Josh Erb Stage IV Cancer Relief

This is my brother Josh, his wife Lorena, and their daughter Brizza.  They are a young happy family living in Madison, Wisconsin.  About a year ago Josh started a construction company building measurement towers used by the wind energy industry.  He is also building his own home (with his own two hands) near New Glarus, Wisconsin.

In late November 2014, Josh was diagnosed with stage 4 lower esophageal cancer at the junction with the stomach that had spread to his liver and a kidney.  He is an athletic 38 year old man who never smoked, so the diagnosis came as quite a shock.

Palliative treatment including localized radiation and standardized chemotherapy for his type of cancer started just after Christmas.  Sadly, it was found that the standard course of treatment was not working - recently his doctors discovered more tumors in his spine and pelvis, including a large tumor on his T7 vertebra which was beginning to cause him problems walking.  His doctors are now unsure if they are dealing with a “by the book” esophageal/stomach cancer and are looking at other avenues for treatment.  His oncologists have shared with him that doctors across the country are just beginning to see this version of the disease, mostly in young white men in their 30’s.

Josh has now closed his wind energy business, and Lorena does not make enough to support their family alone.

We hope to have Josh with us for many more years to come, but Josh and his family are on a long, tough road.