Josh's Brain Tumor Journey
Donation protected
October 15, 2016 remains a special day in the Landry household, as it is the day they vowed to spend the rest of their lives together -- for better, for worse, in sickness and in health.
Little did they know how quickly their vows to one another would be put to the test. Just 4 days after their one year wedding anniversary, on October 19, 2017, they received news that would change their lives forever.
Josh was diagnosed with a baseball sized brain tumor known as a Stage 2 Astrocytoma. This tumor encompasses a fourth of the part of his brain that controls his short term memory as well as the function of the left side of his body (leg, arm, eyesight).
It has integrated into his brain like roots from a tree. This type of tumor is an incurable brain tumor that they can manage his symptoms and attempt to treat/shrink it, but they cannot eliminate it. Treating this tumor will involve a grueling medical and emotional journey.
Josh completed his first leg of the journey--brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible on December 6th 2017 and is currently healing from that invasive procedure.
Next comes several weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to try and shrink what's left of the tumor. Josh will be unable to go back to work for approximately 3-6 months due to treatments as well as his episodic seizures from the tumor leaving their family with one full income. This is especially problematic in that they are expecting their first child (a baby boy!) in April 2018.
Josh’s surgeon and neuro-oncologist are at West Jefferson Medical Center in New Orleans, where he will be visiting often for doctor visits and treatment. Fighting this tumor puts a strain on all resources and the Landry’s will need all the help they can get to pay for unforeseen medical bills, lost income, day-to-day expenses, and travel costs as they focus on Josh’s health journey and prepare for the arrival of their little boy.
Please consider donating to this family as any amount of money will be helpful and greatly appreciated. If donating money is not an option for you, then we ask that you please simply say a prayer for Josh, his wife, their family, and everyone else who loves him during this journey.
No one fights alone!Please share and use the hashtag #joshsjourney when you do.
We appreciate you and thanks for reading!
UPDATE: 04/0518
Lawson Wayne Landry made his grand entrance into the world! He was born on April 5th at 4:58 pm weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 in. long. His parents are over the moon and are loving every minute with him.
UPDATE: 04/26/18
Josh will be starting a clinical trial at UT Southwest in Dallas on Monday, he will be one of 45 people in the whole country participating in the study it consists of four weeks of a trial drug followed by a second brain surgery. The trial drug is supposed to stop the mutated cells (cancer cells or tumor cells) from reproducing hopefully pressing the pause button on the tumor and giving him a longer lifespan. The surgeon in Dallas thinks she can remove an additional 20 to 30% of the tumor however this comes with risks such as the possibility of paralysis on the left side and loss of vision in his left peripheral (of both eyes).
UPDATE: 05/09/18
Josh received his trial medication (yay!). He is currently taking 500 mg a day of AG-120, which is twice as much as the other people who are participating in the trial.
He will be the first person to get the brain surgery after taking the drug (they are monitoring the drug in others by MRI levels). The medical team at UT Southwest are very excited for Josh to be a part of this clinical trial as it gives them the opportunity to go in and see how much of the drug actually made its way into the tumor after 4 weeks.
Little did they know how quickly their vows to one another would be put to the test. Just 4 days after their one year wedding anniversary, on October 19, 2017, they received news that would change their lives forever.
Josh was diagnosed with a baseball sized brain tumor known as a Stage 2 Astrocytoma. This tumor encompasses a fourth of the part of his brain that controls his short term memory as well as the function of the left side of his body (leg, arm, eyesight).
It has integrated into his brain like roots from a tree. This type of tumor is an incurable brain tumor that they can manage his symptoms and attempt to treat/shrink it, but they cannot eliminate it. Treating this tumor will involve a grueling medical and emotional journey.
Josh completed his first leg of the journey--brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible on December 6th 2017 and is currently healing from that invasive procedure.
Next comes several weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to try and shrink what's left of the tumor. Josh will be unable to go back to work for approximately 3-6 months due to treatments as well as his episodic seizures from the tumor leaving their family with one full income. This is especially problematic in that they are expecting their first child (a baby boy!) in April 2018.
Josh’s surgeon and neuro-oncologist are at West Jefferson Medical Center in New Orleans, where he will be visiting often for doctor visits and treatment. Fighting this tumor puts a strain on all resources and the Landry’s will need all the help they can get to pay for unforeseen medical bills, lost income, day-to-day expenses, and travel costs as they focus on Josh’s health journey and prepare for the arrival of their little boy.
Please consider donating to this family as any amount of money will be helpful and greatly appreciated. If donating money is not an option for you, then we ask that you please simply say a prayer for Josh, his wife, their family, and everyone else who loves him during this journey.
No one fights alone!Please share and use the hashtag #joshsjourney when you do.
We appreciate you and thanks for reading!
UPDATE: 04/0518
Lawson Wayne Landry made his grand entrance into the world! He was born on April 5th at 4:58 pm weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 in. long. His parents are over the moon and are loving every minute with him.
UPDATE: 04/26/18
Josh will be starting a clinical trial at UT Southwest in Dallas on Monday, he will be one of 45 people in the whole country participating in the study it consists of four weeks of a trial drug followed by a second brain surgery. The trial drug is supposed to stop the mutated cells (cancer cells or tumor cells) from reproducing hopefully pressing the pause button on the tumor and giving him a longer lifespan. The surgeon in Dallas thinks she can remove an additional 20 to 30% of the tumor however this comes with risks such as the possibility of paralysis on the left side and loss of vision in his left peripheral (of both eyes).
UPDATE: 05/09/18
Josh received his trial medication (yay!). He is currently taking 500 mg a day of AG-120, which is twice as much as the other people who are participating in the trial.
He will be the first person to get the brain surgery after taking the drug (they are monitoring the drug in others by MRI levels). The medical team at UT Southwest are very excited for Josh to be a part of this clinical trial as it gives them the opportunity to go in and see how much of the drug actually made its way into the tumor after 4 weeks.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tara Olivier
Organizer
Lafayette, LA
Hallie Landry
Beneficiary
