It came in the form of another Niagara Falls boy, age 9, who had just gone through nine hours of surgery a week earlier for meduloblastoma, a form of multiple brain tumours.

That boy was Lyndon Powell, a student at St. Vincent de Paul School, who took the newly arrived three-year-old and the boy's family under his wing. "Lyndon reassured them," said his mom, Cora. "He said he'd had the surgery and he was doing fine."

Lyndon gave the little boy's grandmother an angel medallion.

"(Lyndon) said 'that's his guardian angel,'" Cora said. "That was my proudest moment."

The Powell family, Cora, Lyndon, dad Adam, sister Jessika, eight, and little brother Adam, 19 months, were dealing with a bout of flu that raced through their home in March. But Lyndon's symptoms -- nausea, headaches -- persisted.

When Lyndon nearly passed out at school. Cora knew it was time to go to McMaster.

A CT scan revealed "a growth," said Cora, and an emergency MRI scan was run the same day.

The family's worst fears were realized: Lyndon had multiple tumours in his brain and in his spinal cord.

"We don't know how many tumours he has," said Cora.

Within four days of arriving in Hamilton, Lyndon underwent nine hours of surgery as doctors tried to remove the tumours.

Doctors at McMaster put Lyndon through a series of chemotherapy treatments, and he was shuttled back and forth by ambulance each day to the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton for 31 radiation treatments.

His family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while he had his initial inpatient treatment, then it was daily trips to and from Hamilton for continued treatment.

Lyndon is back home now for a six-week break. On July 15 he returns to Hamilton for surgery to implant a port for his chemotherapy treatment, then he must begin a year and a half of chemotherapy.

His treatments mean Lyndon can't be in the sun. Saturday, with the sun beaming down, dozens of people -- including Niagara Falls firefighters -- scrubbed down a steady stream of cars in a fundraising car wash in the Swiss Chalet parking lot on Montrose Road. Lyndon kept in the shade under a large umbrella.

Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci presented him with a city pin and gave the family words of encouragement. MPP Kim Craitor spoke softly with Cora and kissed her on the cheek.

Cora said any money raised will come in handy: she had to take a leave from work and expenses related to Lyndon's treatments have piled up.

The family has been bowled over by support they've received, from the medical and support staff in Hamilton to Lyndon's school, which holds daily prayers for him and raised funds through such events as a play day and movie night in the gym.

"It's wonderful to see how a community can come together," said Cora, as Lyndon rode a minivan through the car wash with his aunt behind the wheel and kids applauded. "I want everyone to know we appreciate it. We're very thankful and very grateful."

The family, meanwhile, draws inspiration from Lyndon's bravery.

"When he met that other little boy he realized he's not alone," said Cora. "He has a smile on face. He's my strength.

"He knows the doctors and nurses and mommy and daddy are doing everything they can."

Anyone wishing to contribute financially to the family can donate directly into Lyndon's bank account through the Scotiabank, by quoting transit number 27052 (the identification number of the Scotiabank bank at the corner of Thorold Stone Road and Portage Road in Niagara Falls).