Results Are In...

     Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for keeping our little Hazelnut and our family in your thoughts and prayers this weekend.  We just got home from our appointment, and the results are in:

     For those of you who may not be aware, Hazel has not been officially cancer free this past year.  Fifteen months ago, the doctors first declared her NED (No Evidence of Disease).  They saw a spot on her kidney light up on the MIBG scan (the one specifically done for Neuroblastoma), but deemed it normal kidney uptake.  At each subsequent scan, they would still see this spot, so they began to suspect this was not normal, but actually residual disease.  So with the help of a new machine, she was rescanned and it was, in fact, determined to be residual disease.  So over this last year, we have continued to watch this spot very closely, and have prayed for it to disappear so we could claim Hazel cancer free.  Her scans three months ago showed that the spot actually got smaller, but it was still lighting up, ever so slightly on the MIBG portion of the scan.  Today, the spot remained the same size, but there was ZERO UPTAKE ON THE MIBG!!!!  

     So clinically, she cannot be declared NED, but in my heart I truly believe GOD HAS HEALED HER!  

Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

     Of course, we will continue to be nervous and frightened that this beast might return, and will probably be for the rest of our daughter's life.  But I am reminded, that as I wait, I get to do so while resting in God's arms, and that even if the worst was to happen, we have a hope beyond this world.

Psalms 33:20-22 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name.  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

     Now that Hazel had reached her 1-Year-Post Treatment mark, and we are entering year 2, she will continue on the same schedule of scans every three months, for another full year. In year 3, she will then move to scans every four months.  Then in year 4, she will again move to scans every six months.  When she finally reaches year 5, and if she is still cancer-free, she can be declared in remission and then will only have to have scans once a year until her doctors deem it no longer necessary.  She still has a long road ahead, and we will always ask for and appreciate your prayers!  However, in the meantime, we will celebrate each day as a gift from God!