Matthew reached another medical milestone in Nov. 1999. The road map, or protocol that outlines the treatment and follow-up care for Matt's diagnosis, called for MRIs every 3 months for 2 years after he had completed chemotherapy. Every one that has been done has been negative for recurring disease. The results of these tests are a huge sigh of relief!

One day while snooping in Matt's medical chart, I read a note by his oncologist that stated: I feel that Matthew's brain tumor is permanently under control. We have found much comfort in this opinion!

Matt will be monitored every 6 months at this point, with an MRI scheduled on this cycle for 2 years. It already feels different not being in the hospital setting so often!

Our focus has shifted from medical intervention to educational/rehabilitation intervention. Matt has been approved for additional speech, occupational and physical therapy so he is seen on an outpatient basis at a rehabilitation center. We did not send him to kindergarten this year in an effort to provide him with another year of the early education program. The transitional room he is in provides greater child-teacher ratio, more therapeutic activities to enhance his skills, and more expertise in the area of child-development. Formally, Matt is performing between 1-3 years behind his peers. This includes his self care skills as well.

As we think about kindergarten, it will be those self-care and motor skills that will make him stand more apart from his peers: putting on coats, shoes, tying, zipping, using the bathroom, writing/coloring, running on the playground, climbing the steps of the slide by himself, etc. His academic skills are lacking, too, but the school system is obviously more prepared to support him in those areas. We are making our decision on school enrollment based on the educational team that seems most committed to his educational and rehabilitation needs.

It is clear that school will be a struggle for Matt, if he is even aware of his deficits. Thankfully, Matt did not have radiation for treatment of his tumor. Had he had radiation, we would be less hopeful that he would acquire many of his academic skills.

As of now, we will pray and hope for continued milestones, however big or small they may be.