Cancer returns for child who gave gifts to cancer patients

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

Xander Pond was a patient at the hospital himself and wanted to brighten the lives of others who were going through the same thing he did.

Shortly after the story aired, Xander's mom got the news no parent wants to hear, for the second time -- Xander's cancer had returned.

"He had surgery on March 4, and they did a biopsy, and it was his cancer that had come back," mother Angie Pond said.

Doctors removed the tumor, but Xander will be back in the hospital for anywhere from six months to one year of chemotherapy.

"You get a lot of scans and miss school and don't get to see your friends and family a lot. And it's hard," Xander said.

Xander's mom is waiting to start the chemo until the end of his school year, giving him a little more time to live a normal life and to do the things he loves, like playing baseball. To keep his mind off what lies ahead, he stopped by the ABC11 studio for a tour.

Xander's family and friends have planned some fundraisers to help pay for another round of medical bills. The fundraisers will also raise money to continue buying gifts for other children with cancer at local hospitals. While Xander fights his second battle, the family still plans on passing out presents to others this Christmas.

"It's just our way of being able to give back and help other people. We know what they're going through, you know we're there, we've been there," Angie Pond said.

As for Xander, he has some advice for other kids in his shoes.

"Just don't think about what's going to happen in your head, get all the bad stuff out and just think about the good stuff, and do what the doctors say and don't be scared," Xander said.

Xander said he hopes to beat his disease again, for both himself and as a sign of hope for others.

For more information on Xander's fundraisers visit his Facebook page here.

The next fundraiser is a wrestling show in Morehead City on Saturday May 25. It will be held at the Morehead City Elks Lodge and tickets are only $10.

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