When the parents of toddler Maleyah Bennet rushed her to Princess Margaret Hospital three months ago for treatment of a sudden seizure the last thing they expected to hear was that their only child had a fast growing cancerous tumor in her brain.

Up to that point, the then 15-month-old had shown no signs of slow development or health problems and was a bright, quick learner enrolled in day-care. So the late night trip to the emergency room after Maleyah suffered a sudden seizure, brought on by a high fever, was out of the blue and marked the beginning of a parent's worst nightmare.

"This wasn't expected at all," said Maleyah's father Donnavan Bennet, his emotions evident behind a weak smile. "She was always hyperactive, loved to play and have herself a good time."

In late April she was diagnosed by doctors with a rare malignant brain tumor, uncommon in the United States. Beset by an $80,000 bill after doctors at the Miami Children's Hospital removed the tumor from Maleyah's brain, the family of the cancer-stricken toddler are appealing for financial donations to pay for her chemotherapy and radiation therapy to stop the cancer from spreading -- procedures doctors estimate could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Initial tests showed that Maleyah had an abnormal space in her brain and an MRI was ordered which revealed the dangerous tumor. Doctors wanted to cut out the tumor right away but the parents decided to transfer the girl to a hospital in Florida to ensure that she got the best care available.

About a week after the first visit to the emergency room, Maleyah lay in a bed in the Miami Dade Children's Hospital having had the tumor removed. Doctors then recommended six months of vigorous chemo and radiation therapy to stop the cancer from spreading to her spine.

The therapy, while meant to save her life, has harsh side effects that take a heavy toll on her small body.

"She started chemo and recently was having some bad side effects vomiting blood - the dosage was too strong for her - sores in her mouth, she can't eat, loss of appetite apart from that, and high fevers," Mr Bennet choked up as he spoke.

"She gets frustrated at times (because) of the chemo. She tends to throw tantrums now and again. The first time she saw herself in a mirror and saw her hair falling out she put her hands over her face and cried."

In addition to his job as head security guard at a private clinic, Mr Bennett juggles work as a janitor, car washer and helps out at his uncle's funeral home to help cover expenses for Maleyah and her mother Sheena Stuart, who has temporarily relocated to Miami where Maleyah gets her treatment.

With cash being extremely tight and medical bills mounting everyday, the 24-year-old father recently listed his car for sale in the hope that he will quickly get a few thousand dollars to send to Maleyah's mother.

Although Ms Stuart has health insurance, Maleyah, now 19 months old, is not covered under the plan due to a mix-up with the paperwork, Mr Bennet said.

Despite, the ordeal Mr Bennet is hopeful his daughter will make it through her therapy in good health.

"Once we keep her happy and keep her spirits up she'll be strong, she'll make it," Mr Bennet said.

It seems his positive attitude has rubbed off on his daughter.

Home videos taken of her three days after the surgery, which left a scar down the middle of her head, show Maleyah happily running around her hospital room, singing and clapping along to nursery rhymes and beaming at her father.

The family has set up an account at Scotiabank for donations, account number 11343.

They also have plans for a fundraising cookout in August.

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