Joshua's story

When 4-year-old Joshua developed a headache, his mother took him to the doctor. His pediatrician screened him for standard causes of headaches and ended up ordering a CT scan that would reveal a tumor.

Later that afternoon, neurosurgeon Dr. John Ruge showed Joshua’s parents the MRI that showed apparent evidence of a metastasized tumor spreading into his spinal column – a grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma. They remember with gratitude Dr. Ruge’s calm demeanor that day as they talked about the MRI and pediatric ICU.

Before his surgery, Joshua spent time with the Child Life specialists, who explained what was going to happen in a way he could understand. His heroine, Nurse Molly, faithfully and cheerfully kept watch over every detail of his care.

Today you’d never know Joshua had surgery as a young child – except for a little patch of skin on the back of his head where the hair hasn’t grown back. When his hair is long, you’d never know it. But every once in a while, his parents rub his little head and remember.