SURVIVOR- CHARLI, NEBRASKA, USA

Chad and Brenda in their BEAT CANCER SHIRTS - how cool?
Big sister Charli holding little brother Harper

Charli during treatment

At just a7 months old, in March 2007, gorgeous Charli Ann from Nebraska, was diagnosed with stage 3 neuroblastoma.

The original tumor began in her abdomen and grew backwards and around her spine.

Charli was scheduled to have 8 rounds of chemotherapy over a period of 6 months , but at thehalf way mark , scans revealed a lot of improvement. Charli's amazing Mommy Brenda and Dad Chad did a lot of praying and came to the decision to stop treatment and see how the tumor reacted...and as Brenda says, so far so good! Charli continues to improve and remain to have NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!

Charli continues to go for ultrasound scans, blood and urine tests every 6 months, and has her latest ones due on October. Please say very special prayers that they continue to show fantastic results and that Charli remains NED always and forever.

Charli has recently become big sister to a cutie pie brother called Harper! Charli is as cute as a button and has a very very special place in our hearts. We look so forward to reading her updates , seeing her antics with his best friend, her John Deere loving Dad, Chad. We have followed Charli and 'watched' her blowing out birthday candles, learning how to walk and have enjoyed hearing her gorgeous words through the magic of technology. We look so forward to continuing the journey and the friendship with you little Ms Charli - know that you have some fans here in South Africa who continue to pray for you each day! Stay as cute and as clever as you are!!!

While going back on previous posts on Charli's posts i found more details on neuroblastoma which i would like to refresh your memories with

What is Neuroblastoma?Neuroblastoma <http://www.christithomas.com/links.html> (NB) is a rare cancer of the nervous system striking about 600 children in the U.S. per year. Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor cancer that begins in the nerve tissue of the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis but usually originates in the abdomen in the tissue of the adrenal gland. It's a form of cancer that occurs in infants and children, is rarely found in children older than 10 years. There are many angles of causes being researched but the main idea is that cells of this cancer usually resemble very primitive developing nerve cells found in an embryo or fetus.There is very little known about why neuroblastoma occurs, or about what factors increase the risk for occurrence and currently there is no known cure.Seventeen years ago this was 100% fatal. While treatment is improving, the statistics are still sobering. In as many as 7 of 10 cases, the disease is not diagnosed until it has already spread (metastasized) meaning treatment is more intensive and has to start quicker. Prognosis for neuroblastoma is dependent on age, stage of disease, and the molecular biologic and cytogenetic characteristics of the tumor children have the best chance if they are diagnosed by age five (nearly (90% of cases are), and if it is in early stage (four stages in total). This is still a very tricky disease.Over 50% of patients who go into remission will relapse and the chances of survival are even slimmer.

Facts About Neuroblastoma

Although cure rates are steadily increasing, 35% of children will die. Neuroblastoma tumors are the second most common type of solid tumor found in children (second only to brain tumors).The incidence rate for all sympathetic nervous system cancers was 9.5 per million children.Neuroblastoma accounts for 14% of all cancers in children younger than five years of age. Nearly 70% of those children first diagnosed have disease that has already metastasized or spread to other parts of the body. The average age at diagnosis is two years old.

These numbers have GOT TO CHANGE - the prognosis has GOT TO BE BETTER.

Charli's Mom Brenda is amazing advocate for childhood cancer and has been involved in numerous functions to raise awareness and to raise funds to find this cure. She is the "boss lady" in her state and continues to thrive in all that she puts her mind and heart into.

Please go and pay the Preisters a visit at http://www.brenda-chad.blogspot.com/ to learn more and to see how you can help find the cure and create awareness, and most importantly to get to know and love a gorgeous survivor called Charli!

Sending you all our love, hugs and prayers always and forever, we are honored to call you our friends!