Update 2/16/2026: Joseph was doing very well while we were at treatment in Arizona. Funds ran out and he wasn’t able to get all the treatments. He needed to continue his care while we were in Nevada. He has gotten very sick within the last couple of months and hope for cancer has agreed to take his case so I booked the flights and we’re leaving February 24. Now we just need to raise the money to pay for the treatment which is approximately $56,500. Joseph wants to continue to fight this horrible disease so I will help him in every way possible to help him fight. Thank you so much for everything. God is good all the time and all the time God is good !!
Update 7/5/2025: Joseph’s latest scans have shown the cancer has spread to his lungs and we were sent home with no further treatment. I am trying to raise money to get him to Envita an integrative clinic in Arizona to give Joseph a fighting chance. Insurance doesn’t cover any of these treatments and the average cost is $150,000 not including living costs. I am willing to do anything for my sweet son. Please share and donate anything helps!!
Update 3/18 /2025: we moved to Philadelphia for two months to take part in the carT trial. I took my four youngest kids with me Joseph was infused with his T cells October. 22nd 2024. On October 24, he was admitted into the hospital for a fever of 105 and was diagnosed with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) he was in the hospital for one week with very high fevers and chills that at times were uncontrollable. When he was released, we continued to watch him and do labs every other day. When he went for his 28 day scan, it showed less in intensity in all areas where his cancer was and still had a curie score of 22 and the doctors were very hopeful. We came home November 18 and spent the holidays at home. We went back to Philadelphia January 5 for repeat scans which Joseph at this time was in a lot of pain so we knew something was happening after the scans. It showed growth in all areas and even new spots so the carT therapy failed for Joseph. I immediately started looking at alternative therapies as there were no other options given to us at the time I started researching different things to do and we started juicing low glutamine and glucose diet PEMF Mat, hydrogen water and other supplements. I have reached out to numerous naturopathic doctors in the country and Mexico for recommendations. After many many hours of research, I feel like there is promise in integrative clinic in Arizona. Which insurance does not cover, but we are willing to try anything. Joseph has been feeling well with no pain and gaining weight. We recently went to Salt Lake City and he had another MIBG scan and it has shown that he has a few new spots, but some of his old spots have dimmed so that is a positive result for now. We are continuing with radiation on the new spots particularly the new spot that has grown on his skull and immunotherapy, with no chemo at this time . His counts have been low since the CarT therapy and he has had to get weekly platelet transfusions and biweekly blood transfusions. Which we travel to either Salt Lake City or Reno to do. We are hoping to be able to get into another trial, but he does not qualify as of right now because of his counts, we will continue to have faith and keep doing what we’re doing as he is in no pain which is a major plus.
Update: 10/2/2024 since the last update Joseph has received proton therapy, photon therapy and different immunotherapy called Naxitamab . He has had a response the this treatment but on his last scans it has shown that he has new cancer spots on his skull, both shoulders and pelvis. He has done eight cycles of it with the last two in the ICU. This treatment have become too dangerous for Joseph too continue on with so we have been accepted to a trial therapy in Philadelphia called CarT therapy . Joseph had his T cells collected in April 2024 in preparation for the possibility of being accepted in to this trial and they went into manufacturing in July and failed to grow. We had to go to back Philadelphia to get them collected again and this collection worked. We are headed to Philadelphia this Sunday, October 6 and will be there until November 22 so Joseph can take part in the carT trial. I am taking four of my youngest children with me. We are very hopeful for this trial and we are very proud of Joseph for wanting to do this to help better the doctors data for other children. He is a true superhero!!
God is good!
Joseph is our 16 year old son and is the middle child of 7. He received his official diagnosis of high risk neuroblastoma in October of 2022. His journey to find out why he was sick started in August/Sept. We live in rural Nevada and travel 5 hrs every 2 weeks to Salt Lake City for treatments. He has had many chemotherapy’s, scans, bone marrow/ stem cell retrievals, bone marrow aspirations, biopsies, transfusions and surgery to remove his primary tumor. Joseph is currently on his 5th cycle of immunotherapy. His current scans show he is not responding to his current treatments. The option we have been given is MIBG therapy in Colorado, we will have to be there for approximately 2 1/2 weeks in the first week in August. Joseph is an amazing kid that never complains about anything, he does all that he is told and is doing well at the present time. He is an amazing son, friend, uncle, nephew, team mate and all around human. We have had so much support, love and prayers from our community and we are so thankful for it all. We ask for as many prayers as possible so our sweet son can overcome this terrible disease. It has been hard to ask for financial help and have been doing well over the last 9 months. Traveling to Colorado will be a little more challenging for us. Thank you all so much and may God Bless you.
update: 8/19/2023 we are currently in Colorado doing his MIBG therapy we have already been here for 13 days and don’t know how long we will have to stay. Joseph has been getting very nauseous and sick during the treatment but we are hoping that it works once again, thank you all for your prayers and your support. We will have to come back and six weeks and do it all over again.