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STEVENSVILLE - While most teenagers are enjoying their summer vacation, one Stevensville eighth grader is fighting to save his leg.

Tyler Hennes' parents say that growing up, their son never had any serious health problems, in fact, he was hardly ever sick.

But this all changed in May when Tyler was playing at school. His friend tripped him and Tyler fell and broke the fibula bone in his leg.

"He walked on it for two weeks not knowing it was broken," Tyler's dad Josh told us.

Tyler had a couple X-rays after the break and the second one showed his bone wasn't healing, so he had to go in for an MRI.

"The MRI was at 6:15 in the morning and by 9 o'clock we had been scheduled to head over to Spokane and admitted over there," explained Jenny Hennes, Tyler's mom. "They were 90% sure it cancerous at that point."

Tyler was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer and since then, he's spent the majority of his summer receiving treatment at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane.

"The fact that it was aggressive and fast growing is why it seems to be reacting well to the chemo. The tumor appears to be shrinking," Jenny commented.

Even though it appears to be shrinking, the Hennes family won't know for sure until the end of August, when Tyler is scheduled for a surgery according to Jenny.

"They'll either be able to remove the tumor or he'll have an amputation at the knee. So, that will be the next hurdle, finding out if he gets to keep his leg or not, and after that he will have seven more months of chemo."

Tyler didn't want to go on camera, but remains high-spirited as he tries to fight to save his leg from amputation.

The fight has been made easier with a whole team of family, friends and complete strangers behind him, helping in any way they can to help Tyler get better. Something his parents say they are extremely grateful for.

Below is a list of some of the benefit events coming up to help Tyler and his family.

• Wednesday, August 11, 2010: A blood drive at the Stevensville High School gym starting at 1 p.m.
• Friday, August 13, 2010: Benefit dinner and a silent action at St. Mary's Family Center in Stevensville.
• Saturday, September 11, 2010: Live auction at Fort Owen Inn.