Another Good Day...

Alese is breathing better and has become less dependent on oxygen, her lungs still have a little fluid in them. Dr O. told us yesterday that her revovery will not be overnight and it will be several weeks until she feels some normality. She is still very weak from the trauma of this surgery.

The catheter was removed today and she was started on a liquid diet. Hopefully, she'll put on some much needed weight to her 115 pound frame.

She finished her first cycle of chemotherpay this evening, so far, she's tolerated it well. This will be the last chemo she'll have for at least 10 days. Doctors expect to see a dip in her blood numbers over the next week, but as soon as the counts return, she'll recieve another cycle. She asked the doctor when she could go home? Dr. Popplewell kind of laughed and said "Lets get you out of ICU first."

Since she's been awake, we've been moved by the smallest things. Alese's little cough, watching her drink water from a paper cup, listening to the sound of ice cubes being crunched in her mouth. Most of all, listening to her precious voice fill the air. We thought we were going to be planning a funeral, instead we're planing on taking her home.

Father, we thank you for these daily improvements we're seeing in Alese, please continue to heal her body, protect her from any further infection and please Lord, keep her from enduring further suffering.

We request your continued prayers for Alese, along with Paul and myself, we are both operating on very, very little sleep.

Kathy