44

Friends and family,

I believe in the power of numbers, and want you all to know that Allison is eating so well that she gained 3.5 pounds in a week. She is now 44 pounds, or 20 kilos, a strong number, and is only four pounds from her pre-surgery weight. With trips to Dairy Queen, Arby's and McDonalds for shakes and banana splits, hopefully we will see her pass 48 pounds and actually get into the 50s in the next few days. She is finally gaining some ground on the nausea and sickness that permeated the first two weeks of radiation. Now that the radiation field is smaller, she is feeling much better. Her speech is returning, along with her energy, ability to walk, and desire to play and be a kid again.

I am starting work tomorrow while she is on an upswing, something that will really help the transition. Sara, our nanny, starts working with us on Monday. Brian will begin to cover the radiation and chemo appointments, and our family will help us get to additional therapy and other needs. We are moving forward now, instead of backwards. We have decided to let everyone know that Allison does not have cancer anymore, now that the tumor has been removed and all of the tests for more cancer cells have come back negative. Now we are safeguarding against getting any more cancer cells, but she is cancer free at the present. I think it helps her to cope with the issue and not feel so weak or fragile.

Emily and Allison are learning how to be together again. With all of Emily's strengths, she is still having a hard time adjusting to the changes in her big sissie, who used to rule the roost but they still got along so well. Their incredible relationship before surgery meant that each had a playmate from dawn to dusk with very few disagreements. Now Allison is grumpy sometimes and Emily is not used to it and she has had a hard time getting used to the physical changes in her sister. It looks like along with other adjustments, their relationship will have to take time. But Allison is re-emerging. Certain gestures, sayings, and other Allison ticks are starting to resurface, and her memory is sharper than ever.

Everyone asks how I am, or how Brian is. We are fine. We are coping and talking and still marvel at the support of all of you. We see so much joy every day and we do laugh a lot, about things little and big. I think I said this before but I feel like our lives have become exaggerated versions of our life before surgery--both the highs and lows are so much larger and pumped up in volume.

Thanks for keeping in touch. We are planning an event to raise money for pediatric neuro-oncology research and involving the shaving of as many heads as we can muster in the little park in front of our house. Keep posted for more details very soon.

All of my love,

Dianna