NATCHEZ &8212; Third-graders lined up for cupcakes on Cathedral Elementary School&8217;s playground for a very special Thanksgiving celebration. They were thankful their classmate was healthy.

Nine-year-old Andrew Anders ran across the playground, leading a group of his classmates, his full head of red hair swinging into his eyes.

One would hardly guess this was his first week free of chemotherapy in three years.

Andrew was diagnosed with leukemia in first grade. Soon after, he was treated at St. Jude Children&8217;s Research Hospital in Memphis. He started chemotherapy and went to Baton Rouge every Monday for treatment. For three years.

Last week, he finally got his port, a device used to administer the chemotherapy and take blood, removed.

That meant no more missing Monday classes, no more worrying about infections, and most importantly, no more needles.

&8220;I&8217;m glad to be done,&8221; Andrew said. &8220;I didn&8217;t like the shots. That was the worst part.&8221;

The ordeal changed the Anders. Andrew&8217;s parents, Malcolm and Robin, said they are grateful to God, the schools, the community and their friends and family.

People pitched in with fundraisers, cards and words of encouragement, Robin Anders said.

&8220;We&8217;ve come a long way from where we were,&8221; she said, wiping away small tears.

The experience changed Andrew, too. At first, Andrew wanted to be a veterinarian. After spending three years in treatment, he has new ambitions now.

&8220;I want to be a doctor at St. Jude&8217;s,&8221; he said.

He still has to go for check-ups every four months for the first year, and every year after that.

When he was first diagnosed, he missed so much school he had to be held back a grade. But even when he was missing every Monday, he still kept up with schoolwork, his teacher Lashon Brown said.

&8220;He was always really good at keeping up,&8221; Brown said. &8220;I never hear excuses for not turning in his work. Other kids give excuses, but he always turns his in.&8221;

And all that work paid off. To add to Thursday&8217;s celebration, Andrew found out he was on the A honor roll, too.

And after being without him on Mondays for three years, his friends are glad to have him back.

&8220;I missed my friend on Mondays,&8221; said Haiden Harvey, one of Andrew&8217;s classmates. &8220;I had to play with my other friends on Mondays.&8221;

Phillip Roberts, another friend, said he was glad Andrew&8217;s chemo treatment was over, too.

&8220;We are celebrating for Andrew,&8221; Phillip said.

&8220;He finally doesn&8217;t have cancer anymore.&8221;