Even More Updated Friday, April 18

Friday, April 18

On Saturday, April 12, Melissa was showing improvement in her eye focus and movement. She was able to follow the people near her bed with her eyes. This is a positive improvement because up to this point she had been mostly only able to stare in one direction.

Melissa definitely recognizes her family members. She would hold their hands so tightly for a long period of time, as if she doesn't want to let them go. When she saw her dad, she would mouth, “Ba-Ba” and she would reach out to him when undergoing uncomfortable medical procedures.

After church on Sunday, April 13, the three girls, sisters Mildred and Melodie and family friend, Erin Tsai, visited Melissa. It was a wonderful afternoon. Melissa was awake most of the afternoon and was able to breathe on her own for up to two hours at a time. Little sister, Mildred, played nurse, wiping Melissa’s forehead with a wet washcloth. The girls took turns talking to her, saying hello from friends and telling her that they loved her and wanted her home soon.

Melissa had a bad night on Monday. Although she was very alert, it appeared that she was trying to communicate that she was in pain. A CT scan confirmed Melissa had an accumulation of blood and fluid in her brain. At around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, the doctor put a small hole in her right brain to help drain out the blood and fluid. The doctors believe the bleeding was caused by the bacterial infection with which she was originally hospitalized in the fall and is still fighting.

Melissa survived this fourth surgery and the most recent brain scan shows no more bleeding in her brain. The next 2 weeks remain highly critical. The doctors will closely monitor her ICP (brain pressure) and blood pressure, which both can go up each time she coughs.

Melissa’s eyes are still following movement of people in her room, and she has signaled for Marlene to touch her and holds on to her hands. We don't really know what all this means, but let's keep our faith up.

Melissa is scheduled to have a new ventilation tube installed in her throat. The doctors and her parents have decided not to wait any longer. The hole will be small, and the risk of infection under the care of medical staff is smaller than facing the possibility of losing her voice. Let's pray about the new air tube and that her lung to be strengthened and hopefully we can begin to see positive turns.

Things are going so well that Michael and Marlene’s attitude can best be described as ecstatic.

After her most recent surgery, Melissa refused to go into the induced coma. They couldn’t give her enough medication to keep her eyes closed. So, the neurosurgeon decided to bring her out of the coma five days early. Her eyes are now open. She is alert and communicative, without being able to talk due to the tubes in her mouth.

After being home with the other kids Thursday afternoon, Michael arrived at the hospital about 6:00 o'clock. When he came into the room he looked for her hand to talk to her. He could not find her hand right away due to all the sheets & blankets. Knowing this, Melissa raised her hand, gave it to her father and squeezed his hand.

Earlier in the afternoon, Marlene and two nurses were cleaning Melissa. The nurse had a suction wand cleaning her mouth. Melissa reached her hand up to the wand. The nurse asked Melissa whether she wanted to do it herself. She took the wand in hand, pointed it to her mouth, cleaned the left side, then moved it to the right side of her mouth and cleaned there too.

She is only two days out of major brain surgery, and has achieved great benchmarks for her condition. If all continues to progress, the doctors may let her start physical therapy next week.

Thursday evening, Michael and Marlene were sitting together, talking and laughing like young love birds. They were relaxed and rested. Their daughter was coming back. Their spirits were renewed, refreshed and high. We talked of the future when Melissa will be able to go to the churches and say "Thank you," to those who have prayed for her.

While this Journey has taken a wonderful step forward, there are many yet to come. Please continue to pray for the Yu family.

Thank you. Michael and Marlene are so grateful to all of you who continue to pray for them.

It is difficult to comprehend the hard work that lies ahead for the Yu family and for Melissa as she starts down the road to recovery. Patients who suffer such brain trauma have to go through a lot to get back to normal. However, this is not just any patient. It is Melissa … a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teammate, a servant of Jesus … a young woman who is loved by everyone who knows her.

While you pray for Melissa's complete recovery, do also pray for Michael, Marlene, Maurice, Melodie, Mildred and Erin. The hardest work is just about to begin for all of them.

Cards and get well wishes: Please keep your cards, letters, e-mails, PowerPoint slides, JPEG files, etc. coming. I have been asked to visit Melissa this afternoon. I will take all the cards and letters I’ve received this week to her.