Life Update July 2021

Hey everyone! This is Melissa. It has been awhile since I wrote here… due to the pandemic, there was nothing to write, except staying safe! Although I made it through, I still need to be careful. A little update on what is happening since the pandemic. I am still walking, but short distance and inside our apartment. My two strokes plus car accident pushed me back… PLUS for the pandemic, I wasn’t able to go to the gym to do exercise. I recently just started to go back to the gym because everything started to reopen. I am glad that I am still able to regain my ability to do what I needed to do… just have to work EXTRA hard. ;) Almost everyone gain a few pounds… 😛 (a little joke of course). We are all in this together. Be safe and take care! Until next time… God bless. -Melissa Yu Mijares

Hey everyone! It is been a few years since I updated my blog. So... I should probably update it first, right? ;) Over a year and four month ago, I got married. I continue to do well, as I relearn and regain my ability to walk again. As you know, I got into a car accident almost three years ago. I hope everyone is going well and staying at home. A few of my friends are wondering why I haven't written yet. So there will be a few changes. I stopped going to school at the moment due to the coronavirus. There is the online schools, but for me, I cannot do it. I cannot do online classes for school. After I found out they are only doing it online, I decided to stop and resume when everything is over. After the chaos and the coronavirus is over, I will be transferring to Saddleback College. Coronavirus is very scary. I do not know when it will be over, but pray that it will come soon. My walking is okay. When it gets cold, my legs will get stiff. I am trying to be healthy and staying home. Until then, be safe and stay home. Happy Good Friday everyone! -Melissa Yu Mijares

Over about a month ago, I decided it was time to take out my brace. My boyfriend encourage me to take out my brace, but when I am ready to do so. I put on my regular shoes, and I started to roll with my walker. At first, I wasn't used to it, because I had my brace for over eight years now. It wasn't used to it, due to my situation that I am partly parallel on my right side. Today, I am still working on strengthening my right leg and my right foot. It is getting better. Little by little, I will eventually get there where I need to be. It will just take time to do so. Well, that is it for right now. I resume back to school in this February at Orange Coast College. I am still taking 5 1/2 hours long classes, but it is only once a week doing Interior Design. I will write more when my schedule is less busy. :) -Melissa Yu

Hi everyone! This is Melissa Yu... again. I'm starting a new semester at Orange Coast Coast. I'm continuing my Interior Design and also, I'm starting back on Spanish again. Although it is a college course, it will go fast (for me at least, because of my situation and my injury). I believe I will succeed if I work hard and focus on my priorities... which is finishing up OCC (Orange Coast College), and transferring... again. :D I did a few transfers already, but it is not over yet. God has a bigger plan for me. There is a reason why I'm still alive and living... and I was chosen and saved again; By His name, to spread the word of MY story... and how it affect ME and MY view of life today. It was not happening to everyone. They were chosen for a reason, and either to appreciate life and cherish it, or go to waste. For my situation, I'm going to cherish it, every single day, because who knows what is going to happen tomorrow. I will finish my Interior Design certificate. I don't know exactly the date yet, but at least I'm going for my goals. I will graduation. I will do a few more lists for my goals, but at least it will be from the start, right? :D -Melissa Yu :)

I transferred (again) to Orange Coast Coast, because the one that I wanted to take is not in the program for IVC (Irvine Valley College). I'm studying Interior Design for right now. It starts at 8am-12:30pm (4 1/2 hours), but only meets once a week; mostly lectures, speakers, and some other exciting stuff... I like it though! I'm just updating the latest news because some people were asking me. I will write more when something interesting happened. ;) haha :D :) -Melissa Yu

Hi again! This is Melissa Yu, if anyone wanted to know. My update on what's happened to me for the fall. So the emergency hospital doctors said that it will be at least six months for it to fully recovered and healed (My scar). It will heal in time... just need to have patients... and stay away from the SUN :( ;). In about six month to a year, it might still improve gradually, but otherwise, it will remain the same after six months (my scar). Thank you for your prayers and concerns. It means a lot to me. :D God bless you, and again, thank you for your prayers! -Melissa Yu, self

On Sunday, February 23, 2014, at night time, Melissa was rushed into the emergency hospital. She was brushing her teeth earlier, as she was finished, she dropped something. She bent down to pick something up, and she lost her balance, and she fell to the floor. As Melissa fell down, she hit her right eye area on the table, and she started bleeding constantly. In the HOAG emergency room, at around 9:30p.m., as the clock was ticking, back and forth, back and forth, the doctors finally finished her operate, at around 1a.m. The doctors said there was a lot of stitches... lost count how many she has; but Melissa said, she was happy that she's alive... again. Pray that the recovery goes smoothly, and that the right eye area will be back to normal. Thank you for your concerned. God Bless YU! :) Melissa Yu (self) and Michael Yu, Marlene Yu, and Mildred Yu

