Updates from Michael and Steve, Saturday 5/10, 11:48 p.m.

Melissa Update as 2008-05-10 Sat. 11:48 p.m.
Day 74 in PICU, Childrens Hospital of Orange County, California

Dear Friends,

We need to stand together and pray for Melissa’s fever to lower. After more than 4 days all the medication the doctors have tried cannot pull the fever down. The doctors have no answer for us, so we must believe that the only one answer lies in God’s heart. He is filled with compassion, and in His will is able to touch Melissa's so weak physical condition. I remember in the New Testament, Luke 4:38-39, Jesus went to the home of Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.

Right now, we rebuke Melissa’s fever Melissa in the name of Jesus of Nazarene, Amen. We pray that the fever will no longer have power over Melissa in the name of Jesus who is Christ, Amen. We ask she be anointed with an overflowing of comfort in the name of Jesus who is filled with compassion, Amen. We receive His promises by the faith, proclaim His power to control all the conditions, and ask that Melissa will sleep deeply tonight, Amen.

In Him,
Michael

From: Steven Chang
Date: Sat, May 10, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Subject: 5-10-08 Updates

Dear Friends,

According to Marlene tonight, there isn't a whole lot of new news. Melissa is in a very critical stage with many issues and very few answers.

1. Fever is still very high. Tylenol is administered no longer on an as-needed basis but instead, on an around the clock basis. This is the only thing that seems to decrease the fever.

2. White blood cell count in the brain is very high. Doctors don't know why yet but obviously something is wrong when white blood cell count is high. Waiting for test results.

3. Melissa is already under a very strong, adult dosage of antibiotic. However, the results have not been very encouraging.

4. When elders of the church prayed for Melissa today, she shed tears.

5. When Marlene asked her if she wanted to go to medical school, she longer wants to. At Kaiser, she indicated an interest in medicine. There is at least a response to Marlene's inquiry.

6. Melissa is very weak and so very tired. Pray that she gets some rest. It's natural when we're sick, it's difficult to be comfortable enough to rest.

Bottom Line:

The doctors are still baffled by the lack of response from all the medication. They don't seem to know exactly why the fever is so high and heart beat is so fast. We know and believe that God is the great physician. We need God to intervene in a very desperate way. We must continue to pray for strength and hope for Marlene and Michael as well as God's protection and sovereignty over Melissa.

Thanks,
Steve

Everyone Come to the Car Wash Next Saturday, May 17

Please, please, please come to the car wash. This family needs our support. Please try to make an effort to get there next Saturday. It would mean so much if alot of people came. Melissa is an amazing girl who has had a difficult situation in the last cople of months. Thank you UNI for putting this on and letting the classmates of Mel to do this for her. It really means alot to be there for Mel right now. Thank you!!!! Thank you.

I love you Melissa, you are doing so well...keep fighting girl!!!! You're almost there...keep going.

Love ya,

Katharyn

Update from Michael, Saturday May 10, 12:08 a.m.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MELISSA

Dear Friends and Family,

Melissa had another surgery on Thursday (5/8) to place a shunt inside her body to allow brain fluid to drain to her stomach. Friday morning the doctor adjusted the shunt valve to compensate for more brain swelling.

Melissa’s high fever is the biggest concern for her doctor. The fever began Wednesday and by Friday reached the highest it’s been … 105.4°F (40.8°C). At 11:00 p.m. Friday her fever was still over 103.1°F (39.5°C). Additionally, her heart rate remains very high … between 150 to 173. We really need to pray for her fever to lower and heart beat drop to below 110.

God has sent us to prayer school to shape our faith and spirit through Melissa’s situation, let us stand in the gap and continue to pray until this battle is won.

In the Old Testament, God answers Joshua’s prayer on the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, by making the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon stop over the Valley of Aijalon. (Joshua 10:12-13). We believe in and serve the same God, He who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and we proclaim by faith through our prayers to command Melissa’s fever and heart beat to lower. Please say “Amen” in agreement with me in this.

We implore God to supply us with His grace and strength hour-by-hour to enable us to face all difficulty and challenge that lies before us. Thank you for all of you who stand with us together as one Body of Christ. I feel that God loves to see this ... may He be glorified.

