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.

One family member said, “It is painfully watching Melissa struggle for every breath. I am humbly reminded not to take each breath for granted. Let us thank the Lord for His creation and use the time He has given us wisely and meaningfully.”

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.

Every member of the Yu family is fighting with every emotional and spiritual fiber they have. They "will" keep their daughter and sister. Marlene said, "As long as she has breath we will fight for her." Michael took her statement even further, "No matter what condition, no matter how difficult for us, no matter how hard, we will take care of Melissa as long as she has breath."

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 will be giving another package to the family this weekend.