💔 “A Tiny Fighter Faces a Huge Battle”: 11-Month-Old Tanner Prepares for High-Risk Liver Surgery

An 11-month-old baby is preparing for a complex and high-stakes surgery that could determine the course of his entire life.

Tanner was first diagnosed at just six months old with hepatoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer that primarily affects infants and young children. The diagnosis came as a devastating shock to his family, immediately shifting their world into one defined by hospital visits, scans, and uncertainty.

At the time of diagnosis, imaging revealed a tumor measuring approximately 15 centimeters—large enough to occupy a significant portion of his tiny abdomen.

Since then, Tanner has been under the care of specialists at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where doctors have closely monitored his condition and worked to determine the safest and most effective treatment path.

In recent weeks, encouraging developments have offered his family a renewed sense of hope. Follow-up scans suggest that Tanner may now be a candidate for a liver resection, a complex surgical procedure in which a large portion of the liver is removed in an attempt to eliminate the tumor.

Unlike a full liver transplant, a resection relies on the liver’s remarkable ability to regenerate over time, allowing healthy tissue to grow back after surgery. However, doctors caution that the procedure is extremely delicate and outcomes cannot be guaranteed in advance.

The operation is scheduled for June 24th, and surgeons will only fully ᴀssess feasibility once they begin.

During the procedure, medical teams will carefully evaluate whether the tumor can be safely separated from critical blood vessels. If it is found to be too closely connected to a major vein, the surgical plan may change. In that case, Tanner would be transitioned to the liver transplant list as an alternative treatment pathway.

His family has described the uncertainty as overwhelming but remains hopeful as they prepare for the critical day ahead.

Loved ones have also requested prayers and support as Tanner enters surgery. They are asking for steady hands for the surgical team, a successful removal of the tumor, and most importantly, a chance for their baby boy to grow up beyond hospital walls and medical treatments.

Despite his age, Tanner has already endured more than most experience in a lifetime. Yet his journey has also been marked by resilience, as each new development has brought both fear and hope in equal measure.

As the surgery approaches, doctors, family members, and supporters are united in one shared hope: that this small child, who has already fought so hard, will be given the chance to live a healthy and full life.

For Tanner, June 24th represents more than a medical procedure—it represents a possible turning point toward survival, healing, and a future his family has been desperately hoping for. 💔