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Taylor Esler, of Worcester, organized a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of her nephew Liam, who turned 3 on Saturday, April 29.
"He loves tractors (LOVES them), cars, dinosaurs, and blocks," Esler wrote on the campaign page. "He also loves his siblings, Carson, Brielle, and Keon."
While Liam's symptoms started in December 2022, Esler said doctors found a tumor taking up "a large portion of his abdomen" on Saturday, April 22. From there, a biopsy revealed that the tumor had grown and Liam was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma five days later.
"Neuroblastoma is a cancer that starts in certain very early forms of nerve cells," according to the American Cancer Society. "This type of cancer occurs most often in infants and young children."
Liam is expected to receive a bone marrow biopsy, a scan to highlight the cancer specifically and surgery followed by 9-12 months of chemotherapy, according to Esler.
Despite all of this, Liam's family wanted him to have "as normal of a birthday as he could" before going back to the hospital.
"Given the circumstances, every special occasion will be celebrated extra big and with even more love," Esler said in an update. "He had so much fun bowling and playing arcade games with his family. It tired him out fairly quickly, so they're currently back at the hospital resting before cake."
Meanwhile the GoFundMe is raising funds to help Liam's family cover the costs of medical bills, loss of wages, lodging, transportation and more. People looking to donate can click here.
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