COLUMBUS -- Connie and Brian Moody have been waiting about 10
months to hear the news they received Wednesday
Their 4-year-old daughter, Hannah, is cancer free.
"It's just so wonderful. We're so thankful," said Connie as she
called from Children's Hospital in Columbus.
Hannah was brought in for a final test Tuesday and the results
came in Wednesday morning. Brian couldn't wait for the doctor to
come with the results, so knowing they were in the computer he
tracked them down himself. By 10 a.m. they received the news they
had been praying for.
Last September when Hannah went to the doctor for a routine
check-up, she ended up being seen by a doctor other than her regular
physician. It was Dr. Gerald Tiberio who discovered that Hannah was
not the healthy little girl she appeared to be, but in fact had a
rare kidney cancer called Wilm's Tumor Stage 4 Difuse Anaplasis.
Doctors removed her kidney last year, but the cancer had already
spread to Hannah's bloodstream and infected her lungs.
Since the diagnosis, her world has revolved around medications,
chemotherapy, trip after trip to Children's Hospital, catheters and
feeding machines.
But Wednesday's news gave her a new lease on her young life.
"Her response was that she was going to go down the big slide and
go swimming," Connie said.
All the nurses and staff at the hospital celebrated with the
family, as Connie and Brian called relatives and friends and sent
out e-mails so everyone would learn the news.
Hannah will remain in the hospital for the week, but after she
returns home the family hopes to have a celebration for the young
girl, whom family members and strangers have referred to as a hero.
Through her own Web site and with Connie's cousin, Robbie Harper,
sharing Hannah's story with fellow soldiers serving overseas, there
has been a lot of outpouring of support for the family.
Connie said the family remains thankful for all the support and
letters of kindness they have received.
In two to three weeks, Hannah will go back in the hospital to
have her catheter removed and she will remain on her medications for
at least six months. In addition, she will have tests done every
three months to make sure the cancer does not return.
