My name is Samuel Anderson. I was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma on September 5, 2007 at only 16 months of age. I will be starting chemotherapy on September 8, 2007. My parents were so surprised that I had cancer because I did not have any symptoms until I was very ill. They know I have a long road ahead of me to recover from this terrible disease.

September 12: I have had my first round of chemotherapy. I am very sick and the doctors have had me flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. My first plane ride and I slept through it. Mommy and Daddy drove here to be with me. I hope the doctors here can get me better.

October 5:  I am back in Knoxville at East Tennessee Children's Hospital (ETCH). The doctors at Vanderbilt did a great job of helping me to feel better. I had radiation on my primary tumor, it was the size of a one liter bottle and is now the size of a soda can. I am starting my second round of chemo Monday. I am feeling better now.

November 9: Wow how things have changed for me. I am back in the PICU at ETCH, that last round of chemo or an infection has really got me down. My kidneys have stopped working and I am on a machine to filter my blood. Last week it looked pretty bad for me but I am a fighter and I am not going to give up! I am back on that ventilator thing too and I don't like it, I can't holler for Mommy or Daddy! I want to get well and go home.

November 25: I have been in the hospital for a month now but my kidneys are finally improving. I still have a long way to go and all my other treatments have been postponed, but I am still hanging on, fighting to get better.

January 2, 2008: A new year, a better me! I had my tumor resection on December 31, 2007. As of today I am considered cancer free! I have not had any chemotherapy in 2 months. The doctors say that my neuroblastoma will come back and I have only a few months to live. I guess only time will tell the whole story. Mommy and Daddy believe in miracles and they say that is what I am. Please keep me and all of the sick children who need to get better in your thoughts.

Samuel currently has no evidence of disease and will have continuous follow up care.

Written by Silvia Anderson, Samuel’s Mom

Update: Sadly, Samuel passed away in November of 2010.