Jade is our beautiful miracle girl. She was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer, at 13 months old. She is now eight years old, six years post treatment, cancer-free and doing beautifully. This is her story...

Jade was born on March 9, 2001. When she was 2 weeks old, she developed a fever of 102.5. We took her to the ER where they ran a series of tests to find that she had a urinary tract infection (UTI). She stayed in the hospital 2 nights. We were very scared to see our newborn hooked up to so many machines and on an IV. We were so thankful to bring her home.... Four weeks later she had a VCUG test, the results were that Jade had a kidney reflux condition - with most children time will cure it. Before a treatment plan was even under way, a couple of days later, Jade had a fever of 103 and was back in the ER - with another UTI and septicemia (blood infection). This time she stayed over 3 nights, even scarier than the first time. She was put on a maintenance antibiotic. Over the next few months, she did develop more UTI's, but she was old enough to be taken care of at home. Her last UTI was in September, 2001. We began to breath a sigh of relief as no more infections happened...

April 2, 2002 - A couple of days after returning from a wonderful Hawaiian vacation, Daddy brought Jade to the doctor for her one year old check up and immunizations. The doctor felt a lump in her tummy and sent her to the hospital immediately for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a large mass in her liver. She was then sent right over to Children's Memorial hospital for further tests, including a CT scan and blood. Our sweet baby, Jade, had a malignant tumor in her liver - Hepatoblastoma. Her blood test showed an AFP level of 798,000 - a normal AFP level is below 10. We were told that this had nothing whatsoever to do with the kidney reflux. We couldn't believe that our 13 month old had cancer. How could this be? How much would our baby have to go through?

Over the next 5 months, Jade underwent chemotherapy - a visit to the hospital every 3 weeks where she was hooked up to an IV for 28 hours (4 hours hydration, 4 hours of Cisplatin, and another 20 hours of hydration, then injections of 5FU and Vincristine), and weekly visits from a nurse at home for an injection of Vincristine. Our girl lost all her beautiful dark brown hair, but was still as cute as ever. She was a model patient and never became sick or tired from the chemotherapy. Besides the loss of hair, there were no side effects. Her AFP level dropped steadily - 798,000 to 67,000 to 6,000 to 700.

June 24, 2002 - Jade had a major liver resection, and the tumor was completely removed, thank God! She was given a 2 week break from her chemo. Her hair started coming back in - blonde! She underwent 2 more courses of chemo (the last one on July 30), and her AFP level dropped to 33. So close...

August 29, 2002 - Mommy took Jade in for an X-ray and a CT scan. Both results came back beautifully CLEAR! She had healed well from the surgery and her liver had regenerated (the only organ in the body that can do so).

September 3, 2002 - Daddy took Jade for a doctor visit and blood test - her AFP level was at 10.5! We are so thankful - our beautiful girl is beating this thing!

December 30, 2002 - Jade had monthly (sometimes more) AFP tests. Since September, the #'s ranged from 10.5 to 20.9. She had a CT scan done on December 5, and the results came back clear. The doctors felt that her AFP level may have been a bit high due to liver regeneration.

April 4, 2003 - Jade continued to have monthly AFP tests, with results in the low 20's. After March's result of 24.2, the doctors decided it was time for another CT scan. She had the test done on April 3rd, and the results were clear. Another AFP test was done on that day, as well, and the number was down to 15.6! Her next doctor visit and AFP test were scheduled for early June (2 months off!).

June 17, 2003 - An AFP test with wonderful results - 6.7!

July 18, 2003 - Jade had another AFP test done because she had a fever that lasted 16 days. The AFP result was 4.3! It turned out that her fever was due to a UTI - so we found out that her kidney reflux condition was still hanging around. She was put back on a maintenance antibiotic and would be tested for kidney reflux again in the spring.

September 16, 2003 - Jade continued to do wonderfully. Her AFP test results were 7.3 - and officially a year cancer free!

November 13, 2003 - AFP of 8.5, good girl!

January 13, 2004 - Another good AFP result of 8.2. We continue to be thankful that our girl is doing so wonderfully. We are grateful that she has dealt so beautifully with everything. She is truly a miracle and an inspiration to us all.

March 26, 2004 - A slight rise in AFP to 12. We were disappointed, but the doctors were not overly concerned.

May 11, 2004 - A great AFP result of 5.2! Other good news - Jade had a VCUG test to see the state of her kidney reflux. When she had the test at 6 weeks old, she was a Stage 4. She is now (at 3 years old) a Stage 1. So it appears that the reflux is slowly resolving itself. We are thrilled and so happy with these two good test results!

July 22, 2004 - Our fifteen year wedding anniversary and we received a great present - Jade's AFP is 4.1! A solid reassurance that she is a healthy little three year old girl.

September 28, 2004 - Officially two years cancer free! AFP = 5.0

December 29, 2004 - Jade continues to do wonderfully - AFP = 4.1!

March 22, 2005 - Jade continues to do well - AFP = 4.3!

September 27, 2005 - More great news - AFP = 3.6!

March 28, 2006 - AFP = 3.8 Every time we look at her we see a miracle.

October 17, 2006 - We are blessed again, her AFP = 3.6!

April 3, 2007 - AFP=3.4

March 31, 2008 - Five years cancer free and AFP = 4.1.  Jade continues to amaze us. She is so beautiful, energetic, and full of life!

March 6, 2009 - BEST AFP results ever = 2.3! Jade turned 8 on Monday, March 9 - the day we received the results - what a great birthday present!

Jade will continue to be tested regularly (once a year). Please pray for her good test results and a long happy life!