To our members who have been here for a while, please bear with me yet again as I uphold my promise to Josh.
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I have a nephew named Josh. I have to give you a little background on Josh before I get to my promise. Josh l-o-v-e-s souped up trucks. The trucks with big wheels, loud mufflers, loud music, all the shiny chrome and flashy "extras". With that being said, he also loves to take his trucks through the mud . . . literally!! His truck would be covered from roof to wheels in mud and then he would turn around and detail it until it looked brand new. When Josh isn't working, he's out with his buddies and their trucks and the mud. Josh's chosen profession is landscaping - being in his early 20's, he is very good at it.
In the spring of 2004 Josh complained of pain in his chest area. The doctor at the walk-in clinic chalked it up to a pulled muscle. In June when I was visiting, Josh still complained of pain. More time passed and they went to another doctor as things just didn't seem right that he would still be in pain months and months later. To make a long story short, when the new doctor ran some blood work on Josh it came back that Josh had a rare liver cancer. He had been misdiagnosed back in the spring and it was now early fall. A whirlwind of doctor appointments followed and he was given the grim news that his cancer was too advanced for the medicines to work or for him to go into a clinical trial. Six weeks from the time of Josh's new diagnose, he passed away at the age of 22.
I was fortunate to be a part of Josh's hospice team to be with him 24/7 for his last few days. I made a promise to Josh that I would share his story to help save others from having to go through what he did. IF you feel things in your body are not quite right and you are not getting any answers from the doctors . . . keep pursuing it. You have to be your own health advocate. Had they done some blood work in the very beginning, back in the spring, they would have found the cancer. Because of Josh's age and his profession, the "pulled muscle" seemed like an acceptable diagnose. It wasn't. When you are explaining aches and pains to the doctors be as descriptive as you can be. Is it throbbing, dull, sharp, intense, etc.? Guys tend to downgrade the pain scale. It was my SIL who noticed the grimace in Josh's face while he was dealing with the pain - it hurt a lot more than he was letting on. We'll never know if Josh could have beaten this cancer had it been found earlier.
Josh's motto was: "I will be heard!"
Josh - in every souped up truck, loud stereo, beautiful landscaped yard or business I think of you. Every time I go to the doctor - I think of you. Today, while I was in town, I saw two "Josh Trucks" and thought of you.
Josh - it's been eight years today that cancer ended your young life way too soon - I love you, miss you, and hear you. (I've kept my promise to you too, and always will . . . love you forever!) xoxoxo
Aunt Bucky
P.S. To those of you who have a cancer history in your families - please, make sure and get regular screenings. (In Josh's case, no one in our family had any history of liver cancer.) It is my hope and prayer that someday researchers will find a cause and cure for all cancers. Way too many lives are taken by this awful disease. To our members who are dealing with a dx of cancer right now - keep the faith and know we are here to support you in your journey.
Thank you, Bucky, for sharing your story about your wonderful Josh. I was just thinking about him yesterday.
Unfortunately for me, your posting this year has hit me very close to home. Bless you for keeping your promise.
I remember the last time you posted about Josh - I have shared his story with others to encourage them to take care of themselves and not give up on getting good care.
I think it's great that you do this...
Thanks Bucky for writing this about Josh. I've read about him before, but this is a welcome repeat as a reminder to some of us. I have several nephews whom I love very much, so I understand your attachment and love for Josh. I actually lost one of my nephews about 3 years ago, although he was 20 years older than Josh, 42 is still too young. His death was a sudden heart attack. He lives by himself and never had a chance. He left a big hole in our lives as we usually got together during the holidays with my sister and her family. Lucy
Bucky
Thank you for letting us share in your nephew's story again. I think of him when I think how lucky we have been with my nephew, Ben.
God bless.
Kathyx
As always Bucky, thru recounting his story, you honor and respect the memory and wishes of your very special nephew Josh. As well, sharing Josh's experiences thru the terrible ordeal that took his life at too early an age, has no doubt saved many others who never had the priviledge of knowing him in person.
May he rest in peace knowing that he was truly loved and will never be forgotten!
Daisy