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About
our Joshy
Neuroblastoma
and other Cancer Links
Sign
or View Joshua's Guest Book
Like most every rambunctious toddler you know, Joshua is always on the move. So it was quickly apparent to his mother, something was wrong when suddenly he began limping. On July 1, just 15 days before his third birthday, Joshua was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. The disease is a form of cancer that develops from nerve cells. The rare cancer, which has no known cause, most often strikes two to three year olds. Generally true of the illness, Joshua's tumor was found in the adrenal gland, near the kidney, which was the source of the pain that caused his limp. Today, Joshua is in stage four of the illness. That means the disease has spread form its original location to a very distant area, such as bone marrow, bones liver or lymph nodes. To battle the illness, he is undergoing chemotherapy and blood and platelet transfusions.
14th Joshua began limping and had a low grade fever. Diagnosed with toxic cinivitis in the emergency room. Symptoms went away within a week.
14th Joshua began limping again and had a low grade fever.
24th Joshua has a bone scan done on his hips. Hot spots were seen on his right hip.
25th MRI of right hip shows what appears to be an abscess. Surgery is performed to remove the abscess. The biopsy was negative. Joshua was diagnosed with osteomylitis (an infection of the bone) and was treated with IV antibiotics.
4th-25th Joshua seemed to improve, but then started to have fevers again and perspire profusely at night. He is also experiencing pain and is having difficulty walking again.
27th The second surgery is performed on his hip to check for remaining infection. The area looks fine.
1st Joshua has a Catscan done of his abdomen. The results show a tumor located on the right adrenal gland. Joshua is diagnosed with Neuroblastoma.
2nd The tumor the size of a large orange is removed. Cancer cells were also found in the bone marrow.
12th-19th The first course/round of chemotherapy begins as does the frequent trips in and out of the hospital. Joshua is given Vincristine/Adriamycin/Cytoxan.
22nd-26th Joshua is hospitalized with fever and neutropenia.
2nd-6th The second round of chemotherapy begins. Joshua is given Vincristine/Adriamycin/Cytoxan.
3rd Make a Wish grants Joshy's wish to go to Disney world. Joshy's trip is postponed until after the transplant.
24th-29th The third round of chemotherapy begins. Joshua is given Cisplatin/VP-16.
4th-7th Joshua is hospitalized with fever and neutropenia.
8th There is a blood drive in Joshua's honor. It is very successful, over 70 people donated.
16th-20th The fourth round of chemotherapy begins. Joshua is given Vincristine/Adriamycin/Cytoxin.
16th Joshua has a Bone Marrow Aspiration. The test is negative. The bone marrow biopsy shows microscopic amounts of Neuroblastoma cells still present. He will need another round of chemotherapy before the Bone Marrow Harvest.
September 24th-October 1st Joshua is in the hospital with a fever, staph infection and diarrhea. He is treated with antibiotics.
5th Joshua has a Bone Marrow aspiration and Biopsy
11th LTV Steel holds a blood drive in Joshua's honor.
12th Joshua has a Catscan and Bonescan
15th-19th Joshy is in the hospital for chemotherapy.
31st Halloween party at the hospital, Joshy, Brant and Nathaniel dress as the 3 musketeers.
11th Bone marrow biopsy found no tumors in Joshy's bone marrow.
15th-19th Joshy has another round of Chemotherapy.
23rd-30th Josh is in the hospital with rotavirus.
6th Joshy's bone marrow biopsy yields good results.
13th Joshy goes to Cincinnati for the Bone Marrow Harvest.
15th Joshy has the bone marrow harvest.
16th-18th Joshy has stem cell pheresis.
22nd-26th Joshy is in the hospital for chemotherapy.
3rd-8th Josh is in the hospital with a fever and the flu.
5th-6th MIBG test looks for Neuroblastoma cells in the body, showed several areas that still had tumor cells.
7th EKG and ECHO done on the heart and results were excellent. All is in good condition.
10th MRI showed some tumor cells remain in the skull, vertebrae, hip, femur and tibia in small dispersed areas.
13th Joshy has some dental work done.20th Joshy is admitted in to the hospital to have his broviac replaced.
21st Joshy has high dose chemotherapy.
22nd Joshy has high dose chemotherapy.
23rd Joshy has high dose chemotherapy.
24th Joshy has high dose chemotherapy.
25th The Starbright Foundation allowed Joshy to see his little sister Gabby on a web cam. Also has occupational therapy.
26th Joshy has total body radiation. Joshy is still in good spirits but has nausea and vomiting from the radiation.
27th Joshy has total body radiation.
28th Joshy has total body radiation and the bone marrow transplant.3rd Joshy's white blood cell count is at .3.
7th Joshy's white blood cell count is at .2.
10th Joshy goes home from the hospital! Joshua's doctor says he has made a remarkable recovery. Thanks to the Make a Wish foundation, Joshua's trip to Disney World is scheduled for April.
18th, 21st, 23rd Joshy goes back to the hospital to receive platelets.
24th-31st Joshy and his family go to Disney World. Joshy spends most of his time in the swimming pool of course! Everyone has a wonderful time. Thank you, Make a Wish for allowing this trip.
2nd Doctors find a tumor on Joshy's skull. He undergoes radiation to eliminate the tumor.
3rd Doctors find the cancer has spread into his bone marrow again.
29th We are looking into alternative treatments for Joshua which are now our only hope. Please pray for our little boy.1st A special fund has been set up to help raise money for Joshua's treatment and transportation to the alternative facility in California. We will post a link to all the information soon.
2nd It is with great sadness I announce that Joshua passed away today at 7:00am surrounded by all the people that he loved. Joshua is now in heaven with all the other angels. Thank you to all the people who prayed for him and helped support us through this. Please continue to support Cancer research so this never has to happen to anyone again.
Do
not stand at my grave and weep
I
am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I
am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awake in the morning's hush,
I am the soft uplifting rush
of
quiet birds in circling flight
I
am the soft star that shines at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there. I did not die.
