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Stefani and Peter Haar moved back to Onalaska in June after the birth of their son. They wanted to raise Grant near their families and in a smaller, close-knit community, something they just couldn't find in St. Paul.

They didn't know how important community would become to them in the upcoming months.

Pete and Stef were just getting into a normal schedule with Pete in his new job as a heavy equipment technician at Brooks Tractor in West Salem. Stef was in her third week in a small office of four working as a social worker when she noticed a few things about Grant.

Stef said she mentioned to her mother, Cheryl Paar, that Grant wheezed when he breathed and his belly bellybutton was popping out.

The worst they thought was an umbilical hernia and Paar, an emergency room nurse, recommended Stef take Grant to the doctor just to make sure everything was all right.

The doctor first told Stef there was nothing wrong with Grant, but when Stef mentioned in passing his belly button popped-out, the doctor ordered x-rays and blood work.

The blood work came back normal, but the x-ray found a large mass. Unsure if the mass was solid or fluids, the doctor ordered a CAT scan and five hours later the results of the scan came back - Grant had a massive abdominal tumor.

“We didn't know anything was wrong,” said Stef. “He had the normal chubby baby belly, and we never thought anything of it.”

The next day, Grant underwent a 7.5-hour surgery. The doctors removed the tumor along with the kidney it was growing on. His adrenal gland and multiple lymph nodes were removed, along with his appendix - just because the doctors were in there, said Stef.

The tumor was so large - two pounds - that people thought it must have been growing since he was born, said Stef. But it had been growing for only six to eight weeks.

“It was the size of Grant's head,” said Stef. “We were shocked that lived in our little boy.”

The good news was the tumor hadn't spread, said Stef. The cancer was a clear cell sarcoma of the kidney.

Grant will need chemotherapy until March, said Stef. It was hard in the begining, but he is getting stronger.

“He's doing good now,” said Stef. “He's a champ.”

Grant is over the puking during the chemo, but it's still obvious when he gets the treatments, she said. He naps more and doesn't eat as much.

Stef said Grant has a 10 percent chance of recurrent cancer in next four years and a 15 percent chance of having a secondary cancer later in life.

She said the doctors say they are not sure if the drugs they give him now will cause cancer later. “But what options do you have,” said Stef.

She said their routine is normal now - a new kind of normal with the chemo and meds. There have been other changes too.

Stef lost her job because of the time she had to take off.

Pete was lucky. Although he didn't have any time off coming in his new job, Brooks let him take off a week before the operation and one after.

“They are really good about what's going on,” said Pete.

But Stef said it has been tough. They learned to do without many things because they used to be a two-income family.

Now it was a necessity for her to stay with Grant because they can't put him with other children because they may be sick or have live vaccines - things he can't be around because his immune system is weak.

They have to depend on their family to help keep an eye on Grant when they both need to be gone.

“We don't run family errands anymore - we have to do it tag-team style,” said Stef.

And the small community they wanted to raise Grant in has become a big part of the their story.

Stef said they are so thankful that everyone has been so good to them. A church adopted them, she said, and more than 150 chickens were sold at one barbecue fund-raiser.

“We do feel blessed being back here,” said Stef. “Everyone's been so good to us.”

Contact Tony Nelson at 786-6813 or tony.nelson@lee.net.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Grant Haar Cancer Fund

DONATIONS: C/O Cheryl Paar, N5860 Pertzsch Drive,

Onalaska, WI 54650,

or directly to the bank account at River Bank of Holmen, 4400 Corporate Drive, Holmen, WI.

DETAILS: Grant Haar was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma of the kidney when he was 7 months old. An operation removed a 2-pound tumor, along with his kidney, adrenal gland and multiple lymph nodes. Grant is doing well now and will be undergoing chemotherapy until March. Funds raised will pay for treatments and bills associated with the cancer.