Boy, 6, Had Arm Removed After Bone Cancer Diagnosis, but It Spread. Now He’s Living Out His Last Days at Home

As 6-year-old Axyl Womack nears the end of his battle with bone cancer, his family in Monticello, Georgia is making the most of their remaining time together—surrounded by love, community support, and treasured memories.

Friends and relatives have come together to help the Womack family through this devastating chapter. Fundraisers have been launched to ease their financial burden, and one very special event brought the magic of Christmas to Axyl’s home in the middle of summer. Local volunteers even arranged a visit from Santa, giving Axyl and his older brothers—14-year-old Jaxon and 10-year-old Braxton—one last holiday to share.

“We have followed his journey through everything,” said Cory McMichael, a relative who has organized efforts on the family’s behalf, in an interview with PEOPLE. He described the emotional toll of seeing Axyl change from “a vibrant little 6-year-old kid” who loved to run and play to his current condition, calling it “heartbreaking.”

On Friday, Aug. 1, McMichael helped bring a local Santa performer to the Womack home. Neighbors joined in, bringing gifts, toys, and a sense of celebration. When Santa arrived, Axyl hugged him and whispered, “I love you,” a moment that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Aug. 3, Axyl’s mother, Augusta Womack, expressed her gratitude to the community for giving them a brief moment of peace and happiness.

“This was a happy time, for even just a moment, that our family was able to smile,” she wrote. “Man, did we so need that happy moment for us. Having not only watch[ed] a loved one, but our own son go through this, is something I can never wish on my enemy.”

She added, “Small moments become big ones sometimes.”

The Womack family’s journey took a tragic turn in March, when Augusta and her husband William took Axyl to the doctor after he hurt his right arm. What they believed was a simple injury turned into a nightmare. X-rays revealed a suspicious mass, leading to a visit to a children’s hospital—and ultimately, a diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that most commonly affects teens and young adults, according to the Mayo Clinic.

By June, Axyl had to undergo the amputation of his right arm in hopes of stopping the spread. He also began chemotherapy. Sadly, those efforts weren’t enough.

“When he went to have his scan, it was awful,” McMichael said. “From head to toe, he’s covered, just completely covered in cancer.” Doctors told the family that “it feels like every bone in his body is broken.”

On July 20, Augusta posted a heartbreaking update to the GoFundMe created to help cover Axyl’s medical costs. She revealed that her son had only a few weeks to a few months left, and would now be receiving hospice care at home.

“His cancer spread from his brain to his tiny toes in a matter of a few weeks,” she wrote. “There is nothing else they can do for our baby but make him comfortable at this point.”

When Axyl was first diagnosed, his loved ones held a fundraiser at McMichael’s track, Monticello Kart Racing. Another event was held on Sunday, July 27, complete with fire trucks, police cars, helicopters, and monster trucks—some of Axyl’s favorite things. First responders and members of the community showed up to bring joy to the little boy’s day.

“It was such a good day,” said McMichael. “With all this going on, he was able to get out, and smile and laugh a little bit.”

As Axyl’s health continues to decline and his breathing becomes more labored, his family is doing everything they can to bring him comfort. His brothers are by his side every moment, and his parents are doing their best to stay strong.

“Of course, they break down and have their moments,” McMichael said of Augusta and William. “But after that, they go back to having to live—and live for him.”