Cycle 3 - day 19

Niamh seems better at last this evening.

Niamh was still not very well this morning. Her temperature had reached 38 again by 5am and her coughing was still bad. By the time she woke up around 8am, she was okish (calpol helps) but had low energy and was still not herself. She just wanted to watch tv and chill. Had a brief sleep in late morning. She was still not great early afternoon, she vomited (tube out)around 3pm. From then on started improving. She sat on the chair for a while doing stickers. By the time Emilie and auntie Caitlin arrived at 4pm she seemed much happier. She spent a good 30 mins in the bath splashing us all. Couldn't get her out, she was having the best time she has had in quite a while. Unfortunately she had to get out when the nurses arrived with the new ng tube. It went very smoothly today. She is still doing well this evening, her temperature remains around 37/37.3. We are a little concerned about her oxygen level which keeps dropping under 95 but nobody else seems worried!

As for yesterday's tests! The swine flu swab came back negative. The chest x ray was normal. The doctors have decided to change one of her antibiotics to meropenem.

We have been concerned that she was showing signs of PCP (a type of pneumonia children under chemo are quite prone to). The doctors can't rule it out yet but the tests they have done so far indicate that it is unlikely to be. More likely to be a virus. The frustrating thing is that if it is a virus then all the antibiotics and antifungal she is having are pointless. Unfortunately can't take any risks.

Her white cells today are 0.7 and neutrophils 0.4, very slowly going up. Her CRP is 18, still going down. The fact that her CRP is going down also indicates that it is unlikely that she is suffering from PCP.

So no discharge or home leave for the weekend but if her temperature remains ok, we may be able to go home very soon. HOPE!

It has been nice for Emilie to see her sister looking happier and sitting up. She gave her the biggest cuddle before she left.
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