Nineteen-month-old Jalen was diagnosed November, 1999, with bilateral retinoblastoma at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

It came as quite a shock to his parents Kristi and Tom. Before that day they had never heard of the disease.

With such heart-stopping news, the family was informed by physicians that, while more tests were necessary, Jalen's case was the most advanced case of bilateral retinoblastoma they had seen in decades of treating children at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

The family consulted other doctors all across the country to try and find a solution that would save Jalen's eyesight.

His right eye was one-third filled with tumor.

His left eye had two tumors.

Both had vitreous seeding that, after chemotherapy, would have to be treated with radiation.

The doctors believed that the cancer was limited to Jalen's eyes and, that if his eyes were removed the cancer would be gone.

With such advanced disease, it was impossible to save Jalen's eyesight.

After a lot of soul searching, Kristi and Tom decided that getting rid of the cancer was the best thing to do.

Jalen's double enucleation was performed December, 1999.

The day of the surgery was a celebration for Jalen's family.

It was the day that Jalen became cancer free.

The pathology report revealed that the cancer was gone and there were no tumor cells in the optic nerve. Kristi and Tom continue to be amazed at how Jalen has adjusted to his blindness.

He loves listening to music, dancing, playing with toys, and laughing out loud, all the things a "soon to be" two-year-old boy enjoys.

They are certain his strong personality will carry him and help him have a long cancer-free life.