Awww - Pam! Thanks for asking!!
She is doing WONDERFUL! She will be 8 in June (remember, she wasn't supposed to live past 5!), and is in 1st grade. Her tumor did come back (again) a few years ago and they had some touch and go moments. The tumor is now on the base of her brain - at her spinal cord. Surgery isn't an option b/c of location, and she has had her "lifetime dose" of radiation/chemo so that wasn't an option. Last April, she underwent something called "Cyber Knife" (I believe) that is a very centralized treatment - only works ON the tumor, not the surrounding tissue and the rest of her body.
Anyway, the tumor started to grow and change after that. She was put on steroids and this poor girl has just dealt with SO much in 2005. She swelled to almost 70 pounds (she is VERY petite normally - usually just under 40#). Her hair has grown back SO nice and thick (if I can get my scanner working I will share a pic). Anyway, she had an MRI in November, I believe and the tumor seems to be DEAD and just filling with liquid, which might cause some issues for a bit, but then will shrink and dissolve. So, the cyber knife did it's job! She is a smart little cookie - SASSY as a TEENAGER, though! Man!
But, she has beat all the odds and I believe she will continue to do so! Thank you so much for asking!!