Good news today- Mollie's bone marrow looks normal, meaning the cancer is in remission (according to her oncologist and the pathologist). This is good, but I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We have the remainder of the 28-day induction period, and then the intensification therapy and maintenance therapy. Without continuing therapy, the leukemia almost always relapses. So we're looking at, probably, ~3 years of treatment, but it all depends on blood counts, bone marrow results, etc.

And then there's some not so good news: one of my good friends, nea, told me yesterday that her mom (B.A.) was diagnosed with cancer. I don't know the details yet, but I'm sure she's struggling with a lot of the same feelings and fears. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

The thing about cancer is it doesn't discriminate. I have been trying to learn as much about A.L.L. as I can and, of course, I've come across articles about potential risk/protective factors. Some of the things that may "reduce" the risk for A.L.L.:

-the mother taking folate supplements during pregnancy
-eating lots of fruits and vegetables during the first 2 years of life
-being in daycare during the first year of life

Obviously, these studies just deal with risks/probabilities. When I was pregnant with Mollie, I took folate and other prenatal vitamins. I ate (and still eat) lots of fruits, veggies, and unprocessed foods. I have made Mollie eat those foods too. And, she started daycare when she was 8 months old. Yet, we are where we are.

I am a scientist, so it's hard for me not to dwell on the "why." But, I am moving beyond this by focusing on Mollie and her treatment, and hoping that all we have done to ensure Mollie's good health will help her beat the cancer.