Subject: Chemo is over!!!

Saturday, July 11, 1998

Brian's web site---     http://www.d0.fnal.gov/~hanlet/Brian/brian.html

Dear Friends and Family,

How we have been looking forward to this day!  Brian had 3 days of chemo
(Mon.-Wed.) at UCSF this week and  5 days of ARAC shots.  He got his LAST shot
last night!  No more chemo!  He gets his broviach surgically removed the
beginning of August.  Then he will REALLY feel normal.

No news is good news.  E-mail has been quiet, because there has been nothing
to report!  June was an amazing month.  We kept waiting for Brian to get sick
after his early June chemo, but he NEVER did.  He never got the high fevers
and was able to stay home all month.  He played, ran, jumped on his
trampoline, played ball and rode his bike.  He doesn't like to wear hats, so
he has to be careful not to get a sun-burned head.

Make a Wish Foundation came yesterday and planned a Disneyland trip for the
Warne family in September.  This will give Brian more time to recover from
chemo and feel strong enough for the trip.  A limosine will take them to the
San Francisco airport; they will stay in Anaheim for 5 days.  This will be a
marvelous get-away for them.  Brian will get to have a 5th birthday party with
Winnie the Pooh.

Last night we had a "end of chemo" celebration in Alameda at my house.  We had
a dinner party for people from my church that have helped us so much during
this journey.  Their prayers and support have meant so much to us.  Many of
them met Brian for the first time.  He was charming.  He even sang his first
solo for the group.  He sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".  Sara sang a
beautiful prayer for us.  It was a wonderful evening of joy and celebration.  

Brian will have to go in for tests in August and monthly blood tests after
that to check and make sure that the cancer has not returned.  Statistically,
there is an 80% chance that he is now completely cured.  After 5 years he will
no longer have to be checked at all.  We feel that a miracle has brought us to
this point.  It seems like only yesterday that we couldn't imagine ever
getting to the end of chemo.  It was so awful, but now it is over.

I promise to continue to let you know how Brian is doing as he recovers and
begins kindergarten in late August.  He may get sick this month and have to
return to the hospital for recovery drugs, but that didn't happen in
June---for the first time!   We can see him getting stronger everyday.

We give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all of His blessings.  God continues
to shower us with His love and comfort.  The biggest help has been the support
of each one of you who has been faithfully praying for us.  

Love,
Susan