Just a few weeks ago, 15-year-old Josh was doing what he does best: Joking around with his dad, helping his mom, and being an amazing big brother to Theo (11), Liam (7), and Ada (4).

As the firstborn of his generation, Josh has always been a bright light in his family. He’s a brilliant 9th grader who plays in band and at concerts, spends time with his friends, and plays with his siblings - but he also loves to tinker with electronics; putting together hardware devices and programming them as he works toward his dream of a future career in cybersecurity.

Then, what seemed like a severe case of a sore throat, turned into a parent's worst nightmare: After fainting unexpectedly while talking to his mom, Josh was rushed to the ER. The report from the bloodwork led to an emergency transfer to the Children’s Hospital ICU.

The diagnosis: Leukemia.

3 days later, Josh has already started his first round of chemotherapy, and true to his nature, he is fighting hard.

While the prognosis is hopeful, the road to a cure is incredibly brutal. Josh is facing a grueling, 6-month marathon of intensive chemotherapy.

For the next half-year, Josh will essentially live at the hospital - missing out on spending time doing what a 15-year-old should be doing with their friends and family during Summer break and first few months of school. 

Cancer doesn’t just attack a child; it attacks the entire family. Josh’s parents are reeling while trying to figure out how to coordinate work schedules with hospital stays, while keeping life as normal and loving as possible for Theo, Liam, and Ada at home, whose worlds have also been turned upside down.

A Message of Faith from the Family:

Despite the shock, the family’s faith remains steadfast. They are incredibly thankful that Josh suffered no organ damage leading up to his diagnosis, and they see God’s grace in the world-class medical team at Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. 

Josh has an incredibly bright future ahead of him in hardware and cybersecurity, and he has parents - and three little siblings - who want to see him back, happy and healthy.

The funds raised will directly help cover:

 * Mounting out-of-pocket medical expenses and extended hospital stays.

 * The inevitable loss of income from time off required from work to be by Josh’s side.

 * Daily living expenses, meals, and childcare support for his three younger siblings at home.

No family should have to fight this alone. Your donation will make a tangible, immediate impact. If you cannot give financially, please lift Josh up in prayer and share this page with your communities.

Thank you for your love, your prayers, and your generosity.