Josiah has been through a lot in his young life, and he continues to face more challenges than most. But, as his photos attest, he has no shortage of joy.
In 2017, at just a year old, Josiah was already being monitored by his local hospital for an optic pathway glioma, a low-grade, slow-growing tumor along his optic nerve.
But then, around February of the following year, he developed gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms that led to a second discovery: a softball-sized tumor affecting his prostate.
St. Jude patient Josiah with his dad
Josiah was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where a diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue cancer, was confirmed.
Josiah’s family was familiar with St. Jude from seeing television commercials. But they didn’t know families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. This proved to be a big relief right away, when Josiah was inpatient for 52 days.
St. Jude patient Josiah with his mom, Amanda
During that time, said his mom, Amanda, “everybody on the fifth floor was family.” The “Happy Cart” came down the hall regularly, delivering a choice of toys to the kids’ hospital rooms. Josiah would often pick out a toy car — he loves to play with his cars.
“This hospital makes you feel at home,” she said. “Everyone is so welcoming, and we don't have to worry about anything other than taking care of him.”
Josiah has also required months of outpatient treatment, including chemotherapy and proton therapy, which have shrunk the rhabdomyosarcoma tumor considerably. St. Jude doctors also monitor his glioma, which remains stable.
Now 3 years old, he is still receiving chemotherapy and is on track to finish cancer treatment this spring. “He gets excited when I tell him we’re going to St. Jude for appointments,” said Amanda.
He especially loves speech and music therapies.
St. Jude patient Josiah with nursing administrator, Tiffany Rooks
St. Jude is awesome. Our family is very thankful for all the work they have done for our son. We will forever be grateful.
Meet more patients
-
Meet Hunter
Hunter was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and was immediately referred to St. Jude, where he has received chemotherapy and proton therapy. Hunter has chosen to face adversity with good humor and determination.
-
Meet Brayden
Brayden received chemotherapy as well as proton therapy for medulloblastoma at the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children.
-
Meet Mila
Mila was found to have both Down Syndrome and a leukemia precursor. She underwent months of chemotherapy at St. Jude for acute myeloid leukemia, but even on days she didn’t feel great, she was smiling and playing.
-
Meet patient Natalie
Natalie seemed like a healthy toddler. But one day, she stopped using her left arm. She had Stage IV neuroblastoma and was referred to St. Jude for treatment.
-
Meet Misheel
Misheel was diagnosed with brain cancer and was referred to St. Jude, where she has received treatment, which included chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She has refused to let her illness keep her from spreading joy to others.
-
Meet Delta
Delta is a daddy's girl, and everybody knows it. But Delta and her daddy, Hayden, have often been separated while she has been receiving treatment at St. Jude for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hours away from their home and his job.
-
Meet Gideon
After Gideon was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, he was referred to St. Jude for immediate treatment.
-
Meet Camila
Camila was diagnosed three days before her 3rd birthday with a solid cancerous tumor of the kidney. Read her story.
-
Meet Hayden
Hayden is back in Jamaica after eye cancer treatment, but he often asks his parents when they will go “home” to St. Jude where he received medical care.
-
Meet Alejandro
Ines and Alejandro think of their son Alejandro every day. Their active and curious boy would have been near adulthood by now. They honor his memory through their commitment to St. Jude. Read more here.
-
Meet Phoenix
Christmas Day plans for Phoenix’s family didn’t include a life-altering trip to the hospital. But at St. Jude, this close-knit family has been given hope.
-
Meet Avery
Avery was diagnosed with sickle cell disease soon after birth and she received a bone marrow transplant at St. Jude in early 2023. Her donor was one of her older sisters.
-
Meet Eli
At just 6 years old, Eli was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. His family was referred to St. Jude for his treatment and Eli underwent surgery to remove the tumor and a portion of his tibia.
-
Meet Joshua
St. Jude patient Joshua recently took to the court to help end childhood cancer by fundraising for St. Jude.
-
Meet Lucas: Patient
Lucas, who is from Chile, was 3-years old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and was referred to St. Jude.