Nikki's been very brave these past few days. She's shown signs of improvement since the surgery. She's still admitted at PGH ICU, intubated, with NGT and a CPAP machine to help her breathe. From opening her eyes to a few seconds at a time the day after surgery , she now stays awake for up to 2 hours straight! She has limited movement on her R side. Definitely, left side is stronger (unaffected side). She's had a few episodes of focal seizures, which was explained to us as expected since her brain is affected. Her lung infection has cleared, praise God! This week, the doctors are planning to extubate her and insert a tracheostomy tube instead since the risk for infection is higher because of the intubation. They need to put a tracheostomy tube so the nurses can easily suction secretions since Nikki is unable to expectorate the secretions as of yet. The doctors are also planning to remove her NGT (naso-gastric tube) and insert a Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube instead. Please continue to pray for God's healing grace and powerful healing hands over Nikki! Pray that God will grant her COMPLETE and ULTIMATE healing!

LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.- Psalm 30:2