Celeste Fleck has been a patient of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital since she was three years old, but her life-threatening problems haven’t dampened her spirit.

Celeste Fleck is a typical seven year old who loves to dance, draw, and write, and dreams of being a model someday. She became a patient at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) in August 2001 and was diagnosed with systemic juvenile arthritis on her first visit.

“ It has been pretty rough,” said Carrie Fleck, Celeste’s mom. “Most children lose the systemic part of arthritis and are left with the residual damage, but Celeste’s remains systemic. At the time of the diagnosis, steroids were the main treatment, and Celeste’s condition continued to become more severe.”

Many people rely on modern-day medicine as they hope for a cure or temporary relief, and this rings true for Celeste. Her body has built up immunity to every medicine they have tried so far, and her parents are beginning to see signs of resistance to her current medication. As researchers uncover new medications, Mark and Carrie are anxiously waiting, with the help of doctors at TSRHC.

“The communication with the doctors at TSRHC is phenomenal,” said Carrie. “It’s amazing to watch them interact, and they are very informative. I know so much about this disease because of them.”

Since her diagnosis, Celeste has been hospitalized several times and on April 23, 2004, a day the family will never forget, complications of the disease were expected to take her life, but Celeste’s determined spirit pulled her through. She would need this same spirit in the months to come as she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit six times in six months. Eventually, her condition improved enough to go home.

“ I honestly believe that the reason we have Celeste today is because of the doctors at TSRHC,” said Carrie. “Celeste’s condition is so severe, and their expertise is unmatched. When Celeste was really sick, TSRHC was like a lifeline. Dr. Punaro would walk in, and immediately the weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I knew she would take care of her, and I didn’t feel so alone.”

In July, Celeste went to Camp John Marc for the first time, a haven for kids with chronic illnesses. Each year, Camp Joint Adventure provides arthritis patients at TSRHC with a week full of activities, a chance to get away from hospitals and to be a kid again.

Today, Celeste is a second grader at Life School in Red Oak, the same school her older brother, Austin, goes to. Mark and Carrie instill in Celeste right now what most parents want their children to learn throughout life.

“ I don’t want her to grow up feeling sorry for herself,” said Carrie. “I tell her that whatever is big for her, there are kids that have it worse than she does. All we can do is deal with what we have. We try to see the good that can come out of this.”

Celeste is a typical seven year old, but one with such an unexplainable spirit that people are naturally drawn to her. This is the same spirit that has gotten her to where she is today.