In 2011, our son, Eli, an otherwise healthy 4-year-old, told us that his lower back hurt. When his pain didn't go away, we took him to the pediatrician, who recommended tests at the local hospital. Before long, we found ourselves in an ambulance headed to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

After many tests and scans that night, Eli was admitted. The next morning, the doctors gathered us around a table to inform us that they suspected Eli's condition was cancer. Eli was diagnosed with stage 4, high-risk neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a tumor of nerve tissue that develops in infants and children and can occur in different areas of the body. Stage 4 meant that the cancer had spread.

Under the care of some amazing doctors and nurses, Eli underwent an aggressive and lengthy treatment plan—including surgery, chemotherapy, MIBG therapy, stem cell transplant, proton radiation, and immunotherapy—resulting in what every parent and patient and doctor hopes for: no evidence of disease (NED).

Eli is now cancer-free and has been out of treatment since late 2012. He is thriving and enjoying the simple pleasures of being a young boy: going to school, playing backyard sports with friends, cheering on Philadelphia teams, goofing around with his sister, and doing everyday kid stuff (including drinking milkshakes!).

We are so proud of Eli and we are forever grateful to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) for helping to fight childhood cancer. Money raised by ALSF helps Eli, and kids like him, get better treatment so that they can get back to doing the things they love.

Information provided by Jenny Profy, Eli's Mom
November 2014