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Welcome to Katelyn Benson's website! This has been created to keep family and friends up to date with the latest news regarding our brave daughter.

At the age of three, Katelyn was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4, a rare childhood cancer for which there is no cure. She was diagnosed on Monday 16th May 2005 and since then has undergone 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a 5 hour tumour resection surgery, further high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy and 6 rounds of Accutane (Retinoic Acid). In September 2006, we discovered that Katie had relapsed and so the battle begins again.

Despite the devastating prognosis, we have great faith that our precious daughter will be granted her miracle cure. Thank you for joining us on our rollercoaster journey. Words cannot express the uplifting joy we feel to know we have such a wonderful "team" standing behind us every step of the way. We thank each and every one of you for the endless love, support and prayers.

We are praying for a miracle!!

Children with cancer are like candles in the wind who accept the possibility that they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere; and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzle those of us who watch their light.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Here is the promised PRINCESS KATIE update

Katie underwent the disease re-evaluation process. The result? Stable disease with minimal improvements. The cancer in her bone has shrunk by 2mm and the other 'spot' is about the same size. Bone marrow biopsy was positive but the aspiration was negative. She has been started on an oral chemo, Temozolomide.

Not-so-little Sophie is crawling! She's at the stage where she adores putting things in her mouth. Last I heard were screams that she was eating the remote and Katie wanted to watch DVD. Oh the joys of parenthood :-) Joshua is thriving at school. He had a new haircut after his 'best friend' decided he wanted a go at playing with squiggly scissors. Mum was NOT impressed, let me tell you that!

Happy 4th birthday to our dear friends Samantha and Kahlilla <3

More news coming soon (this is the brief summary).

Posted by Nicole on Monday, March 19, 2007