My apologies for not updating for so long. This is where you should be able to quickly check on Celeste. She has been struggling so much it is difficult to write about. After the RICE chemotherapy she remained fever free for about one week. Her platelet counts remain low and she has transfusions for those every other day. Her white blood cell count has been parked at .1 for almost a week.
On Sunday 2/26 she had a low grade fever that we tried to explain away with sleeping under heavier/warmer blanket. By Monday she was spiking fevers into 103 and 104 degrees. CT scan on Tuesday was taken to make sure there were no pockets of infection lurking somewhere. Good news from the scan is that the tumors are responding to chemo and are shrinking significantly. No signs of infection. Weds night a Bronchoscopy was performed to suck up fluids in her lung and test/culture them. Most of those cultures and tests have not come back. The preliminary finding is that she has the human metapneumovirus (hMPV). In a child we would call it RSV. Simply put - she has a viral pneumonia. She is suseptible because she is immunosuppressed.
She is on 6 different IV antibiotics, 2 IV antifungals, and oral antiviral. Between transfusions, antibiotics and maintenance fluid, something is always running into her. All of these things cannot really fight the hMPV. She needs to create white blood cells to do that. Last night they ran a loading dose of IVIG (immuno globulin). It will be given to her every other day for a total of 5 doses. It is hoped this can give her a 'leg up". She also has a daily neupogen shot to stimulate her bone marrow. Today she has rested better and not had as many coughing spells. Coughing causes her to gag and vomit. Morphine was added today to calm her lungs. It has helped but she is also very groggy. At midnight last night her fever had reached 105 degrees. Because of her wretching she sometimes looses the fever medication and it can't be replaced for a certain amount of time.
Celeste has times when she gets emotionally tired as well as physically exhausted. She is still committed to continue fighting. Robert and Pres. Pike are giving her another blessing tonight. A friend who has also fought cancer visited yesterday and left this poem with her - it expresses what we all feel!
I believe in angels,
the kind heaven sends.
I am surrounded
by angels, but I call them friends.
An angel like you, Celeste, deserves to have angels and friends around you. Love and prayers always, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Val
ReplyDeleteCeleste,
ReplyDeleteThis update from your Mom brings heaviness to my heart as I read it. I hate to see you in pain and having to go through the roller coaster you are experiencing! Thank you for the privilege of sharing time with you. Last Sunday was very special as we spent God’s Holy Day together. It was a witness to me that you are indeed in His hands.
As we visited Sunday, the topic of a “Perfect Brightness of Hope” came up. You expressed it means that you have faith that you are worthy to meet our Savior. You said “Don’t get me wrong Aunt Peggy I’m not giving up, but if I don’t make it I will be fine. If I die, it’s OK.”
We went on to talk about a perfect brightness of hope and what that means to both of us. Not that either of us think we are ready to leave this earthly experience, or learned everything we need to or by any means perfect, nothing like that. But rather that we have peace in our hearts that because we are trying our best to be obedient to His commandments and live life’s that are pure, we could stand before our Savior. That because of His Grace He would welcome us and we could continue to learn and grow.
You know my dear niece that I love you so VERY MUCH. I have a tender place in my heart for all the suffering you have had to endure in your short 22 years. You have shared with me, how for so many years you have faced ill health and what you have learned through each new battle. You certainly are being refined by a loving Heavenly Father! You are a fighter and I know you will continue to smile and inspire us!