Kenny Stewart and his mother, Ana Miles, say they are blessed to have such a large family.

“Dawsonville, this whole community, this whole county, they are our family,” Miles said. “And after everything they have done for us, we think it’s important to let them know what’s going on.”

Earlier this year, Miles received a phone call no mother wants to hear —her 10-year-old son’s cancer had returned with a vengeance.

“He’s going to be back in treatment for the next year and a half,” she said. “His cancer has spread throughout his brain and back, and we have to start treatment immediately.”

Stewart was first diagnosed with meddullablastoma, a form of cancer that forms brain tumors primarily in children, in 2008. After treatment, he had spent the past 18 months living a cancer-free life.

“It’s a very stubborn cancer and when it shows signs or when it spreads like it has, it’s a race against time to get it to stop spreading,” Miles said.

The news of Stewart’s relapse spread quickly through the community. Miles again saw the impact of her “Soldier Boy,” as many call him because of his interest in the military.

“Kenneth plays a really big role in this community and I just didn’t realize it until I saw the support he has received, we’ve all received,” she said. “We get random letters from people all over Dawsonville just to let me know they are praying for us.”

Wiping a tear from her eye, Miles said she and Kenny want to say thank you.

“It overwhelms me how they show love and support,” she said.

Stewart is participating in a cancer research study at an Atlanta children’s hospital. His treatment schedule allows him to be home several weeks each month, which makes the fourth-grader happy.

“I miss my friends the most,” he said, adding he also doesn’t like to miss out on youth baseball games.

Stewart does plan to spend the morning of May 21 at Rock Creek Park for a 5K race to be held in his honor. The walk/run begins at 9 a.m.