At only 16-months-old, Tristian Williams is already facing a major health scare. The Saskatoon toddler is battling a rare bone cancer. Now, he and his family are in Toronto this week for a special procedure, one they hope will save his life.

In June, Tristian was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, after a cancerous tumor was detected in his left thigh. Although it can be diagnosed at any age, it's most commonly seen in children over the age of 10.  For Raquel and Curtis, Tristian’s parents, the news came as a major blow.

“It's devastating,” says Raquel. “It's hard to believe because you look at him and he looks so healthy. He's never been sick a day in his life and suddenly you get this bomb dropped on you."

“It's a brand new baby. You're supposed to start off healthy and as you age, you might get sick, not right off the get go. That's just wrong,” says Curtis.

Since his diagnosis, Tristian has had extensive chemotherapy and is about to undergo a complex 12-hour procedure in Toronto. Doctors at Sick Kids Hospital will remove his cancerous thigh bone and replace it with his fibula, the small bone on the outside of his leg between his knee and ankle. The goal is to cure his cancer and save his leg.

Dr. Sevan Hopyan is the orthopaedic surgeon who will perform the procedure. “What we are aiming for is a functional leg. One that looks quite good, not quite the same as the other side and works well."

Following the surgery, Tristian will have to continue his chemotherapy treatments. He will also require physical rehabilitation to strengthen his reconstructed leg. The good news is that he has youth on his side.

“Biologically, definitely an advantage because he'll healthy better than someone that's older. His bone would heal to the lower end of the thigh bone quicker and it'll get thicker and stronger quicker,” says Dr. Hopyan.

Although the odds are in Tristian's favour, there is no guarantee that the cancer won't come back. For now, however, his parents are hopeful the surgery will be a success and that their son will have a shot at a normal life.

“If he's healthy, it was worth every ounce of pain to go through,” says Curtis.

Donations are being accepted to help the Williams family with expenses related to their trip to Toronto, as well as other costs incurred following Tristian’s diagnosis. To donate, you can contribute to a trust fund in Tristian Williams’ name at Scotiabank.

There is also an online fundraiser available until October 5. To donate,go to  http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/214901