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Stephen Morse Age:12 of Pasadena, California
submitted by his father, Bob Morse
Type of Cancer: ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)

Stephen was diagnosed with Leukemia in April 2002 after significant bruising was noticed on his arms and legs. Stephen completed the initial (intensive) chemotherapy phase in February 2003, and started the 2-year, 3 month maintenance chemotherapy phase in March 2003. He is being treated at the City of Hope national cancer center in Duarte, California.

Stephen is truly amazing. He has been very positive throughout the treatment and has shown incredible strength and compassion. Since diagnosis, Stephen has been focused on rejoining his school friends and returning to his normal activities. Stephen is an inspiration for all of us.

Some of the highlights for Stephen were going back to school in March 2003 after a ten month absence, as well as winning a school father/son tennis tournament in May 2003. Stephen recently rejoined a club soccer team after a one year absence from the sport.

There have certainly been some lowlights, but things have gone really well so far. Stephen did contract a very bad case of Tumor Lysis syndrome shortly after diagnosis, but his body has tolerated the chemotherapy amazingly well. The hardest part for Stephen was the inability to play sports (particularly soccer) when his counts and body strength were low.

Stephen has been in remission for 1 year and has two more years of maintenance chemotherapy.