We can’t believe that it has been almost three years since Tori’s treatment at Cook Children’s Medical Center!  This year has brought many great changes for her.  In July 2008 Tori had her MRI to check to see if her cancer was still in remission – and it is.  She is now celebrating her 3rd year cancer free and we praise the Lord for that!  Her physical therapy (ballet) continues to bring her closer to the level of other kids her age and she is becoming accustomed to life with hearing aids.  Tori started to run this summer and loves to be chased by her big brother and little sister.  We don’t take her walking for granted at all.  It is definitely a gift given to her by God after not walking for almost three months and never knowing if she would regain her ability to walk again.

Tori started kindergarten in August and just turned 6 years old this month.  She loves to dance, sing, play dress up and “school” with her little sister (where she always wants to be the teacher since she gets to tell everyone what to do).  She continues to receive treatment for iron overload, but we hope to finish that treatment and get her port removed in February 2009.  Our family hopes to return as missionaries to Romania in the summer of 2009.  Tori is working hard on learning the language again.  Her favorite song, which has also been her motto through all she has gone through is “God is so good”.  We are challenged not just as family, but as a community of families that are faced with neuroblastoma everyday by the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”