CARING family members of a brave Badsey boy battling cancer have been overwhelmed in their bid to bring him some Christmas cheer.
Victoria Jinks began her mission on December 5 and has already raised more than £9,500
The caring aunt sprung into action to help nephew Josh Asbury who made the heart-breaking journey from Covid to cancer in just three months.
After testing positive on September 26, the nine-year-old isolated for 10 days. Despite suffering many symptoms he was ready to return to normal life.
But the brave youngster didn’t eat and drink as normal and was left exhausted on a daily basis. Concerned parents Andy and Heather took him to the doctors to be told it was the after effects of the illness.
Five weeks later, Josh complained of back ache and on November 8 he and his parents returned to his GP who could hear air pockets on his left lung.
He was referred for a chest x-ray but on November 10, his breathing deteriorated rapidly and he began suffering cold sweats.
After calling 111, an ambulance was sent to the family home but paramedics couldn’t hear a sound on his left side. He was rushed to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital where an X-Ray revealed he had a collapsed lung and needed surgery.
He was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital on November 14 for surgery and to have his lung drained.
The surgery raised alarm among doctors and following various investigations, Andy and Heather were given the devastating news Josh had a growth on his chest.
After it was confirmed Josh was suffering with T cell lymphoblastic leukaemia lymphoma, doctors discovered masses in his neck, arm pit, chest, lung and stomach.
Despite initially being upset, the brave youngster summoned up the courage to face down his illness and win the fight and began his chemotherapy on November 20.
Devoted mum Heather has remained by his side since November 10 while Andy has visited in order to keep life as normal as possible for their youngest son Jack.
“Nobody deserves to go through this let alone a boy as kindhearted as Josh,” Victoria said.
“This is why we’d love for him to have a trip of a lifetime and for money to not be a problem for our beautiful family.
“We want this opportunity to be waiting for him when his treatment is over and he’s back to his normal, sporty, energetic, and all-round amazing self,” she added
Visit www.gofundme.com/f/helping-josh-asbury-and-family for more.
