Melissa Graduates from High School Today

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Melissa has been busy between school and therapy. Her days begin with four hours of school followed in the afternoon by acupuncture treatments, physical therapy, occupational therapy and hand rehab. Her slow but steady step-by-step positive recovery is very encouraging to us. She is very close to being able to take care of her daily routine. Recently, she was able to shower twice all by herself, and she can now move her right hand and leg herself ... this is tremendous progress – a miracle, really. Doctors had told us that she would be paralyzed for life, but through prayer and faith, she has proven the doctors to be wrong.

Today, however, is especially important. Today, Melissa will graduate from University High School in Irvine. She will walk onto the stage and receive her high school diploma. Despite her ordeal, she is graduating on time with her class! Praise God!

We thank all of you for your love and prayers. We’d like to give a special thank-you to Doug Coe from the National Prayer Breakfast and International Foundation, whose letter gave Melissa much encouragement.

Your continued prayers for Melissa are greatly appreciated. Please pray particularly for her heart valve repair surgery which we expect to do this summer.

Emmanuel,
Michael Yu

Message from Michael Yu - May 14, 2010

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors:

Thank you for your love and prayers for Melissa. She is now expected to have heart surgery to repair her damaged heart valve this summer, so we ask that you continue to pray for her.

Taiwan's GOOD TV produced a special program "Miracle Girl – The Melissa Yu Story" which aired on May 13. You may view the program (it's in Chinese) by using the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjFFukWZeE0

May all the glory be to the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. May the Spirit touch your heart and bless your life. Let us trust in the Lord our Savior. Never give up. Always believe that God can and does work miracles. Keep a joyful heart all the times under any circumstance and receive comfort from our Counselor through His Word.

God bless you and have a wonderful journey in life.

Michael Yu

Happy 18th Birthday Melissa!

Melissa's family hosted a beautiful birthday party in the park for Melissa last Saturday! Here are a few pictures of the big event. Her actual birthday is April 28th, so make sure you wish her a great day!!

Update from Michael and Marlene February 3, 2010

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your faithful prayers for Melissa. Thanks to your prayers and support, her 18th surgery went very well last Wednesday.

We checked into CHOC last Wednesday morning at about 7:30 a.m. and went through all of the required pre-operation examinations. At about 10:30 she was anesthetized and the surgery began at 10:45. The surgery lasted about two and a half hours and was completed by 1:15 p.m. She remained in recovery until about 3:00 p.m. and then was transferred to her room. When she awoke, she was in some pain but, praise the Lord, the pain did subside. Melissa was discharged Thursday afternoon. At her doctor visit on Friday everything was fine. We will visit the doctor again this Thursday (2/4).

During the surgery, the doctor inserted a tiny telescope through her mouth into her throat. Then, he cut her neck skin about 10 cm to cover the hole and stitched the opening to close it.


Once again, thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Melissa as she still faces two more surgeries: the first to close the G-tube hole in her stomach, and the second to replace her damaged heart valve.

Emmanuel,

Michael & Marlene

Melissa Update - Friday, January 29, 2010

Dear friends,

Melissa was admitted to CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County) on Wednesday morning for her 18th surgery to close her tracheocutaneous fistula, the opening created during her tracheotomy, which has not closed on its own.

Schedule:

1. 2010-01-27 (Wed. 7:30 am [23:30 pm Hong Kong; Beijing; Taiwan]). Check in and pre-op test and exam.

2. 2010-01-27 (Wed. 10:15am [2010-01-28 Thu. 2:1 5am Hong Kong; Beijing; Taiwan]). Surgery begins.

3. 2010-01-29 Fri. Noon. Check out; return home.

Prayer Requests:

1. Pray that the operation is successful and without further complications;

2. Pray that God will provide Melissa peace, comfort and strength, and will relieve her fear;

3. Pray that Melissa’s recovery will be smooth and normal;

4. Pray that the Holy Spirit anoints her with joy.

Emmanuel,
Michael Yu

P.S. CHOC prohibits visitors due to H1N1

Update 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

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