monetary gifts toward Owen’s new pup." The dog is a plan for the near future, but If you would like to send words of encouragement to lift Owen's spirits now, you can send cards to Owen Meskill, 124 County Road F, Phillips, WI 54555.
A fundraiser, "Owen's Night," will also take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Phillips High School. Join the community for a boys' basketball game (Phillips vs. Abbotsford) and youth basketball night. For Owen, there will be a 50/50 raffle, bean bag toss, gift baskets, t-shirts, and more. All funds raised will go to the Meskill family.
While many of you know Brad and Stacy from their years working at Harbor View when it was owned by Duane and Bonny Grube, Val shared that Owen is private by nature. For that reason, the family wished to only release these details at this time, and they appreciate the community understanding their desire to keep much of the situation private.
NOTE: If you have a benefit, fundraiser, or donation need for you or a loved one, please contact us. We will write an article and/or post it on our community calendar to assist with spreading the word in hope of getting the help you or your loved ones need.