It takes a team

Teamwork is essential in Josh's fight against his noma.

1. Doctors, nurses, coordinators

Both Western and Eastern doctors, support staff, coordinators, etc., are contributing to Josh's fight. We believe that a mixture of therapies will contribute to the best outcome. We have to be treating the body and the mind. We need to be using both acupuncture and drugs. We need to ensure Josh talks about his feelings and keeps exercising for both mental and physical benefits. Thanks to all those we're paying to share their expertise with us.

2. Friends

You guys continue to provide incredible support with prayers, comments on the blog, phone calls, visits, distractions like movies and events, invitations to lunch or dinner, willingness to provide food and help when Josh is at his lowest points, hugs, cards, and willing ears to listen to our experiences.

3. Family

Clearly we've had incredible support from both sides of the family with anything from a year-long Netflix subscription to time spent here with the kids while Josh and I need to be down at MD Anderson.

This weekend we took another trip down to Houston, but this time, completely for a social visit - nothing directly to do with Josh's noma. But thoughts of the noma are obviously never far away. The main agenda for the visit was to celebrate anyone's birthday within the last month or so. Isaac (Josh's younger brother) created a delicious (and quite elaborate - he started the cooking on Saturday morning) Mediterranean meal, food that apparently has great health benefits. Josh really doesn't like to cook, but with all the cautiousness of what he's feeding his body to not help the cancer grow (or help kill it), he's close to being as much of a food snob and cook as Isaac is. And that's saying something.

Then after the present opening for each birthday celebrant, Josh's mom presented two more gifts - the same thing to both Josh and Isaac: Lord of the Rings trilogy in Blue Ray + a small sword letter opener. They're both big Tolkien fans and the swords are meant to symbolize the fight they're both on the front line of. Isaac has been a true blessing to Josh...and incidentally, he was born exactly 9 months after Josh's 4th birthday.

Makes me think of a possible Mastercard commercial submission...
Medical care to treat a noma: $100s of thousands of dollars
Travel back and forth to Houston for treatments: $100s/month and hours of lost sleep
A passionate doctor-in-training brother who spends inordinate amounts of time researching and care-giving: priceless

Thanks team, and keep fighting!