Post by Paul Bogenrief: Melissa had a Baclofen medication pump surgically installed on Tuesday, September 25. On Sunday, October 7 the area where the surgery occurred started bleeding and swelling. Melissa was taken by her family to St. Joseph hospital for emergency treatment. Though the stitched up the area and discharged her, the bleeding continued and she began to show bruising. On Tuesday, October 9 she was admitted to CHOC and Dr. William Loudon will likely be performing additional surgery, opening up the area and cleaning it out. As of now, Melissa is currently in the hospital for observation. The family asks that you please keep her in your prayers.

Update May 7, 2012 by Paul Bogenrief --- Dear Friends, We apologize for long delay between our last update about Melissa, in November, 2010, and this one. In sum, Melissa has been doing wonderfully since the repair of her heart valve. In November, 2010, Melissa went through a week with several tests, and finally enrolled Coastline Community College special program call ABI – Acquired Brain Injury. She has worked very hard in this program, and has made very good progress. She enjoys participating in the ABI program very much which she attends Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. school time. When she finishes this two-year program at end of 2012 she will transfer to Irvine Valley College. She has completed her enrollment at IVC so pray for her future study there. She is still regularly received physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. She has shown marked improvement in every area, so for that we praise the Lord. As a result she is able to take care of 90% of her daily needs. Just a few weeks ago, Danny Mawuenyega was visiting California from Ghana. He had read about Melissa and God put it on his heart to ask his prayer group in Ghana to pray for her. On his visit, for the first time they were face to face. We stood around the living room and thanked God for His blessings upon Melissa. When we finished praying, Melissa reached up, put her arms around Danny's big, tall black shoulders, gently kissed his cheek and said, "Thank you, Danny, for praying for me." We just celebrated her 20th birthday on Saturday, April 28th. After a family luncheon, Marlene and Melissa went shopping. Melissa was rolling her wheelchair up our van’s wheelchair ramp when a piece of hardwood fell and hit her on the top of her head. Though she complained about the pain that evening, everything seemed all right. A quiet week went by, but on Sunday, May 6 in the early morning, Melissa experienced a severe headache and nausea. Marlene took her for an exam and a CT scan showed bleeding in her left brain. She was immediately admitted in ICU at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach. Today (5/7), she was transferred from ICU to neurology. While we can’t confirm the cause of the brain bleeding, the good news is that it may stop by itself. Even if it does not, surgery to correct it is not considered a major operation. Melissa has endured so much in the last four years since her first hospitalization, and so many people have prayed so earnestly for Melissa. Please, lift up Melissa in your prayers again today. Thank you; God bless you, In HIM, Michael, Marlene, Maurice, Melodie, and Mildred Yu

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010

Dear Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

We're truly grateful for your unwavering support, heartwarming friendship and especially for your prayers and care for Melissa.

May this year be full of blessings and prosperity for you and your loved ones.


God Bless You!

Sincerely,
The Yu Family

Melissa Discharged from Hoag Hospital Today!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for your faithful prayers for Melissa, it is very important for Melissa and us. Without your standing with us to pray, it would have been almost impossible for us to have made it to today.

On Tuesday, August 24, Melissa went through a 5 hour very tough and complex heart valve repair surgery. The fact that the surgeons were able to make the necessary repairs gives us great joy and we are truly grateful. On Wednesday, Melissa had to have two bags of blood transfused and began to develop fluid in her chest. On Thursday she had 250- cc of fluid drained, but tolerated it very well.

Her condition is stable now and her cardiologist said everything checks out normal. So, she was discharged this afternoon and is happily at home.

Please continue to pray for her:

1. That her scar will heal well;

2. That she will have good post-op follow ups and her rehab will go well (which will include P.T. / O.T. / S.T.);

3. That she will rest well this evening;

4. That her appetite will continue to improve; and

5. That her joyful spirit will stay with her.

Give all praise, thanks, and glory to our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus.

In His Love,
Michael and Marlene

Update 8/30/2010 by Paul Bogenrief ("Mr. B")

I visited Melissa this morning. She was sitting in the chair beside her hospital bed enjoying breakfast (scrambled eggs) and told me she could even order filet mignon if she wanted. She has a beautiful ocean view from her room. She was in great spirits and is looking forward to being discharged ... hopefully today or tomorrow. When she gets home we'll work on submitting an application for a service dog for her. She's really excited about that! In the photo above, Katharyn Stong visits Melissa at Hoag Hospital shortly after her surgery.

Paul "Mr. B" Bogenrief

Update 8/29/2010 by Paul Bogenrief ("Mr. B")

Dear Friends,

Melissa is now out of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and is in a regular room. She still had a bit of fluid in her lungs today so she underwent some X-rays. She is in tremendous spirits ... talking, laughing and joking with her mom and me. Her appetite is returning and she ate a good lunch today. Marlene said that they are expecting Melissa to be discharged within the next day or two ... though you know how it is in hospitals ... they never tell you anything! Melissa is definitely ready to get on with her life by going to college and (hopefully) getting a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence to help her with her daily routines. I promised to help her with getting a service dog to help her. I think it would make a tremendous difference in the quality of her life.

Blessings, all,

Paul "Mr. B" Bogenrief

Update 8/27/2010 by Paul Bogenrief ("Mr. B")

Dear Friends,

I visited Melissa this morning and presented her with her Teddy Bear. She was all smiles, talkative and in a great mood. Slowly but surely the tubes she's had to live with since the surgery are being removed. Though she's still in Cardiovascular ICU, it's expected that she will be moved to a regular room as soon as one becomes available. As of today the family is expecting her to remain at Hoag at least through the weekend.

Paul "Mr. B" Bogenrief