GREATER ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Anders Swanson says he doesn’t necessarily see himself as exceptional or worthy of praise; however, those around him are amazed by his strength through adversity and his commitment to return the love and support he’s received to others in need.

Anders and his family say they found that love and support through an even larger family at Camp Good Days — a non profit that supports children and families going through cancer. Anders was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was just a 18 months old.

“He had started acting very peculiar. His hands would shake and he would fall down randomly,” recalls his mother, Amy Swanson.

“It just felt like our world had been turned upside down. We were just drowning in this ocean, and we couldn’t even see land. We couldn’t even see — I think at one point it was like you weren’t even sure if there was hope. I mean, it was just so horrific and everything at every turn was really bad,” she says of receiving Anders’ diagnosis.

After going through chemo, radiation, and several brain surgeries, Anders came out the other side and says he’s incredibly grateful for where he is.

“I’d say lucky. You know, a lot luckier than some of my friends,” he says.

Luckily, a family friend of the Swansons volunteered at Camp Good Days and suggested Anders give it a try. He’s now been going since he was five and every year, finds something new to love. 

“You know people and they know you and so you know exactly what everyone is going through,” Anders says.

“I had never let him out of my sight to that point, but I think it was the fact that they had nurses and qualified people on staff that they could handle anything that might happen and of course he loved it, which was great to see,” says Amy.

Anders says he’s especially grateful his friends, the volunteers and staff at camp supported the Swansons when his dad, Garth, was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer.

“It was hard. Probably, you know, one of the hardest things that happened,” Anders recalls.

“To know that they not only supported Anders when he was sick, but they also supported Garth when he was sick, and they have continued to support me with the boys, and I am incredibly thankful for that,” Amy shares with News 8’s Mikhaela Singleton.

And now for all the love he’s received, Anders is paying it forward. He says this summer, he’ll be the one volunteering at camp and offering the same support he was so grateful for.

“Camp is family and always has been,” says Anders.

“Giving other kids, the same experience that I had and let them, you know, enjoy it too,” he explains.

“Of course he still has challenges. You can’t take a tumor that size out of a baby’s brain and not have lasting side effects,” Amy says. “He has some limits, but that they’re willing to embrace that and just allow him to be there and share his experience with the other kids and to show them that bad things happen, but some really wonderful things happen too. And they happen right at camp!”

And whether at camp or beyond, he hopes his singular message can reach anyone who needs to hear it.

“It’s going to be hard, but you know, there’s always people out that are going to support you either way,” Anders concludes.