Josiah’s cancer journey began in November 2016 when his daycare provider discovered a lump in his groin area while changing his diaper. Josiah’s pediatrician felt comfortable treating it as a swollen lymph node and placed him on two rounds of antibiotics. After no improvement was seen, Josiah was referred to a surgeon. The “lymph node” turned out to be a Wilm’s tumor, which is a rare pediatric cancer typically found on the kidney. However, Josiah’s tumor was in his groin, meaning his case was the rarest of the rare! His family is thankful for this anomaly, because it means Josiah did not have to have a kidney removed.  

Josiah underwent port placement surgery in January 2017 and began chemotherapy soon after. He went through 25 rounds of chemo and 10 straight days of radiation. In June 2017 he reached remission and has received the “all clear” on scans since then. Though Josiah is off therapy, he must have an electrocardiogram, ultrasound and blood draw every three months until the summer of 2020, at which point he will need to get checked every six months.

Every child who has been diagnosed with childhood cancer inspires us to Rally On to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures. Please join us in the fight against childhood cancer by making a donation or setting up your own Rally fundraiser today.