From FRIDAY MAY 20, 2005

Sam's vitals continue to be strong, and she's much more alert now--her eyes open and she looks around, and tries to move. She also responds to our voices. She is still on pretty heavy sedation and pain relievers, so she should be comfortable, but even on all the , she still manages to wake up here and there, though not completely. It's both a comfort and a concern to us; we love to see her open her eyes, and it's a good sign neurologically that she's doing all that, but at the same time, we to think she might be feeling any pain at all, even occasionally. She may be transferred to Shriner's today; the doctors at both places have been discussing it, weighing all the pros and cons, and wading through the various politics involved. Sam's case is fairly complicated, so it's not an easy decision, but everyone feels Shriner's has the expertise needed to deal with the most pressing concern right now, which is her skin/limbs. She's still on dialysis, but can continue that there, as the kidney team can consult at Shriner's as well. Shriner's is state-of-the-art, and can offer Sam her best chance at rehabilitation. I just spoke to some of her drs. minutes ago, and they think she should be transferred asap, so we'll see. The longer we wait on dealing w/the skin issue, the greater the chance of another infection, so time is of the essence. I will post again when she's moved; please continue to pray for her, as she still has a long journey ahead. Thanks so much, everyone, for all your kind thoughts and prayers. I know that Sam can feel how much she is loved.
Jessica