We all face challenges, but a brave ten-year-old cancer patient from San Ramon recently faced a life-changing decision that she met with a grace and optimism that can only be described as inspirational.

Brianne Bochenek -- or Breezy as a lot of people like to call her -- is just how you would imagine most 4th graders. She loves to swim, run, and play soccer. So when Breezy's left knee started to hurt, her parents assumed it was just a sports injury. But it was something much worse.

"The doctors said I had a tumor in my leg and my parents started to cry," remembered Brianne. "I didn't really know what was going on."

Stan and Debbie Bochenek now had to share the devastating news with their other children, Brianne's two older sisters and two older brothers.

"Brianne was the one who said 'I have cancer' and we were sitting right here. And everybody started to cry, especially our 18-year-old boy who was holding Brianne at the time," said Stan.

Doctors diagnosed the tumor as Osteosarcoma, an agressive and rare form of cancer affecting nearly 1000 people a year in this country. Of those, only about 400 of the new cases are in children and teens.

"I wasn't super scared or anything. I kind of just felt bad for like how the other people would be scared like my family," said Brianne.

Chemotherapy started right away. In three months doctors would need to remove the entire tumor. For Brianne, that meant making a life-changing decision.

"One is limp salvage. That's trying to be able to save the leg. The other is rotation plasty and utilizing her ankle as her knee and the other is full amputation," said Stan.

Rather than trying to save her leg and face years of follow up surgeries and a sedentary lifestyle, Brianne chose to have doctors amputate her left leg.

"I knew I couldn't live the rest of my life not being able to walk. Because I love to swim and run and play soccer," said Brianne.

The morning of the surgery came much too early. Nerves were kicking in as fears about the operation and the reality of leaving home for the last time on two legs set in.

"The surgery itself is technically challenging because the tumor has to be removed in its entirety," said Dr. Avedian at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

As the Bocheneks nervously waited for updates from the doctors, they shared a special moment about something Brianne did the night before her surgery.

"She wrote on her foot 'Goodbye my friend. I'll miss you.' And she was smiling about it," said Stan.

The operation took nearly 8 hours but Dr. Avedian says they successfully removed the tumor and managed to save a critical piece of Brianne's bone. That will allow it to grow as she does.

"We brought healthy bone from her tibia -- her shin -- turned it up backwards and attached it to her femur" said Dr. Avedian. "The growth center of that bone is still intact and has a blood supply and it will continue to grow."

With medication helping to control the pain and her favorite stuffed animals by her side, Brianne entered recovery. The Bocheneks said countless prayers and special messages have been pouring in as she works to sit and begin moving her left leg.

They said the overwhelming support has lifted Brianne's spirit.

"It's been really unwavering and it's growing and growing and growing," said Debbie Bochenek. "It's been incredible. It's been one of the most touching things, I think, of this whole journey." 

When the Bocheneks arrived back home, Brianne was greeted with well wishes from all her classmates at Coyote Creek Elementary. She said she's happy to be back home with her brothers and sisters and relieved to have the surgery behind her.

"I know the cancer's out and everything," said Brianne. "But I still have pain. A lot of phantom pain, they call it, when I feel like its there."

As Brianne talked about the challenges that lie ahead, a special visitor made her way into the family room.

Sarah Reinertsen is a world class athlete who's competeted in numerous road races, triathlons, and the Hawaii Ironman, all on a prosthetic leg. She traveled from Southern California to meet Brianne and talk about what its like to live life as an amputee.

The Bocheneks said it was Sarah's story that inspired Brianne's decision to amputate. Brianne also dreams of one day competing in an ironman event. Seeing and learning about what to expect serves as powerful motivation for a young girl who has so much more to do.

Brianne said first on her list is walking, running, and going back to school.

"Oh, and probably most definitely just healing it so I can swim at my grandma's house during the summer with my cousins and family," said Brianne.

Brianne is doing well, but still has a long road ahead.

Right now, as part of her treatment, she's undergoing six more months of chemotherapy. Doctors said she has to wait about three months before she can be fitted with her first prosthetic leg. Something, Brianne said she is looking forward to.