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Family First: Joshua's Wish Foundation

Michelle Quesada

Joshua Solomon was four years old when he was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma which is a brain tumor located in the middle of the brain stem. Doctors told his mother, Labrina Solomon, that the tumor was inoperable.

"Children diagnosed with this type of brain tumor are usually given a year to 18 months to live Joshua was diagnosed in August 2008," says Labrina Solomon, Joshua's Mother and Founder of Joshua's Wish Foundation.

At St. Jude's Children Research Hospital Joshua received 6 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation

"After his treatment he had a follow up MRI and the tumor was virtually non-existent and the doctors thought he was going to be a long term survivor," says Solomon.

That was in December of 2008 and after a few months things took a turn for the worst.

"It came back like a thief in the night in May 2009, Joshua, that brain tumor takes so much away from a child. He lost his ability to talk, to walk," added Solomon.

Joshua passed away in September of 2009, but his memory lives on through the foundation created in his name. On Saturday Joshua's Wish will hosts its second annual walk to bring awareness to childhood cancer.

"We want people to know that children get cancer too and cancer does not discriminate. It could be your child, it could be anyone's child, and we just want to raise awareness so that funding can be increased," says Solomon.

To learn more about Joshua's Wish Foundation click on our news links tab.

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