Thursday, October 6th, 2005: With no complications following the catheter removal, I think it is time to call an end to the web updates. Leela's cancer is in remission. Her treatment is over. However, for at least the next year, she will visit her oncologist monthly and be subjected to MRIs biannually.

Leela's last cycle of chemo was given in early August; her hair is growing back. Her short hair looks more like a very fashionable doo than anything else. It looks so good that we have been trying to convince her to keep it very short, but Leela wants nothing to do with the idea. When I get a chance, I'll post a new photo.

Her transition into school has been extremely smooth. Leela started all-day Pre-K a little over a month ago. A few kids asked why her hair was so short, but it did not seem to faze her at all. She has been telling me about a new friend every day. The school is not so large, so pretty soon she should run out of potential "new friends".

Leela has emerged from this ordeal stronger, with less childlike innocence but more self-confidence. She has had to deal with so much more than a normal three and four year old. So far she has not been self-conscious of her prosthetic eye. In fact, she wanted her classmates to be told about it. Her eye will always be a reminder that something happened even when the memories of her treatment and hospitalizations fade. When she is older and asks about what happened, among other things, we will show her the posts from this website. Hopefully, it will be of some comfort to her. I know that writing it has been a comfort to me.

Thanks for all of your prayers, thoughts, and help. It was always nice to know that there were so many of you thinking of Leela. We will never forget the outpouring of help we received during the past eight months. Thank you all.