Please help with tautoko and funding while Josh battles with Ewing's sarcoma cancer.

“Josh has the most indescribable love for his family every minute of everyday is dedicated to just being together, its his favourite place to be. You couldn't ask for a more devoted and loyal partner, father, brother, uncle grandson and son. He beams pride for his family. Josh puts an emphasis on care when it comes to his loved ones . He’s loyal, generous and kind. Josh has the best sense of humour and can make a joke out of most situations. Trust me if you spend 5 minuets with him you a guaranteed a good laugh. He takes what ever life throws at him in his stride. “ - this is what my sister Sharday wrote when I asked her to describe her partner Josh.

After months of Josh being in excruciating pain which was thought to be caused by a rugby injury, which he was then treated for bursitis and then with the continuous pain medical professionals thought it could be sciatica.. Further X-rays, CT scans and blood tests came back with the heart breaking diagnoses of Ewing’s sarcoma cancer. Ewing’s sarcoma is a very rare type of cancerous tumor that grows in your bones or the soft tissue around your bones, such as cartilage or the nerves. It usually affects children and adolescents. The cancer has metastasized in Josh’s body meaning that the tumors have spread and are in several places from the chest down.

Josh has already undergone urgent radiation on his spine and the tumors are significant size and far spread that the doctors will not operate instead he will be doing 6 months of intense chemotherapy which will be 5 days a week every fortnight to try and shrink the tumors to help pro-long his life.

Josh and Sharday have a beautiful blended whānau and are the parents/step parents of 3 boys Mase (10), Mason (2) and Hamiora (9 months). Josh is usually a fit, strong, full of life 23 year old and also an amazing rugby player. Sharday and Josh are the most hardworking, caring and helpful couple. They always have extra kids with them and I often brag about my sister and how her hobbies are helping anyone she possibly can even if she doesn’t know them!!

Sadly due to Josh’s illness he hasn’t been able to work since 20/6/18 and Sharday will be finishing work soon to be able to travel from Whakatane to take Josh to his chemotherapy in Tauranga most week days and caring for him whilst looking after their 9 month old baby Hamiora and Sharday’s son Mase.

So many have asked “how can I help?” and this is one of the ways we can all help , any amount of koha will be truly appreciated. Lets help ease the financial burden on Josh and his young whānau.