A Canadian family ravaged by the effects of cancer will be spending a dream vacation in Bermuda after their young boy managed to beat the disease against all odds.

Two years ago, Pamela Birrell experienced one of the most difficult periods in her life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

After enduring a year of treatment and fighting along the road to recovery, she decided to celebrate along with her family by visiting her brother and his children living in Bermuda.

But two days before leaving Canada for the family reunion in Bermuda, the Birrell family received another staggering blow -- four-year-old son James was diagnosed with an extremely serious form of cancer and was not expected to live.

"He was diagnosed with neuro-blastoma, which is one of the worst types of cancer a child can have and survive,'' said Mr. Birrell.

"The primal ten-centimetre tumour was behind his kidney and the cancer had spread to virtually every bone in his body and his lymph nodes.

"There's a ten percent survival rate, and they didn't have much hope,'' he added.

James underwent heavy doses of chemotherapy treatment which left him partly deaf. His kidney was removed to reach the tumour and James later had a bone marrow transplant before going into remission eight months after the initial diagnosis.

But the Toronto branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted James his one wish -- to visit his cousins in Bermuda.

Make-A-Wish paid for the Birrell's meals, accommodations at Sonesta Beach Hotel and travel expenses.

And in light of his miraculous recovery, the entire family -- including Mr.

and Mrs. Birrell, Mrs. Birrell's mother, James, three-year-old Ben and six-year-old Rebecca -- is enjoying this holiday trip like none other.

"James is back in school now and taking skating lessons... he's waiting for the snow to come in Peterborough where we live,'' said Mrs. Birrell.

"This was his big wish -- to visit his cousins and play on the beach. He loves sand and he loves water.

"We're having a wonderful time, and the people here at Sonesta have been lovely.

"Most children ask Make-A-Wish to send them to Disney World, but we think James chose a very good wish!''