The Sequim community is coming together to help 3-year-old Brody Neal, who is battling brain cancer.

Described as an energetic happy kid who loves the outdoors, Brody began treatment Oct. 8, at Seattle Children’s, receiving treatment five days a week for six months while living with his mom, Alicia Neal, a stay-at-home-mom, and newborn sister Myha near the hospital. His father Shane, a driver for Ferrell Gas, and Taylor, Brody’s 1-year old sister, remain in Sequim during the week and commute on the weekends to Seattle.

Family friend Kristy Traband said Brody particularly loves his sister Taylor, whom he misses during their time apart.

The Neal family learned of an issue with Brody on April 26 after he awoke from a nap vomiting and with chills and later became lethargic and incoherent.

Alicia Neal said via their family’s website that local doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, so she continued to take him to the doctor for tests before seeing a neurologist. Following brain scans, a tumor was found on Brody’s left temporal lobe in July.

On Sept. 6, surgeons performed craniotomy and tumor resection surgery with success; however, several small cancer cells were found, disproving an earlier theory the tumor was low-grade.

Doctors are still uncertain what type of cancer Brody has, but they are treating him as if he has PNET or mixed glioma tumor Stage 3 or 4 with aggressive treatment of six months of alternating between chemotherapy and radiation over several weeks each.

“I know he is strong enough to overcome this and with positive energy and all the love and support of family and friends we will fight and survive this cancer,” Alicia Neal wrote.

This past weekend, family and friends held two fundraisers to help with medical costs.

Traband said the dinner/auction at Sequim Community Church on Oct. 20 and golf tournament at SkyRidge Golf Course on Oct. 21 went well and she and others are planning more events in the near future.

Donations are accepted on behalf of the Kuznek/Neal family at Sound Community Bank, 541 N. Fifth Ave., and Wells Fargo, 501 W. Washington St.