Major Update on 7-Week-Old Baby Tragically Hit by Softball

Brendon Fallon
5/24/2018
Updated:
9/28/2018

The two-month-old baby, who was severely injured after being hit by a softball earlier this month, has opened her eyes and showed other positive signs of recovery, a relative has informed supporters via social media.

The baby’s great aunt, Laura Heise added that baby McKenna Hovenga has also started tracking her mother’s face and voice.

Heise said that the infant performed well during a two-hour breathing test on Monday morning.

“McKenna did excellent on her third Spontaneous Breathing Trial and went for the full two hours,” she posted on the Facebook page Healing for McKenna.

“The word is that they will wait until Wednesday to extubate … They want to give her time to regain her strength after what happened on Saturday,” when McKenna suffered a seizure.

“They really want to have her as awake as possible, while remaining seizure-free before they attempt extubation,” she added.

McKenna has been at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, since May 2.

Heise said that doctors at the clinic have noticed some darting eye movement, which could be the result of injury or a side effect of the anti-seizure medication that she is on.

According to Heise’s earlier post, McKenna hasn’t had a seizure since late Saturday. The family is thus hopeful that she will gain more control over her eye movement as she is weaned off the medication.

According to Fox News, McKenna was with her parents at a softball field in Shell Rock when she was hit by a softball, causing a skull fracture. She was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to the Mayo Clinic.

Doctors have said that recovery will be day-to-day. Scans have indicated a possibility of significant damage in at least one area of her brain.

Heise’s most recent post was optimistic about McKenna’s recovery.

“She is making some great strides and is coming back to us more and more as each day passes. And for that we could not be more grateful,” she wrote.

McKenna’s recovery continues to be tracked by supporters.

(Screenshot via Healing for McKenna/Facebook)
(Screenshot via Healing for McKenna/Facebook)

Cards, toys, and blankets from well-wishers all over the world fill her hospital room.

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