Josh is a one-kidney bearded man!

As many of you know, Joshua, 27, had a terrible stomach pain on March 4th at my home during dinner.
The pain went away and returned the next day.  He had some tests which led to some more tests and by Tuesday, the 6th, they told him he had a tumor wrapped around his kidney and that they thought it was cancer.  We were in shock and he had his surgery on March 12th, the following Monday.  The results were shocking.  Josh's tumor (see picture) was three times the size of the kidney and was diagnosed stage 3 cancer! The kidney was functioning perfectly and the tumor had not yet metastasized so their was no need for chemo or radiation.  The doctor checked the nodes around the kidney area and found nothing.  He was told that he was lucky they caught it in time.

 So Josh has already healed from his staples from surgery, the pain of surgery and has returned to work since April 2nd.  He is a miracle to our family and has learned some great life lessons that will change the course of his life forever.  Now that it is over, we can see the benefits of trials in our lives.  We do not want them but they happen to everyone and are necessary for us to travel through.  We have a link you can read in detail of his ordeal.  We know many people who have had similar trials but sadder outcomes.  Josh is happy that his outcome was positive and he is better for it.  Click here to read the
full story of Joshua's trial with cancer.  Read all the posts in Dee's blog if you want more of an update.

This is a picture of Joshua's kidney (the dark area) and it was wrapped
around with the cancer tumor (the white area).  The bowl it is sitting in
is 8 inches across.  As you can see, they could not separate the tumor
from the kidney.  Josh had no signs of kidney cancer like blood in his urine etc.  He was feeling pain because it had grown so big that it was
probably hitting other organs and hurting him inside.  He will have
CT Scans every three months for a year and then less time between
CT Scans during the next five years.  What a sight!

This is Joshua,  days after his surgery walking around with his "tree" and his family; Roger (Dad), Dee (Wifey) and little Landon, 14 months.

So many people helped Joshua and his family.  Thank you for all the love and letters urging Joshua to feel peace and to be
strong.  To his wonderful mother-in-law, Donna Kowalski,
who flew in from Conn. to babysit Landon and help Dee for
three weeks.

For the many meals,  gifts, visits to the hospital and home.
Josh is very loved and we are so very grateful.
Thank you to all.

You can write Josh at bigknell@gmail.com