Lommel Takes First Breath Without Help of a Ventilator
By:
DULUTH - It's been a long road to recovery for the UMD student who nearly froze to death on her neighbor’s front porch two weeks ago.
Early Sunday morning, her family took a sigh of relief as Alyssa Lommel took her first breath without help.
According to Lommel’s CaringBridge site, doctors took her off the ventilator she was on to help her breathing.
Lommel has been trying to pull the tubes from her mouth in hopes to communicate with her family.
She has also grown restless and agitated. Reports say Lommel has been attempting to sit up and get out of bed.
Lommel’s family and doctors decided it would be best to keep her heavily sedated until she becomes strong enough to fully communicate.
As of Sunday afternoon, Lommel's breathing was short and shallow without the ventilator, but with help from a by-pap machine.
Doctors say she should be taking long deep breaths.
If her condition doesn't improve Monday, they could put her back on the ventilator.