At the end of induction, we received incredible news - the treatment worked and Wren's body responded favorably, no leukemia cells were found in her bone marrow! Wren is now considered to be in remission! She still has to undergo a full 2.5 year treatment plan that includes various chemotherapies, spinal taps and other medications. We will even have to face more time on the dreaded steroids (though much shorter durations, so the doctors say it won't be bad like it was that first month). There were two treatment paths we were facing based on her induction outcome, and we got the "easier" of the two paths, so it's really the best news we could hope for!

Since coming off the steroids at the end of induction, Wren has improved more and more each day. She may not like me for this one day, but I took pictures of her on the last day of steroids, because what they did to her appearance was truly unbelievable. Words can't convey what a picture can. Our oncologist very accurately described every side effect we saw. But she assured us that as quickly as things got bad, they would get better once she was able to stop taking the steroids. And she was right. After a few days, we noticed each day Wren would get better. She is now playing with toys again, walking independently all over the house and getting into everything, attempting to climb the stairs...it's like she picked up right where she left off on September 19. Her eating habits are still odd, but in the opposite direction. The doctors did advise that this could happen. Now there are some days where she doesn't eat much at all. She also still has very strong preferences - the past few days, she's eaten mostly grits with an egg or Siggi's yogurt pouches. We see the nurses and doctors every week at our clinic appointments, and they say she is looking great. 

Wren was able to enjoy some fun activities in October. She dressed up as Snow White for Trunk or Treat with Make a Wish and for some trick or treating on our street. We were so happy that she was also able to attend Jack's 4th birthday party at Pump It Up. 

On Nov. 17 we will wrap up 4 straight weeks of spinal tap Thursdays. These days have been challenging. Wren has to fast to undergo anesthesia and gets restless while we wait at the hospital. We've also had some tough wake ups. We get a break from treatment for the next couple of weeks, then start a new phase that is focused on IV chemo transfusions every 10 days. We look forward to no anesthesia during this treatment block.

Just shy of two months from diagnosis, it's crazy and amazing to look back at where Wren/we all have been. The first month felt like years. We watched our baby become someone we didn't recognize in so many ways, but someone who was so brave and handling so much for her little body. And now here we are, saying "remission" to family and friends and seeing the personality of the baby girl we knew. It's miraculous. We are grateful to God for her healing. And to our family, friends and amazing support system that continue to lift us up.