Help Chandra and Josh in Their Time of Need

Hello!

I’m making this for my sister Chandra and her amazing husband Josh.

Chandra and Josh met and instantly fell in love. He immediately became part of the family with his contagious sense of humor and sarcasm. Harassing my sister with our inside jokes is a favorite past time of mine.

They got married on July 28th 2001. From then they have grown a beautiful family. Josh is a hands on Dad and always the center of laughs and jokes at every family gathering.

In 2021, Josh noticed something was off and went to the doctor. He was diagnosed with parotid gland carcinoma (essentially saliva cancer). Since then he has endured surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. Each instance with the hope and promise of a happy ending. Unfortunately this is no fairy tale. In 2022 it came back again, in April 2023 it spread to his lungs, in February 2024 it spread to his bones, then July of 2024 we found out it had spread to his brain. Currently it has aggressively spread to his heart, colon, hips, spine.

Additionally, he has fluid around his heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. He has been at Barnes Jewish Hospital for almost 2 weeks and recently had a procedure to remove 1 liter of fluid from around his heart. Josh is a fighter and will continue to do so.

Chandra lives in Potosi and makes the drive back and forth to STL to be by his side,

all the while managing her job and their three children. Needless to say finances are tight and a strain. When a loved one gets sick, one of the most stressful tasks is finding the funds you need. Both Chandra and Josh have been immensely grateful for everyone that has reached out and helped thus far from family, friends and co-workers, without which she would not have been able to be by his side and put food on the table.

Neither would ever ask for help, but unfortunately it is needed. We will continue to rely heavily on our faith; but at this time the doctors are giving a short life expectancy and encouraging them to move care over to hospice due to the aggressive progression and spread of the cancer.

We don’t know what tomorrow will bring and our only focus is making sure Josh gets the best care possible while allowing his family to be with him.

If you are able, I humbly ask that you donate towards the cost of gas, bills and food while we navigate these unknown waters.