JOSH IS A FIGHTER. Help us fight alongside him!

Our lifelong friend, Josh Southworth, was recently diagnosed with advanced stage 4 appendix cancer (appendiceal goblet cell adenocarcinoma). The disease has taken over his appendix, ruptured it, spreading throughout his entire abdomen (on top of his organs and covering the omentum).

"Josh is a fighter, he has a lot to fight for! His family, especially their young boys, 5 and 8, are his strength everyday. He is their Superman and as they say “the bad guys in his belly are going to lose!”

Josh started chemotherapy on March 30th with the hope of being eligible for HIPEC surgery in the future. After appointments with Mercy Hospital and John Hopkins, the oncology surgeon from Mercy deemed Josh inoperable due to extensive spread of disease through his entire abdomen and shared concerns about quality of life.

“We were devastated and heartbroken. That gut punch feeling where you can’t catch your breath. Immediately after that appointment we both looked at each other and said we’ve got this. We are going to prove him wrong.”

The John Hopkins medical oncologist believes the chemotherapy is keeping it currently stable, the fluid in his abdomen is decreasing each week, and overall Josh says he feels a difference. While he does not believe Josh is a surgical candidate currently, he does not believe it is off the table.

In addition to chemotherapy, nutrition and exercise - Josh will explore Mistletoe Therapy; an integrative cancer therapy. Europe has had great success with mistletoe therapy and it is currently being studied at John Hopkins in a clinical trial.

As Josh’s family and friends, we invite you to join this rally and fight. If able, please help us care for Josh by removing some of the financial burden from him and his family. Along with any financial support, please keep Josh, his story, and his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.