Dear Friends,
Fall is here, the weather is getting cooler, daylight savings time has just ended, the days are getting shorter and Thanksgiving is approaching. Many of you have been e-mailing me since my last update on March 1 asking how Melissa is doing. I am more than happy to share with you all the joy we have in her progress.
HEALTH
Melissa continues to receive physical therapy (“PT”) and occupational therapy (“OT”) three times each week and acupuncture treatments twice each week. Her physical condition is stable. Two weeks ago she began walking with a cane unassisted and can walk upstairs about 5 steps. We are so thankful and joyful for these amazing improvements. Her appetite is good and she can eat almost anything now.
Melissa visits her cardiologist once a quarter. Her heart has enlarged a bit, but the good news is her cardiologist believes it’s probably due to her walking rather than relying so much on a wheelchair.
On Friday, July 31, her Mickey Button G-tube was removed. Praise the Lord, no more tubes are attached to her body. In past 8 months she’s visited her pulmonary and otolaryngology specialists several times for follow up examinations of the open hole in her trachea (this hole is referred to in medical terms as a “cutaneous trachea fistula post tracheostomy”). Though the trachea tube was removed on December 15, the hole still has not yet closed. On Monday, October 19, at her last visit to her otolaryngology specialist, it was decided she would need to be re-admitted to CHOC for surgery to close the hole. This will be done as soon as we can schedule it.
Power Chair
After waiting more than 3 months, Melissa finally received her power chair on Wednesday, October 21. She is so excited! This improves her mobility so much that she’s able to ride her power chair from home to the therapy unit located at University High School! Last Saturday, November 7, she even rode her power chair to school to attend some activities.
School
During the spring semester, Melissa was able to increase her time at school from 3 to 4 periods. She loves math and photography and is eager to learn. She is an aggressive learner and is determined to improve in all areas. By June she was finally able to write all 26 letters of the alphabet with no mistakes. She spends a lot time doing homework and studying, and is very serious about studying every subject. Her new photography class presented a challenge with a really heavy assignment. Melissa needed to take a lot of photos, so we spent a lot of time taking her to the park, mall, shopping centers and other places. It was so much fun for all of us.
Melissa’s Story TO AIR on Radio and TV!
GOOD TV is a 24-hour television station in Taiwan. In early September the station sent a team from Taiwan to Irvine to film Melissa’s story. The program is scheduled to air in April, 2010 in a “Real Story Blog” broadcast. On Friday, November 6, Los Angeles local radio stations AM 1300 and AM 1600 interviewed me to share Melissa’s story. This program will air on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 at 10:00 pm. Both of these programs will be broadcast in Chinese. Our prayer is that Melissa’s true story will touch many souls, and give encouragement and hope to families and patients. May God be glorified!
Prayer Requests
1. That Melissa’s heart can tolerate her increase walking, and her damaged heart valve can be repaired.
2. That Melissa will be able to walk without assistance more and be able to walk upstairs to her own room by the end of the year.
3. That the surgery to close the hole in her trachea can be done by December.
4. That her spirit, knowledge and physical capabilities will continue to improve daily.
5. That her transition from high school to college will be smooth.
YOUR Prayers ARE Working
With the help of your faithful prayers for Melissa, we are experiencing how God works to answer prayers for Melissa. Let His power continue to overflow in her life to shine for Jesus. We all dare to ask this without ceasing.
In this Thanksgiving season, I would like say thank you sincerely and humbly with all my heart. Without your prayers, love, and support, we don’t know how we could have made it this far through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. May God bless and empower you and continue to enrich your life.
In Him,
Michael
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Update from Michael: Sunday, November 8, 2009
Dear Friends,
Fall is here, the weather is getting cooler, daylight savings time has just ended, the days are getting shorter and Thanksgiving is approaching. Many of you have been e-mailing me since my last update on March 1 asking how Melissa is doing. I am more than happy to share with you all the joy we have in her progress.
HEALTH
Melissa continues to receive physical therapy (“PT”) and occupational therapy (“OT”) three times each week and acupuncture treatments twice each week. Her physical condition is stable. Two weeks ago she began walking with a cane unassisted and can walk upstairs about 5 steps. We are so thankful and joyful for these amazing improvements. Her appetite is good and she can eat almost anything now.
Melissa visits her cardiologist once a quarter. Her heart has enlarged a bit, but the good news is her cardiologist believes it’s probably due to her walking rather than relying so much on a wheelchair.
On Friday, July 31, her Mickey Button G-tube was removed. Praise the Lord, no more tubes are attached to her body. In past 8 months she’s visited her pulmonary and otolaryngology specialists several times for follow up examinations of the open hole in her trachea (this hole is referred to in medical terms as a “cutaneous trachea fistula post tracheostomy”). Though the trachea tube was removed on December 15, the hole still has not yet closed. On Monday, October 19, at her last visit to her otolaryngology specialist, it was decided she would need to be re-admitted to CHOC for surgery to close the hole. This will be done as soon as we can schedule it.
POWER CHAIR
After waiting more than 3 months, Melissa finally received her power chair on Wednesday, October 21. She is so excited! This improves her mobility so much that she’s able to ride her power chair from home to the therapy unit located at University High School! Last Saturday, November 7, she even rode her power chair to school to attend some activities.
