Rachel Update

I haven't written about the MRI in a timely fashion but we did get some good news. They think that Rachel is responding to the radiation. Her hair fell out last week, just in time for Halloween. They can't see much of a change in the MRI but they feel confident that it's working. There hasn't been much time for the treatments to show a whole lot of progress. They also aren't sure if her tumor and cancer cells will ever disappear. Because she's been on chemo so long the tumor has matured and might just turn into something like scar tissue. They think that all of the cells are already or are becoming non-cancerous. There has been a little shrinkage in the tumor so that's a good sign. The only way to know for sure if the cancer's gone is to remove the entire tumor. This would cause unnecessary damage and possibly even paralysis. The doctor has told us a couple of times, "if the tumor doesn't bother rachel, then it doesn't bother me." This will be the end of her treatment and the next year they are going to watch her closely and make sure nothing is active anymore. So we have some more time in limbo but this time no chemo. We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving so we are going to continue to be positive and try to enjoy the next year. :) Thank God these past 2 years of treatment are going to be behind us!! We are planning a trip to Disney World in February with Make a Wish and are really looking forward to it. :)