Cassie was born with 2 moles on her back.  This has been monitored by pediatricians every year at her wellness checkups.  Something changed this year.  The larger mole in the center of her back started growing.  I took her to a dermatologist when we discovered the growth in July of 2019. After 6 weeks in Pathology, we received the call that we never thought we would hear.  Cassie has Melanoma.  October 1st she went in for surgery.  On that same day, a test was done called a centennial lymph node biopsy.  This was to determined which quadrant the cancer would spread if it were to spread.  The surgeons determined that the cancer would spread to her left arm pit.   Right then and there, the surgeons decided to take out 5 lymph nodes and have them tested.  The 2nd mole posed no threat but they decided to take that one off anyway.  That would be one less thing to worry about later on down the road.  6 days after surgery we get the call that the cancer did spread to one of the 5 lymph nodes that were removed and the 2nd mole came back positive for the cancer cells.  Back into surgery she went on October 11th. Many tests have been performed since then.  Right now there are no signs of the disease but treatment is a must.   The probability of melanoma coming back is 50% in the next 1-3 years.  After further testing, the doctors told us she has the BRAF mutation of melanoma.   There is a targeted therapy just for that mutation.  Cassie starts that treatment on December 18, 2019 and will be on that treatment for the next year. Ultrasounds will be done quarterly, frequent bloodwork to make sure her levels don't change and constant monitoring by the pediatric dermatologist. We have a long road ahead of us but Cassie is determined to kick cancer to the curb.  Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time, talent and money with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure.