It sounds like Stacy Sykora had significant swelling in her brain that could be managed with nonsurgical therapy. The procedure they refer to is likely a intrcranial pressure monitor that is either a cathether that is placed in the fluid chambers of the head (ventricles) or lies on the outside surface of the brain. It seems that she had developed blood either on the surface of her brain (subdural hematoma) or contusions. Regardless, by reading the reports, it sounds like her brain is swollen and that she was in a medically induced coma to reduce brain activity to manage increase intracranial pressures. As far as her recovery is going, it seems as if they got her extubated from the ventilators and that she is now talking. It is hard to say what her prognosis is. If she has significant injuries to the left side of her brain, her speech can be harmed. She will likely need a neuropsychologist to follow her along in the long run and need rehabilitation.
