Melissa needs our urgent prayers!

At 1 a.m., I received a call from Melissa' mom, Patti. She had my husband and I over to have a glass of wine and some appetizers with her and her husband since Patti's daughter, Rebecca took hospital duty so Patti could try to do something normal for a change. I was delighted that Patti had requested our company. We had only been for about 30 minutes when the call came. Patti needed us to take her son, Ben (17) for the night since they had to rush to the hospital (about one hour away). Melissa's lung had collapsed and that is all the details Patti had.

Could you please keep Melissa in your prayers today? She has worked so hard and now seems to be taking a few steps back. I will update you when I talk with her mom this morning.

Thank you and God Bless!

Please go to our Blessed Mother and ask for intercession for Melissa.

Blessed be God Forever!

Don't forget your rosary today!

Address for Melissa Re-post

Just thought I would re-post Melissa's address for those who need it to send her a card of encouragement and let her know that you are praying for her.

Again, thank you so much for your faithful prayers.

Your prayers mean so much to her family and myself.

I know that your prayers are being heard.

Please mail them to:
Melissa Hackney
c/o Strong Memorial Hospital
601 Elmwood
Rochester, NY 14642

Blessed be God forever!!

Don't forget your rosary today!

More info. on Melissa----

Just had a really great conversation with Melissa's mom, Patti tonight and wanted to update you on Melissa.

You might have noticed the water clip art on this post.

I put this there due to the fact that the first thing Melissa said to her mom, well she mouthed to her mom was that she was thirsty.

Patti was so excited to here those words from her.

I can visualize Patti dancing around the room saying,"She's thirsty, she's thirsty." I can also see Melissa looking at her mom like she is crazy. In fact, Patti said when she acted like that she would ask Melissa if she thought she was crazy and she would roll hers while shaking her head yes!!

Melissa has also mouthed (for those of you who don't know she has a trachea) I want a drink, I want soda, I want to get up.

Patti said that today was the best day she has had in 2 1/2 months.

She also asked her mom why she could not talk. Patti got out a mirror to show Melissa the trachea.

Patti always would say to her kids,"I love you all the way to the moon and back." You all know the wonderful book Guess How Much I Love You. Well, Melissa would say to her mom,"I love you to Pluto." Today, Patti told Melissa she loved her to the moon and back. Melissa mouthed,"Pluto."

I am sure Patti's eyes filled with tears on that one.

Your prayers are working!

Thank you my dear prayer warriors!

Please continue to pray for her as she will need our prayers to get her out of ICU and back to bone marrow and then on to rehab.

Blessed be God Forever!

Don't ever forget the power of prayer!

Oh, her last EEG came wonderful!

Love to all my prayer warrior and blogging buddies!

Melissa is not able to have water to drink as of this time; however, they were pleased to know she is feeling her thirst mechanism. It means her brain is working. She is also feeling the urge to go to the bathroom, but she has a foley catheter in place.

She sucks on swabs right now that have been soaked in water.

When Patti told me this, I thought of our Lord up on the cross and how He was handed a soaked sponge to sip from.

We do carry our crosses like our Lord, just in different ways! It is how we handle our cross that makes the difference. Our Lord was the ultimate great example!

Update on Melissa Hackney

Without God, how could we hope at all?

My dear prayer warriors,

Melissa has returned to ICU as of last night.

Her O2 Sats had been dropping and since there are only a few nurses on the bone marrow unit trained to work with critical care patients, the doctors felt it was better for Melissa to be back on the ICU.

We are hoping this is only temporary.

They believe she may have a mucus plug in her lungs (the mucus plug would most likely be blocking her airways so that the alveoli would not be able to expand as they are suppose to--in layman terms) or the reoccurence of the CMV (Cytomegalovirus).

She had a bronchialscope yesterday and they still awaiting the results. Melissa's mother (Patti) will keep me updated on what she finds out.

I will then keep all of you informed as I find out as well.

I ask for continued prayers and for all my Catholic prayer warriors, please offer up a "Hail Mary" and even your daily Masses for her.

She needs us and we cannot let her down!

Blessed be God Forever!

This just in on Melissa Hackney!!!!!!!!!!

Just received a text message from Patti, Melissa's mom and she has informed me that after 8 weeks and one day in ICU, Melissa has been transferred back to the bone marrow unit!!

Blessed be God forever!!

I hope each of you can see the power of prayer working here with this beautiful young woman!!

Thank you for all your prayers!!

Blessed Be God Forever!!

Keep the Prayers coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love seeing those beautfiul eyes!

This is a picture that is so precious.

I received this last night from dearest friend, Patti of Melissa.

Yes, her eyes are open.

She had periods of alertness yesterday and I cannot explain to you the excitement Patti had in her voice when telling me about the days events with Melissa.

Not only did she open her eyes throughout the day, she was able to track people when they talked to her.

Blessed be God Forever!

Her cousin is in from Florida and when she told Melissa she was there, Melissa opened her eyes and looked at her.

Patti also said that Rebecca (Mel's sister) purchased a picture of two angels and showed it to Melissa and she looked at it.

This is so wonderful and we can be reassured that through the prayers she is receiving, this is a HUGE sign of things to come.

Thank you everyone for all your prayers and I ask that you continue to pray for this beautiful young woman.

Don't forget to say your rosary today!

Our God is an AWESOME!

We love you Melissa and so happy to see those beautiful eyes!

Update on Melissa Hackney

Wonderful News on Melissa Hackney!

I spoke with my dear friend, Patti (Melissa's mother) tonight and she had some good news to share with me about Melissa.

Her progress is slow, but her third bone marrow did engraft so we can consider our prayers answered for that!

Blessed Be God!

She has been off the medication that put her brain at rest for about 5 days now. They will slowly wean her from the Versed that she is currently taking.

Today, (with many witnesses) Patti and Rebecca (Mel's sister) were able to arouse her enough to see her left eye follow them.

It is small progress, but what wonderful news!

Please keep your prayers coming.

I am looking forward to the day we can tell Melissa about all you wonderful people who have been praying for her.

I am also looking forward to posting pictures from the BIG party Patti and I have discussed about having once all of this is said and done.

God is an AWESOME God and He is listening to our prayers!1

Thank you my dear Prayer Warriors!!

Thank You!!

For all of you, I will say a "Hail Mary" as thanksgiving on the time you are giving up to pray for my dear friend's beautiful daughter.

God Bless!

Kimberly