Happy Sunday All! Thank you Lord for this sunny day!

We have not updated Melissa's journal for months - you know what that means - "no news is good news".

Melissa has been back to school since Halloween Day 2008 and has been in remission since 2/15/08. Her anniversary/"rebirth" is coming up next Sunday. Happy Birthday/Anniversary Sweet Melissa!

We thank you so much for all your love, prayers and support. Thank you Casey (Mr. Mason's wonderful co-worker) for continuously donating your precious blood. You are a LIFESAVER and we thank you so much! Melissa still needs blood transfusion throughout her maintenance treatment. PLEASE DONATE BLOOD TO MILLER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL for our Princess and the other children who have cancer and serious blood disorders. They need your donation please. Please call Jesse at (562) 933-0808 to arrange an appointment.

Melissa's hair is about 2 inches long and she has gained her weight back - she is looking prettier and healthier. She continues with her oral chemo everyday, lumbar puncture/spinal tap cheom every 3 months, IV chemo through her port-a-cath every month and 5 day pulse of steroids monthly. It's still another year of treatment for Melissa. Please keep on praying! Thanks Papa Romy, Tita Margie and Father Bryan for your continuous prayers, love and support.

We would like to remind you that Steve, Habibi and Papa Romy will be participating in the annual "St. Baldrick's" shaving event in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, March 31st at the Riviera Mexican Grill in Redondo Beach at 6:00 p.m. Melissa will be there. Please donate to benefit childhood cancer research - http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/team_info.php?TeamKey=2009-4624#

Melissa will be participating in the "Annual Jacques Torch Run" on Saturday, June 12th at 8:00 a.m. Our dear friends Mr. Mason, Mrs. Margie, Cailey and Grandma Joanne will help us set up a tent to cheer Melissa on while she participates in this run. We hope to see you there. Please sponsor Melissa in this run - any amount will help. Proceeds will benefit the "Jonathan Jacques Cancer Center" in Long Beach. You are NOT obligated to donate to either St. Baldrick's or Jonathan Jacques. We just want to see your beautiful, smiling faces at both events to honor Princess Melissa and celebrate and her first year remission.

Thanks so much for your love, care, support and prayers.

Special thanks to Tita Ilana for taking Melissa and Dana to school in the morning and taking them to "Color Me Mine", Tita Lorena for babysitting, Mrs. Margie and Mr.Mason for always being there to help us, Papa Romy and Tita Margie for all the "good food", love and prayers, Mother Lily and Habibi for always checking up on us to make sure that we're alright, Casey for your time going to Miller to donate your blood for Melissa- thank you, thank you, thank you!

love,

Steve, Melissa, Dana, Melissa and Cassie