Ida was diagnosed with stage IV hepatoblastoma (liver cancer) on February 20, 2006, at the age of 13 months. She had a tumor the size of a small football on her liver and a total of 11 tumors in her lungs. The tumor on her liver grew so big that we could feel something abnormal just below her rib cage. Ida had an X-ray on February 17, and we met with our family doctor on the morning of February 20. The X-ray showed a mass and nodules on her lungs. He immediately called University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital, and we were admitted. Ida began her first round of chemotherapy just days after diagnosis. To date, Ida has received six rounds of chemo, had half of her liver removed and had surgery on both lungs. Ida just finished her last round of chemo. Ida was screened for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Her AFP count was 538,000 at diagnosis, and is now down to 50. A normal AFP is 1 to 10. Ida will have a CT scan, and her AFP will be checked the first week in September. If all is well, Ida will have her central line removed and will be in remission. Because of Ida's advanced stage of cancer, her prognosis is a 30 percent chance for long-term survival. Research plays such an important role in the present and future treatments of children like Ida who have cancer. Ida is such a joy to have in our family. She has a big sister, Sadie, and loves "doggies," her "paci" and her "duckie." There is no doubt in my mind that she will beat the odds!