Florida immunotherapy treatment ‘too risky for Josh’

Josh McCormack

The family of Josh McCormack have received further devastating news to add to their heartbreak: the glimmer of hope offered through immunotherapy treatment in Florida is too risky for Josh.

In a heart-wrenching update, mum Nicola McCormack said: “The trial in Florida still uses an initial cycle of high dose chemo which the oncologist feels is too risky for Joshua due to his condition and what he has previously been through.

“Josh would need a biopsy for lab tests to see which drugs to trial on his tumour (which means more brain surgery and high risks due to its location on the brainstem).

“The oncologist also thinks by the time it takes to arrange all this, it will be too late at the rate Joshua is deteriorating. If we did decide to go, we would likely come back without him as the trial is only a phase one trial, with little or no hope of cure, leaving Joshua to suffer in a foreign country unnecessarily.

“We as a family are broken into a million pieces.

“We are losing our brave, beautiful Josh little-by-little each passing day to this dreadful disease; his eyes are vacant, his speech slurred, his beautiful character disappearing right before our very eyes.

"Joshua’s deterioration is rapidly up on us. As the lights seem to be dimming in his eyes, it dims in our hearts.

“Basically palliative care is all anyone can offer.

“Your recent fund raising efforts have been amazing, but I thought I needed to give you the heads up as it doesn't seem like immunotherapy is an option for us right now. It wouldn't be right for you to continue to raise funds for something that's not likely to happen.

“Thank you for all your support and for making our summer full of fun possible. Because of your generosity, we made some magical cherished memories that will stay with us forever.

“Josh even managed four days at school.

“We are so privileged to be parents of the best boy ever. We owe him everything, but can give him nothing in return to help, just love him until the bitter end. Which is bitter, it's twisted, it's cruel and it makes what we made of our lives utterly pointless.

“Thank you for everything you have done to bring joy and happiness to my boy this summer, you have been amazing.”