Liam was full of life and energy at age 6 when his parents started noticing a change in his smile, which was becoming more and more lopsided. When he lost the ability to close one eye, they knew it was time to see a doctor. Tests revealed he had a pilocytic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumour often seen in children and young adults. 

Liam spent much of the summer of 2022 at CHEO, where he underwent three brain surgeries, taking approximately 15 hours each, and biopsies to clarify his condition. Despite the hardships, Liam showed impressive strength and courage during the following 70 weeks of chemotherapy. For the most part, he stayed the energetic, funny boy he was, who loved to learn, constantly moved and spoke with enthusiasm. With the frankness typical of kids, he says, “I don’t like my tumour.” Though the treatments ended in late December 2023, and there is a good chance the tumour stays under control, it remains incurable. The tumour is still there!

At the moment, Liam and his family still visit the CHEO to monitor the tumour closely through MRI. For Liam, the hardest part was having to limit his activities – not being able to go to the gym or playground without constant surveillance. Today, he can go back and enjoy the sports he loves while training for his dream job: videogame tester!