Joshua's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Joshua’s Story
Joshua Davis is a 5 year old boy attending Kindergarten at Wakehurst Public School when in October 2016, a growing set of symptoms began to raise serious concern for his parents. Josh needed glasses in June of 2016 as his vision started to blur, and by October was having trouble sustaining balance and one day fell over at school. In the next 2 weeks, after growing symptoms of severe vomiting his parents started to chase what they thought could be something much more serious.
After spending days at Sydney’s major hospitals, only to be sent home, they desperately kept going back to seek answers. They went to a local hospital and had demanded a CT scan. After a few hours and some convincing, the senior doctor came back into the room with an ashen face, and instructed the junior doctors to leave immediately. It was at that point they knew something serious was wrong.
They were told that Joshua had a mass on his brain, preliminary words for brain tumour, and he was rushed to Randwick Childrens hospital in order to undergo immediate surgery. Joshua was diagnosed with a pineal blastoma, a tumour at the very centre of the brain, the pineal gland, which releases melatonin to assist with sleep regulation. They were told that these cells are the first to form upon conception, and that he would have had this since that time.
They were told that they had to operate to relieve the fluid build up (about 2 golf balls worth)on his brain behind his eyes. They were told there was only a matter of days. They took the option to drill a hole at the centre of his brain to create a new CSF brain fluid pathway, upon which they had success as the build up alleviated and his brain pressure was relieved.
They were then given the neurology meeting to explain the major surgery to remove the tumour. They faced many risks, but primarily they were told that he would be brain damaged, and/or blind. They were clearly told to prepare for this 100% outcome. They were not prepared for the miracle that was him waking up, fully working, speech, limbs, eyes, everything.
They were amazed when they said they managed to get 90-95% of the tumour, and amazed that Joshua was up and walking about within 10 days after major brain surgery. The neurosurgery team had nicknamed Joshua “LMM” or Little Miracle Man!!!!!
In December, Joshua went into hospital for stem cell therapy, to harvest and collect ready for chemotherapy to help him recover. He did it tough, to the point where his veins collapsed on all 4 limbs from multiple cannulas, and only just did they get what they needed to prepare.
Joshua then proceeded to attack radio therapy with vigour, and amazing control as a 6 year old. The staff made comment on his ability to be dead still for 45 minutes, not even to scratch the nose, as the radiation gun requires pinpoint accuracy. 6 weeks, and no general anesthetic (most children require it daily), and Joshua was still amazing the hospital staff, playing soccer in the afternoon after a mornings radiotherapy, he has been a shining little star in the hospital, where so many children with so many conditions do it tough in difficult conditions.
As they now prepare and undergo the toughest phase, chemo therapy, an MRI scan has shown that the tumour has disappeared, and that they are now addressing the hidden micro cellular activity, or basically recurrence of the issue which is the biggest threat after brain surgery.
Joshua has the most amazing spirit, his attitude of perseverance has been an inspiration to his parents, and his sheer will to conquer the “baddie in his head”.
Please Please support this family in their mammoth battle againt brain cancer. Any donation would be greatly appreciated and will be going towards a vital piece of medical equipment required, tutoring for Josh while in hospital and other medical costs. They need your help NOW !
The Family would like to say a huge Thankyou to everyone for their Generosity, Prayers, offers of help and Kind Support.
Joshua Davis is a 5 year old boy attending Kindergarten at Wakehurst Public School when in October 2016, a growing set of symptoms began to raise serious concern for his parents. Josh needed glasses in June of 2016 as his vision started to blur, and by October was having trouble sustaining balance and one day fell over at school. In the next 2 weeks, after growing symptoms of severe vomiting his parents started to chase what they thought could be something much more serious.
After spending days at Sydney’s major hospitals, only to be sent home, they desperately kept going back to seek answers. They went to a local hospital and had demanded a CT scan. After a few hours and some convincing, the senior doctor came back into the room with an ashen face, and instructed the junior doctors to leave immediately. It was at that point they knew something serious was wrong.
They were told that Joshua had a mass on his brain, preliminary words for brain tumour, and he was rushed to Randwick Childrens hospital in order to undergo immediate surgery. Joshua was diagnosed with a pineal blastoma, a tumour at the very centre of the brain, the pineal gland, which releases melatonin to assist with sleep regulation. They were told that these cells are the first to form upon conception, and that he would have had this since that time.
They were told that they had to operate to relieve the fluid build up (about 2 golf balls worth)on his brain behind his eyes. They were told there was only a matter of days. They took the option to drill a hole at the centre of his brain to create a new CSF brain fluid pathway, upon which they had success as the build up alleviated and his brain pressure was relieved.
They were then given the neurology meeting to explain the major surgery to remove the tumour. They faced many risks, but primarily they were told that he would be brain damaged, and/or blind. They were clearly told to prepare for this 100% outcome. They were not prepared for the miracle that was him waking up, fully working, speech, limbs, eyes, everything.
They were amazed when they said they managed to get 90-95% of the tumour, and amazed that Joshua was up and walking about within 10 days after major brain surgery. The neurosurgery team had nicknamed Joshua “LMM” or Little Miracle Man!!!!!
In December, Joshua went into hospital for stem cell therapy, to harvest and collect ready for chemotherapy to help him recover. He did it tough, to the point where his veins collapsed on all 4 limbs from multiple cannulas, and only just did they get what they needed to prepare.
Joshua then proceeded to attack radio therapy with vigour, and amazing control as a 6 year old. The staff made comment on his ability to be dead still for 45 minutes, not even to scratch the nose, as the radiation gun requires pinpoint accuracy. 6 weeks, and no general anesthetic (most children require it daily), and Joshua was still amazing the hospital staff, playing soccer in the afternoon after a mornings radiotherapy, he has been a shining little star in the hospital, where so many children with so many conditions do it tough in difficult conditions.
As they now prepare and undergo the toughest phase, chemo therapy, an MRI scan has shown that the tumour has disappeared, and that they are now addressing the hidden micro cellular activity, or basically recurrence of the issue which is the biggest threat after brain surgery.
Joshua has the most amazing spirit, his attitude of perseverance has been an inspiration to his parents, and his sheer will to conquer the “baddie in his head”.
Please Please support this family in their mammoth battle againt brain cancer. Any donation would be greatly appreciated and will be going towards a vital piece of medical equipment required, tutoring for Josh while in hospital and other medical costs. They need your help NOW !
The Family would like to say a huge Thankyou to everyone for their Generosity, Prayers, offers of help and Kind Support.
Organizer
Sinead Kelly
Organizer
Belrose NSW
