Parents of 13-month-old Hazel Rhindress are optimistic that the doctors at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto will be able halt the spread of her cancer and save her eyesight.

Hazel was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer that can occur in early childhood, when she was four months old.

Hazel’s mother, Holly Timmons, told CTV Atlantic she’s more than familiar with the disease, as she herself was also diagnosed with the cancer as a child.

“I was diagnosed with retinoblastoma when I was four-years-old,” said Timmons. “They decided just to take my eye and so when [Hazel] was born I asked to get her eye tested.”

The doctors found three tumours in each of the little girl’s eyes.

For the last 10 months, Hazel has had radiation treatment and four rounds of chemotherapy at IWK Hospital in Halifax, and everything seemed to be going well.

“She was declared cancer free last month,” said Timmons.

But unfortunately, Hazel’s parents found out this month the cancer had returned in their daughter’s left eye.

“Our spirits were very high and we were feeling absolutely wonderful, probably the best we felt in 10 months, and then it was just like we were crushed again,” said father Chris Rhindress.

The tumour isn’t growing but it still needs to be treated.

Hazel’s parents then decided to travel from their hometown of Amherst, N.S. to Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital for further treatment.

“My biggest fear right now is that she’ll lose her eyesight or her eyes. I know they’re working very hard to avoid that but I am worried that will happen to her,” said Timmons.

Hazel and her parents leave for Toronto Tuesday and will be staying for at least two days, depending on what the doctors find.

All treatment costs are covered, but a GoFundme page has been set up to help the family pay for airfare, hotels and future medical expenses.

Hazel’s parents said they just want their daughter to get better.

“It’s been hard on us and it’s been hard on [Hazel]… but she’s been quite the warrior,” the girl’s father said, adding: “We’d just like to let everyone know that we appreciate everything they’ve done.”

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Dan MacIntosh