SCHOOL
During the spring semester, Melissa was able to increase her time at school from 3 to 4 periods. She loves math and photography and is eager to learn. She is an aggressive learner and is determined to improve in all areas. By June she was finally able to write all 26 letters of the alphabet with no mistakes. She spends a lot time doing homework and studying, and is very serious about studying every subject. Her new photography class presented a challenge with a really heavy assignment. Melissa needed to take a lot of photos, so we spent a lot of time taking her to the park, mall, shopping centers and other places. It was so much fun for all of us.
MELISSA’S STORY TO AIR ON RADIO AND TV!
GOOD TV is a 24-hour television station in Taiwan. In early September the station sent a team from Taiwan to Irvine to film Melissa’s story. The program is scheduled to air in April, 2010 in a “Real Story Blog” broadcast. On Friday, November 6, Los Angeles local radio stations AM 1300 and AM 1600 interviewed me to share Melissa’s story. This program will air on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 at 10:00 pm. Both of these programs will be broadcast in Chinese. Our prayer is that Melissa’s true story will touch many souls, and give encouragement and hope to families and patients. May God be glorified!
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. That Melissa’s heart can tolerate her increase walking, and her damaged heart valve can be repaired.
2. That Melissa will be able to walk without assistance more and be able to walk upstairs to her own room by the end of the year.
3. That the surgery to close the hole in her trachea can be done by December.
4. That her spirit, knowledge and physical capabilities will continue to improve daily.
5. That her transition from high school to college will be smooth.
YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING
With the help of your faithful prayers for Melissa, we are experiencing how God works to answer prayers for Melissa. Let His power continue to overflow in her life to shine for Jesus. We all dare to ask this without ceasing.
In this Thanksgiving season, I would like say thank you sincerely and humbly with all my heart. Without your prayers, love, and support, we don’t know how we could have made it this far through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. May God bless and empower you and continue to enrich your life.
In Him,
Michael
Fall is here, the weather is getting cooler, daylight savings time has just ended, the days are getting shorter and Thanksgiving is approaching. Many of you have been e-mailing me since my last update on March 1 asking how Melissa is doing. I am more than happy to share with you all the joy we have in her progress.
HEALTH
Melissa continues to receive physical therapy (“PT”) and occupational therapy (“OT”) three times each week and acupuncture treatments twice each week. Her physical condition is stable. Two weeks ago she began walking with a cane unassisted and can walk upstairs about 5 steps. We are so thankful and joyful for these amazing improvements. Her appetite is good and she can eat almost anything now.
Melissa visits her cardiologist once a quarter. Her heart has enlarged a bit, but the good news is her cardiologist believes it’s probably due to her walking rather than relying so much on a wheelchair.
On Friday, July 31, her Mickey Button G-tube was removed. Praise the Lord, no more tubes are attached to her body. In past 8 months she’s visited her pulmonary and otolaryngology specialists several times for follow up examinations of the open hole in her trachea (this hole is referred to in medical terms as a “cutaneous trachea fistula post tracheostomy”). Though the trachea tube was removed on December 15, the hole still has not yet closed. On Monday, October 19, at her last visit to her otolaryngology specialist, it was decided she would need to be re-admitted to CHOC for surgery to close the hole. This will be done as soon as we can schedule it.
POWER CHAIR
After waiting more than 3 months, Melissa finally received her power chair on Wednesday, October 21. She is so excited! This improves her mobility so much that she’s able to ride her power chair from home to the therapy unit located at University High School! Last Saturday, November 7, she even rode her power chair to school to attend some activities.
SCHOOL
During the spring semester, Melissa was able to increase her time at school from 3 to 4 periods. She loves math and photography and is eager to learn. She is an aggressive learner and is determined to improve in all areas. By June she was finally able to write all 26 letters of the alphabet with no mistakes. She spends a lot time doing homework and studying, and is very serious about studying every subject. Her new photography class presented a challenge with a really heavy assignment. Melissa needed to take a lot of photos, so we spent a lot of time taking her to the park, mall, shopping centers and other places. It was so much fun for all of us.
MELISSA’S STORY TO AIR ON RADIO AND TV!
GOOD TV is a 24-hour television station in Taiwan. In early September the station sent a team from Taiwan to Irvine to film Melissa’s story. The program is scheduled to air in April, 2010 in a “Real Story Blog” broadcast. On Friday, November 6, Los Angeles local radio stations AM 1300 and AM 1600 interviewed me to share Melissa’s story. This program will air on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 at 10:00 pm. Both of these programs will be broadcast in Chinese. Our prayer is that Melissa’s true story will touch many souls, and give encouragement and hope to families and patients. May God be glorified!
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. That Melissa’s heart can tolerate her increase walking, and her damaged heart valve can be repaired.
2. That Melissa will be able to walk without assistance more and be able to walk upstairs to her own room by the end of the year.
3. That the surgery to close the hole in her trachea can be done by December.
4. That her spirit, knowledge and physical capabilities will continue to improve daily.
5. That her transition from high school to college will be smooth.
YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING
With the help of your faithful prayers for Melissa, we are experiencing how God works to answer prayers for Melissa. Let His power continue to overflow in her life to shine for Jesus. We all dare to ask this without ceasing.
In this Thanksgiving season, I would like say thank you sincerely and humbly with all my heart. Without your prayers, love, and support, we don’t know how we could have made it this far through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. May God bless and empower you and continue to enrich your life.
In Him,
Michael
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