Offical Report

Here are Ivee and Ethan last month. He wanted to hold her. So sweet. PS. i AM AN AUNT AGAIN. MY SISTER JUST HAD HER BABY GIRL (#2), 7LBS 4 OZ. DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT NOW. WHEN I KNOW, YOU'LL KNOW. Okay, we are in the hospital today for the 2nd part of our 6 months of chemotherapy. The oncologist brought us the radiologist report. Officially the radiologist and the oncologist see no visible signs of cancer, and the spinal tap came back negative of cancer cells. So, I guess in layman's terms, Ivee is cancer free as far as anyone can tell. She still has a seroma (cyst) like place where the surgery was, but this is the fluid build up, which has gone down considerably. So anyway, it is unbelievably great news.
Emmett told the oncologist, or reminded her, that almost 4 months ago, they told us that chemotherapy would not impact the tumor at all cause it is an aggressive and quick growing cancer, and chemo never showed any signs of having an affect on this cancer. The only treatment that ever made any progress was total resection (surgery) of the tumor and radiation. She was too young for radiation. The chemo was to just get her past her 1st birthday so that they could try radiation. They didn't even like to do radiation in children under 3 years old. Only 24 cases (people) a year are found to have this kind of cancer. I remember that doctor coming in 1 week after Ivee's brain surgery to tell us the pathology of the tumor. The statistics only gave Ivee a 30% survival rate. Well, she has beat the odds and all other logical reason. I mean...look at it. All that they said would or wouldn't happen has totally proven that science is not exact. They said she had a 30% chance, that she would be extremely sick from the chemo, that she would throw up, that she would have to have radiation...and none of that has happened. The oncologist said that it is definitely a miracle, and that we were right to never lose hope.
We know what has happened. The same person who pushed her from that grocery cart back in December, is the same person who took what was left of her tumor and made it...disappear. He has had his hand in all of this from the beginning of her life to right now. She is an amazing creation of God, and he has something special in mind for my little Ivee.
Now, she will have to finish out her chemotherapy roadmap, so we will continue until June with the chemo, and then we'll have another MRI to make sure she is still good to go. I'm sure for the next few years, she'll have to have checkups to make sure all is well.
Her road is still a long one. She still can't eat by mouth, so we'll have to continue with occupational therapy to get that ability back. She still is at the stage of a 5/6 month old, so we've got to get her to the age level she is suppose to be at, that means continually physical therapy.
Life will still not be back to normal for a very long time, but I still have my Ivee here in my life, and that is more important than her capabilities right now.
THANK YOU for your prayers and commitments to us. Remember to pray for her health, cause she is still very susceptible to illness since she is still on chemo. Pneumonia and other illnesses are still a big threat to her. We are in the process of starting the stairs to the attic very soon, so that Ivee can have her own room. Pray that the finances will be there as we need them (that will take some planning and being wise on our part). Pray for those who are helping us with that project (that they will be safe and no one will cut a finger off or something). Don't forget to comment. I enjoy them so much. Love to all of you...and PRAISE GOD!