Ida D.Follow

We were devastated when Ida was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 just after her first birthday. She had no symptoms, so the diagnosis was a complete shock. Hepatoblastoma is a liver cancer that is mostly diagnosed in children age 3 and under. We didnt even know that kids could get liver cancer. In North America, only 100 kids are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year. Unfortunately, Idas cancer had already spread to her lungs when she was diagnosed. She was given a 30% chance for long term survival. Since diagnosis, Ida has undergone chemotherapy, a liver re-section, two lung surgeries, and too many other procedures to even begin to mention.

After Idas initial protocol of chemo was complete, her tumor marker never went down to normal range. Months later, more cancer was found in her left lung. She had her entire upper left lobe of her lung removed. After surgery, she continued with an "experimental" course of chemotherapy for 4 months. Her last treatment was at the end of April 2007. Her tumor marker (that was 538,000 when diagnosed) lingered between 10 and 20 for about a year and now it is finally NORMAL. Normal is between 1 and 10. Her tumor marker gets checked every couple months.

Cancer has affected our lives in a way that is unimaginable. Ida just turned five and she has finally spent more of her life without cancer than with. She is so brave. She is so cute. She is so loved. She knows no other way of life than cancer.