Katie Update #11

Well, it is a gray and rainy day here in Augusta, but we believe that
the sun continues to shine on Katie's recovery. She had a very good day
yesterday and continued to do well throughout last night and this
morning. Her temperature has been normal for the past two days, and her
lungs appear to have mostly recovered from the complication a few days
ago. She will likely have some fluid in her lungs until she can wake up
and cough it all out, but the doctors think that the fluid is no longer
infected, which indicates that she is essentially over her pneumonia.
She is no longer positive for the flu virus and her blood cultures show
no sign of bacterial infection. These are all very positive signs of her
physical recovery.

From a neurological perspective, Katie has continued to show positive
signs, as well. Her last seizure was at 1:15 AM yesterday morning, and
that one was extremely short. While we are now approaching 36 hours
without seizure, the doctors are not yet ready to bring her back. Her
EEG scans still show some abnormal activity which the doctors are not
really able to read accurately; there is simply not enough historical
data on this type of activity to make any judgments as to what it means.
We believe that they may wait until they see the results of an MRI scan
before they make any moves towards lowering her Pentobarbitol levels and
bringing her brain back to consciousness. The MRI was scheduled for
yesterday evening, but it was rescheduled for tonight. We are praying
minimally for no further advancement of the lesions in her brain, and at
best for some indication of healing.

Overall, we are in much better spirits. Our friends and family continue
to shower us with love and support, which has helped us tremendously in
staying strong throughout this process. We continue to be thankful for
her incredible physical strength and hope and pray that any and all
neurological damage is reversible. We now assume that at best Katie
might be allowed to return to consciousness some time next week, though
we are prepared for a longer wait if necessary. It will probably be at
least another week or so after that before the neurological effects of
the medications wear off and we have any true indication of whether the
Katie we know and love is back with us completely. As ever, we thank you
for your continued prayers for strength and healing, and I will continue
to keep you updated as to her progress.

Sincerely yours,
Paul