A Christmas to remember

Merry Christmas from the Spectrum Spa! Brooke has had a cold for 2-3 weeks. Being the annoying mother and nurse I am I have been taking her pulse ox for over a week and it's been 88-91% (too low). We had her to her pediatrician office Saturday and they figured it was due to the congestion in her nose. Lungs sounded clear, so we suctioned her nose and treated it like a cold. Well, in true Brookie fashion, we came to clinic Wednesday, 12/24, for her "quick" visit and chemo and we are still here :) Her pulse ox was lower yet when we got here, 79% at one point, and she was retracting and grunting (all bad respiratory terms :) They did a chest xray that showed pneumonia but they wanted to know what kind. We were brought to peds ICU where they did a bronchoscopy. They put a small tube in her lungs and "washed" them and took a sample of the mucous. It came back pneumocystic pneumonia. It's a type of pneumonia that happens due to a decreased immune system from the steroids and chemo. So, they know what it is and she is being treated with IV antibiotics. She was also dehydrated from not wanting to eat, so she's had IV fluids. She is looking better, much more active and smiling. One of the doctors was just in and is impressed with her progress. No answer on when she will get to come home. Patience!!! We are Blessed to have her, so if this is where she needs to be we are ok with that. The other girls are doing well. A little disappointed they didn't get to see if Santa left things in their stockings but my guess is he did. Merry Christmas everyone and God Bless! The Koemans are TRULY Blessed and feel God's presence! He is the True meaning of Christmas!!! And we are grateful every day!!