Amanda I. Update

Amanda has been released from UCLA and is resting comfortably in our room. We will stay locally for a few more days and then try to hitch a ride home. We were blessed to come out here on a flight through Corporate Angel Network and hope to return the same way. Hopefully, we will return to NC sometime this weekend or next week.
This is the first time I have been on the computer since before the surgery so I wanted to thank all of you for your warm thoughts and prayers. God is good and He has definitely made His presence known to us, to Amanda and to those we have met along this journey. We are humbled by the amazing people that God has placed along our way - from friends flying 2600 miles to give blood, to friends on their knees praying for us, to uplifiting emails and letters, to new friends made in the hospital, to the wonderful doctors and nurses caring for our precious child. Thank you!
We are so thankful to everyone and especially to God for allowing Amanda to be blessed and be doing so well. Neurologically, she is doing great -- no seizures since the surgery (Praise God!!!!!). She is pretty fiesty given as she still has quite a bit of pain, but the doctors say that it is good that she is so fiesty. Every so often she opens her eyes and yells at the top of her lungs to let us know that she definitely has an opinion on things. Each day, she gets a little bit better. She has actively played with toys, smiled once (a few days ago), and finally got her voice back so we can hear her (she had lost it due to a thrush infection). She has started eating again and has held down all of her food for over 24 hours. All the signs are good that she will continue to do very well. We humbly thank God for giving her the strength and spirit to get through this surgery. We are faithful that God has healed Amanda through this surgery and that she will continue to touch lives (as she has ours) for many, many, many, many, years to come.
God tells us in His word that He will hear our cries and save our children and He has proven true to His word. "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!!" Praise God!! Thanks again for all of your warm thoughts and prayers. May God continue to Bless you and your families.
Susan