Brenda was very alert today. She was smiling at her son and nephew. We have decided that we will still do daily updates, but they should generally be short. We will do daily updates until she is in rehab, but right now she is still critical. Today a she did breathing exercises for almost half the day. Please pray that she does not get any infections and she moves smoothly into rehab.[...]

Her heart is out of rhythm again today, but on a good note she does not have pneumonia only a staff infection that is bein treated. Her next surgery is still on for Dec. 6 and the doctors are still lowering her sedation levels. She is still critical mad in need of your prayers.

Brenda rested well. The Doctor is lowering her sedation so that she is able to breath on her own. She was actually taken off the ventilator today and could breath on her own. She was put back on it before she went to sleep, just a precaution. While she is improving you must remember she is still critical and at any moment something could happen. Keep praying, they are working.

Brenda slept well, and this morning she had her dressings changed. The normal routine of breathing exercises and physical exercises took up most of the morning. They have decided to wean her off her pain medication, which is a sign of improvement. The culture I mentioned in previous updates is in fact growing somehting, they are trying new anit-biotics to kill it. Her ohysical therapist came in this afternoon and Brenda cooperated well. The therapist asked her what her first name is and she mouthed "Brenda" and she mouthed "Brands" when asked her last name. SHe was also able to mouth her birthday when asked. The therapist showed her a green card and shewas able to mouth "green". Her next surgery will be December 6th and I will update you everyday until then. After the surgery updates will probably be weekly unless something happens. Please keep praying, she is still in critical conndition and at any moment things could take a turn for the worse. As a burn patient she is very fragile. [...]

Brenda has had a busy, but successful day. Her 3rd operation was at 8:15 a.m. and she came out at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Perry was able to complete her stomach, face, and part of one of her arms. They also did her breathing exercises and physical exercises. The Occupational therapist measured her for a brace that will keep her arms away from her body. They have to do this so that the burn on her armpit area can heal and be treated. When they did the skin graft on hr face they did not do the upper portion due to the fact that she only had 2nd degree burns there and it is not necessary. Keep praying for her recovery, she is still critical, but she is doing better. [...]

Brenda had a good night, her heart rate and blood pressure stayed at a healthy level. The Occupational therapist paid her a visit today, Brenda was able to squeeze her right hand and move her toes. She also exercised her arms and legs. She is scheduled for her next skin graft tomorrow morning at 8:15, unfortunately they are going to have to shave her head. In order to help the burns on her face, they have to take skin from her scalp (the skin on your scalp is the closest match to the skin on your face). Earlier I mentioned that she had two cultures taken in order to determine if she had bronchitis or not. One culture came back and there was some evidence of staff, but that will be treated with vancomycin. This afternoon they changed her dressing, and no she is resting peacefully. Doctor Perry would like us to remind everyone that Brenda's injuries are critical and her age is playing a big role in her survival. Pray that her surgery goes well tomorrow and that the 2nd culture will show nothing out of the ordinary.[...]

Today Brenda got her 2nd skin graft. They did the another 10% of her body. This was the right side of her torso, so now her entire torso is finished. She had a aphib-probe in her upper thigh that was not reading her pulse correctly so they had to fix it. Brenda is lucid enough to feel some discomfort, in fact, she reached her arm up and tried to rip out the tubes that were going into her mouth. They put in a trache, she is now more comfortable because the tubes are out of her mouth. Brenda is recieving preventive treatment for bronchitis, the biopsy results will come back tomorrow.  She should be getting her next skin graft on Wednesday, the time has not yet been decided. Pray for comfort and her recovery.[...]

Last night her heart rate and blood pressure got out of control and she had to be put back on medication. The nurses fear that she may have bronchitis. This can either be minor or major. She is currently being given antibiotics so that the bronchitis does not develop into pneumonia. You must understand that if this develops into pneumonia it could be fatal. We will not know the results of the bronchitis test for two days, but the nurse are not taking any chances and they are watching her closely. The nurse said that brochitis is not unusual with patients on ventilators and as long as they attack the problem early on she should be okay. She is scheduled to recieve her next skin graft on Monday morning; if she is diagnosed with bronchitis it will not affect the procedure. Today she will have her dressings changed and the nurses will be working to control her heart rate and blood pressure. This is a critical moment for your prayers.She is on the fence. She can either make it through this and continue improving, or she could fall off the fence and contract pneumonia. Please pray for the bronchitis test to either be negative or treatable. Pray that the angels will sing to her, and calm her erratic heart.  [...]

Brenda's condition has not changed, but lucky for her they cut down the frequency of her breathing treatment. She now only has to do the treatment every 4 hours instead of every 2. She absolutley hates the treatment. She is still in critical condition, but thanks to all your prayers and the love of these nurses, she is not declining. [...]

Well, Brenda was very alert today. She had her eyes open and would move her extremities. The Docotor is hoping to schedule another skin graft on Monday aorund noon, this will hopefully include putting in a trache. A trache is a breathing tube that will be attached at her throt, this will be so much be so muh more comfortable for her, as she will not have tubes in her mouth. The heart doctor visited Brenda today and said her heart rate and blood pressure were acceptable. Also, the physical therapist stopped by to exercise her hands and arms. They would move her fingers out and lift her arms. This afternoon a different physical therapist came in to exercise her legs. Please realize that Brenda is still in critical condition, but she is progressing. We like to remind you of this because at any moment she could contract pneumonia or an infection. She is in a very delicate state.[...]