Happy Thanksgiving to all! -Melissa Yu

Hey everyone! This is Melissa Yu! :) I am writing this now, because I'm getting better... at typing and saying what I need to say. :) In the Fall of 2010, I entered Coastline Community College, Acquired Brain Injury Program. New journey, new life... as I like to say. :) In the transferring, I was a little nervous, because after you have had a brain injury, it is more difficult to sustain your attention... for you to process what you are going to say. Well, I graduation from Coastline Community College, Acquired Brain Injury Program in December 2012, and transferred to Irvine Valley College. This September, it will be my second year here at Irvine Valley College (September 2011-Present). I began my NEW adventure... a journey to my life. Meeting new people, and sharing my story to others. IVC DSPS (Disabled Students Programs and Services) is very helpful, if you have a difficult time with something. Right now, I'm taking Grammar & Paragraph Skills and Adapted P.E. It is helping me to get better, on writing and to do my exercise ;) :). Haha :D Well, I hopefully will write some more... but that's it for right now! :) God Bless YU! :D -Melissa Yu Myself

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

Update 8/26/2010 By Paul Bogenrief ("Mr. B")

Dear Friends,

I visited Melissa last night. She was still in Hoag's Cardiovascular Intensive Care unit. She looked great ... lots of color in her face ... though she had a rough afternoon having to have 250 cc of fluid drained from her chest. I'm looking forward to visiting her today to deliver a Teddy Bear I made at the Build a Bear Workshop in Fashion Island. It has a heart on its chest which I thought was symbolic of Melissa's now fully functioning heart.

Paul "Mr. B" Bogenrief

Surgery a Success!

8/24/2010: 1:20 p.m. PDT

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

We checked Melissa in at Hoag Hospital at 5:00 a.m. this morning. At 6:45 she was transferred to the anesthesia area to meet with her anesthesiologist. At this point we went to the waiting room. At 12:45 p.m. Dr. Raney came out and announced, happily, that the heart valve repair surgery had been successful! At this time Melissa is still in recovery. Later she will be transferred to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) so they can keep a close watch on her vital signs. She will stay in the CVICU for two nights. Praise to our Almighty God for His Great Work in all of this! And thank you all for your fervent prayers ... PRAYER WORKS!

Praising Him,

Michael and Marlene Yu

Heart Surgery Scheduled for August 24

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Melissa is scheduled to undergo her heart valve repair surgery next Tuesday, August 24. We will be arriving at HOAG Hospital in Newport Beach at 5:00 a.m. in the morning. Surgery is scheduled to begin around 7:00 a.m. and is expected to last four or five hours. After surgery she will be sent to Hoag’s Intensive Care Unit for monitoring. If everything goes as planned and her vital signs are normal, she will be discharged by the weekend.

It has taken us 6 months to reach this point. First, Melissa was referred to Dr. Aiden Raney, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon. On July 1 Melissa underwent a trans-esophageal echo test which showed that her heart valve is repairable. The prognosis is very favorable with a chance of 80 – 90% that the surgery will be successful. If it is not, doctors will need to replace the damaged mitral valve. Melissa has been really busy preparing for the surgery with lots of tests needing to be run beforehand to make sure she is healthy and strong enough for the surgery.

We ask you to stand with us together and pray for Melissa’s upcoming heart surgery. This is a complex surgical procedure involving putting her into a deep sleep, shutting down her circulation and removing her heart to repair the valve. We believe that for all saints, prayer is very powerful when done in unity. Prayer works. Through all of us uniting in prayer, we can be assured that it will help Melissa’s surgery go smoothly.

Specifically, we ask you to pray for the following:

1. for the surgery team ... all of the doctors and nurses... that they will work in unity and harmony during the surgery;
2. for Melissa to maintain a strong and joyful spirit;
3. for the chief cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Aidan Raney;
4. for the supporting cardiologist, Dr. Pravin Shah, who is teaming with Dr. Raney;
5. for Melissa’s post surgery recovery ... that she will be able to rest, tolerate the pain, and that her scar heals well;
6. for Michael, Marlene and the family, that we will have enough wisdom and energy to handle all things.

Thank you for your prayers, love and time. May God bless you all.

Emmanuel,
Michael & Marlene Yu

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