I believe God will give Marlene the most wonderful Mother's day blessing ... to see Melissa on the way to recovery. I wish all the sisters in Christ have a most blessed Mother's day ever.

"The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

In Love and In Him,
Michael

Message from Irvine Swim League Re: Car Wash

From: Thiessen, Pauline
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 8:35 AM
Subject: Message to all Irvine Swim League Teams

All Team Presidents:

Please forward and distribute this e-mail to your team's family roster.

The attached flyer is an announcement of a car wash/bake sale fundraiser, sponsored by the UHS chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to be held on Saturday May 17th, 8:00 a.m.+ at University High School for Melissa Yu, a critically ill Irvine teenager.

Melissa Yu is a former ISL swimmer for the South Irvine Dolphins team and her older brother has also been an ISL swimmer and coach during the past few years.

Since January, the Yu Family of Irvine have been living through every parent's worst nightmare - a child suffering a sudden catastrophic and life-threatening illness. Please take time out of your family activities on 5/17 to come by and support these teens who are trying to do what they can to help out the family during a difficult time.

Pauline Thiessen
Executive Director
Irvine Swim League

Update from Steve, 10:30 a.m. Friday 5/9/2008

Dear Family and Friends,

Sheue-Ling (Marlene's sister) spent the night with Melissa last night. Here are her observations:

1. Melissa did not sleep at all again last night. Rest is a key component for Melissa.

2. Fever is high … between 102.9° and 104.4° F.

3. Heartbeat is also high … between 145-151.

4. Blood pressure is slightly high at 145/83.

5. She is on Fentanyl again. This is the medication that is 10X stronger than morphine.

6. Melissa’s legs are shaking, but according to the nurses this is the normal effect of one of her medications.

7. The nurses will increase her dosage of Methadone which will hopefully cause less shaking. But we’re not sure what symptoms or side effects would be.

8. At this time, Melissa expresses no responses in her arms.

9. Sheue-Ling was not able to communicate with her at all even though Melissa was awake.

10. The nurses are having some difficulties finding a place to draw blood from Melissa.


Please keep praying for her.

Thanks,
Steve

Car Wash for Melissa

Students from University High School will be holding a car wash for Melissa!

Saturday, May 17th 8am- 4pm
University High School

Please stop by and have your car washed! All proceeds will go to to the YU Family.

Call 949-735-8477 with questions!

Update from Michael and Steve - 5/7/08 9:46 p.m.

Melissa Update Wednesday 05-07-08 8:55 p.m.
48th consecutive day in PICU at CHOC, Orange, California
71 cumulative days in ICU

Dear Friends,

Melissa finally slept this afternoon at 4 p.m. with medication. She had not slept for 24 hours, and she needs this rest.

This morning at 4:00 a.m. her fever returned. By 5:00 a.m., the fever had reached 40.3° C (104.5°F) and her heart rate was between 150 and 173. The doctors tried many medications but could not get the fever down, even with ice packs on her body. The neurosurgeon came at 7:00 a.m. and ordered a CT Scan. CT Scan showed an accumulation of fluid in her brain. The doctors will once again perform brain surgery tomorrow (Thursday, 5/8) beginning at about 6:30 a.m. The neurosurgeon will place a permanent shunt inside her body which will allow brain fluid to drain from her brain to her stomach directly. Please pray that the surgery will go smoothly and for an improvement of her fever and weak condition.

Blood lab results now show she has bacteria infection in her trachea area. She is being treated with an antibiotic called Meropenem.

Gastro-tube surgery has been postponed due to her current condition.

Her face seems less swollen than it has been.

I am so heartfelt that over million believers continue to pray for Melissa faithfully. This counts every one of you. Through Melissa, God draws us together as a body of Christ: we are one body, one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one faith. Believe the power of God will renew, restore, rebuilt, redo everything possible in Him for Melissa, and through her we may join together to experience what a powerful God we have.

God bless Melissa and all of us.

Michael

Additional note from Steve:

1. Since Marlene has gone back to work, please pray for her focus. Also, pray that God will protect her physically. Praise God that her co-workers have been very understanding and supportive.

2. Michael has taken on much more active role since Marlene has returned to work. Pray that God will continue to grant him strength.

3. Continue to pray for Maurice, Melodie and Mildred as they are growing up so quickly during this time.


God bless Melissa and all of us.

Thanks,
Steve.