Meriah

Meriah continues to breathe on her own.  I was in with Crissy and Adam when the nurse transfered baby Meriah onto Adam's bare chest -- skin-to-skin time!  Meriah has a lot of mouth movement.  She looks like she's trying to nurse.  These mouth movements sometimes come without her being touched.  As she settled onto Adam's chest, she opened her eyes for the first time.&nb

Baby Meriah is off the ventilator and is breathing on her own.  Adam said she took advantage of her new freedom and stuck her tongue out.  The next few hours will be particularly critical.  Continue to pray that her breathing continues, and also that her brain functionality continues to be healed.

Praise God!

Adam and Crissy have made the decision to take Meriah off the ventilator.  They will not put her back on if she stops breathing on her own.  Her breathing still looks good.  Continue to pray.

Some recent photos of Meriah.

Adam and Crissy have spoken with the head doctor.  His recommendation is to go ahead and take Meriah of the ventilator.  He says that her lungs are completely clear now.  He expects that she will be able to breathe on her own now; she is initiating every breath on her own.  He says that more time on the ventilator will not improve her prospects.

I just arrived at the hospital.  Adam and Crissy spoke with the neurologist earlier.  He says that he is seeing some glimmer of hope.  He saw some response when shining the light in Meriah's eyes, and said her shoulder is stronger.  This is just a small positive sign, but it is enough that he has recommended keeping her on the ventilator to avoid adding additional stress to