SAN DIEGO, Calif. — When Christian Bryant of Lincolnville was 16 months old, he was diagnosed with a stage three, rare form of kidney cancer called nephroblastoma, or Wilms' tumor.

A Wilms' tumor most often occurs in just one kidney of young children, which was what doctors learned Christian had. Luckily, the tumor did not go into both kidneys, which it sometimes can, but Christian's journey hasn't been smooth even without that added complication.

For such a young boy, Christian has been through numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, as his tumor has recurred numerous times despite treatments and excisions.

His parents, Chris and Jensen Bryant, are currently residing in California. Chris is with the U.S. Coast Guard and the family, including younger sister, Arianna, moved there from Maine when Chris was stationed in San Diego last May. They hope to be heading back home to Maine soon, as they continue Christian’s battle against cancer.

Christian's paternal grandmother is Patricia "Tish" Marriner Schade and his maternal grandmother is Sandy Hayes. Both grandmothers also live in Waldo County, but Tish and another son, Alex, temporarily relocated to California last year to help Christian’s family during his treatments.

The Bryant family's odyssey toward health for their son began in April 2012, when they received Christian's diagnosis and news that the tumor had consumed his right kidney. Doctors began a course of chemotherapy for Christian, which was followed by a nephrectomy, radiation and more chemotherapy.

"In January 2013, he was deemed cancer free," said his mother, Jensen Bryant. But then something totally unexpected went wrong.

Jensen said, "Christian was due for scans in April of 2013, but our insurance company made a huge mistake, and didn't allow him to be seen until August of 2013.

When he finally got his scans in August, we realized our worst fear had come true, and his cancer had returned."

Christian was re-diagnosed with stage four recurrent Wilms' tumor, as it had come back and completely taken over his left lung, pushing his heart into the right side of his chest. Christian underwent more chemotherapy, with treatments three to five days at a time, every three weeks.

A few months later, they learned that this tumor had shrunk enough to be removed and soon after that surgery, he began radiation and even more chemotherapy.

"His chemo was supposed to last until early 2015, but his doctors believed they were doing more harm than good, his counts were not recovering and he was getting chemo every six weeks or more," said Jensen. "After consulting with more doctors, they decided it was best to end his chemo in May of 2014 as he had received just enough of the drug that it should be effective, but they were also afraid of him getting a secondary cancer from the chemo."

Last month, at the end of August, Christian went to the doctor so they could remove his medical port, which was being used to deliver medication and withdraw blood samples, thereby reducing the number of needle sticks in his veins. Once again, follow-up scans found a mass that had grown a centimeter. Two weeks later, a biopsy was planned for Sept. 9, and when they removed the mass, they found it had grown another centimeter. They also had to remove about 4 centimeters of Christian's rib.

He spent six days in the hospital before being able to go home, and thus far this month, an MRI and preliminary bone scan look clear.

Because nephroblastoma is so rare, there are only a few studies behind multiple recurrences, according to Jensen. So Christian will require moving to high doses of experimental drugs and chemotherapy.

"He cannot receive any more radiation, but we are going to try anything we can to save our baby boy," said Jensen. "We will be making many more hospital visits, and will most likely be moving closer to home for family support as we are in San Diego, and they are in Maine. Right now we are just waiting to hear back from Dana Farber Hospital in Boston, and then we should be leaving San Diego soon to start treatments."

Jensen said that experimental treatment at Dana Farber is Christian's last chance, and that it's a small chance at that.

"We know it is going to be a very hard year on our family, emotionally, physically and financially," said Jensen. "We are going to help him fight this as best as we can -- we don't want to lose him."

In addition to offering words of advice and support, and anything they can that the family needs, friends and family back in Maine are holding two fundraising events to help the Bryants defray medical and travel costs.

The first is a Cut-a-Thon, Bake Sale and Raffle at Makin' Waves hair Salon on Belmont Avenue in Belfast. The triple event will be held Sunday, Sept. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25, a benefit supper will be held at Belfast Area High School. A spaghetti supper will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by a chem-free concert with the Juke Rockets blues band from 7 to 10 p.m. Organizers are seeking donations for a silent auction as well as dessert donations of any kind. For donations, call Melissa Bisson at 322-5564 or Carolyn Seidl at 902-1012.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.