Josh Moala's Cancer Journey #FaithOverFear

March 30th, 2023 started as any other Thursday busy and fast-paced. None of us could imagine what came next. How do you prepare for a call that your child is in the emergency room and has been told he has cancer? Josh is a 22-year-old, obsessed with health, and a lifelong athlete with a mission to live clean. He had just told his family he was doing so to avoid his father's fate. Josh's Dad David lost his own battle to cancer at the age of 37, Josh was 13 at the time.  

He and his family's lives were forever changed by that call, time stood still as they wiped their tears and band together in solidarity. From that moment all that mattered was Josh's survival in this battle for his life. Those early days are a blur for the family, Josh had been at Jujitsu and felt a pain in his neck. Within hours the first 3 tumors were discovered; in his neck, chest and spine. How could this be, there were no signs or symptoms. It would be 5 days of tests, specialists, and fighting with insurance before there was a diagnosis of Stage 4 Grey Zone Lymphoma, a very rare and extremely aggressive cancer. Several more days would pass waiting for insurance approvals which never came before a treatment plan was in place and finally started. In that short space of time, multiple additional tumors had begun to form in Josh's chest and other areas throughout his body.

Josh is the oldest of 3 children, after his father's death his mom struggled with her mental health. Josh and his sisters would spend the majority of their young lives being raised by a village of family members including his 2 moms, grandparents, and his aunts and uncles. Josh and his sisters were ever-changing schools, households and states until their mom, Shannon recovered and was back on her feet. Against the odds, Josh received a full scholarship to USD to play on their football team. He decided college was not for him and began pursuing his passion, helping people with disabilities. Josh and his childhood best friend were set to start their own business in the fall to better help this underserved community. 

Just as you can not prepare for the call to battle cancer, you can not prepare for the financial consequences of taking leave from work, tests, treatments, procedures not covered by insurance, the extra cost of clean organic foods, supplements, vitamins, and more to come. In a fight for a young man's life, it should never be a choice between money and care. I can't put into words how I feel watching a family I care about so much going through this. Josh comes from a long line of warriors, his Polynesian Heritage runs deep in his veins and surrounds him in spirit.  Please help in supporting Josh and his family as a member of the strong village made up of his father, friends, family, and ancestors to get Win and beat cancer! #FaithOverFear!!