If you were to meet four-year-old Oscar Dorval, you likely wouldn't know he's in a battle for his life, for the second time.
The exuberant young boy was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney-based cancer called a Wilms' tumour when he was just three.
His parents, Pat Dorval and Ange Cruikshank, were devastated at the news.
"It was probably the worst moment of my entire life. You just feel incredibly scared and helpless and obviously extremely worried," Cruikshank said, noting the doctors at the time tried to lift the couple's spirits by saying a Wilms' tumour was easily treatable.
"But when the diagnosis happened we found out he had the worst kind of Wilms' tumour. It was already at stage four and had metastasized to his lungs and lymph nodes."
The doctors removed the tumour just four days after discovering it, the speed and urgency of the surgery alarming to Oscar's parents.
Oscar started chemotherapy and radiation treatment that would go on for almost a year, and the Sunshine Coast community came alongside the struggling family to offer prayers and support.
A community fundraiser at Benjamin's Restaurant brought in around $7,000 to help pay for the family's costs of travelling to and from B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver, allowing them to be together from time to time.
Finally in March, Oscar was given a clean bill of health and allowed to return home.
"We celebrated the remission fully, but we were still worried it might not be over," Cruikshank said.
The parents' fears were confirmed at the first three-month check up.
"The scan showed a little spot on his lung," Dorval said. "Now he's back in for treatment again, but this time they are using a harsher chemotherapy and it has knocked him down a lot."
Keeping Oscar down is tricky though, as the boy has an obvious fire inside him.
"Most people see him and say he is the healthiest cancer patient they've ever seen," Dorval noted. "He is remarkably energetic and insanely resilient."
While the family is praying that resilience keeps up, they themselves are getting weary and finding it difficult to pay for all the extra costs to stay at the hospital with their brave boy.
Seeing they could use some help, a friend set up a loonie and twoonie drive with donation boxes at stores around the Coast featuring Oscar's photo and story."It seems everywhere I go I see a box," Cruikshank said, noting she feels supported by the Coast community.
Dorval agreed.
"It just blows my mind what this community does for so many different people," he said.
If you want to help you can drop a donation in one of the boxes or purchase a bracelet or keychain that says "Oscar Dorval will be just fine" at Skookum Dodge. All money will go directly to the family to help cover their expenses while Oscar is fighting.
Cruikshank said letters and cards to Oscar encouraging him are also appreciated, as are prayers for the little boy and his family.
If you want to send a card or letter to Oscar, mail it to #20, 1416 North Rd. Gibsons, B.C. V0N 1V1.
