More ICU

Celeste is still in the ICU at LDS Hospital, but she is breathing on her own now, her ventilator tube was removed Monday afternoon.  She remains on oxygen support, but she can rest much better now that the tube is gone.  She had a brief respite Monday before starting chemotherapy again - Tuesday she struggled with nausea and vomiting from the chemo, but she woke up feeling much better this morning. 

This round of chemotherapy is different than what she has had before, it is designed to target the cancer without harming her white blood cells or platelets so her body can continue to fight infection.  The doctors decided to move forward with more chemo sooner than later after determining that her fevers and inflammation were being caused by the cancer, not by the infections she's been fighting.  We were concerned that chemo is a lot to ask of her body right now, but it has already helped, she hasn't had a fever for two days. 

Last night Celeste started talking again - she had a conversation for a few minutes with Dad, and was able to communicate with the Stake Presidency when they came to see her, she asked for a blessing.  This morning she is talking more and her sense of humor is here, she has been teasing her nurse. She has quiet times when she is huddled inside just hanging on, but she can still flash that smile. She is still struggling with nausea, but her feet are less swollen and the pain in her abdomen has subsided, yay!  The next step will be to move her from the ICU to Oncology when she is ready.  Thank you all for your prayers, we can feel and are blessed daily by your support.