In August 2022, the world of Josh and Kathryn was turned upside down when their daughter, Laurel, was diagnosed with leukemia just two weeks before her third birthday. Laurel, now five years old, has been courageously battling cancer and is expected to remain in treatment until December 2024. Despite the challenges, her family remains optimistic about the future and determined to make a difference for other families facing similar struggles.
Laurel in treatment.
The Diagnosis and Start of Treatment
Laurel’s journey began unexpectedly when her primary care physician suspected leukemia and referred her to the Pediatric Oncology/Hematology team at West Virginia University Medicine Children’s on August 31, 2022. The following day, on September 1—coincidentally the first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month—Laurel began her chemotherapy treatment.
Josh, who was deployed overseas with the West Virginia Army National Guard at the time, describes the shock and urgency of the situation: “By the time I arrived at the hospital, Laurel had already started chemotherapy. It was surreal and devastating to be away while our daughter began such a critical battle.”
“Laurel received her first of many blood products that night and began chemotherapy the very next morning. The first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month will forever hold a different significance for us,” her mother added.
The Struggles and Setbacks
The family faced another emotional hurdle when Laurel did not achieve no evidence of disease (NED) after the initial 28 days of treatment, moving her into the high-risk category. “We were honestly devastated,” Josh recalls. “The more intense chemotherapy comes with increased risks of long-term health consequences, such as metabolic disease and infertility.”
Kathryn vividly remembers the heartbreak: “When she didn’t make remission, it felt like we were already in pieces, and this came along to grind us into dust. I was so angry that I took a carton of eggs out behind the woods of our house and threw them at trees… then I sat down and cried.”
Thankfully, on December 15, 2022—105 days into her treatment—Laurel finally achieved NED. While she remains in a higher-risk category, her prognosis is positive, and the family is optimistic about her future.
Laurel’s parents join The Alliance for Childhood Cancer at this year’s Actions Days in Washington DC.
Advocating for Change: A Visit to Capitol Hill
This year, Josh and Kathryn traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s Action Days, a crucial event where families like theirs advocate for legislation to support children with cancer. While Laurel was unable to join due to her health, her parents were determined to make their voices heard.
“Action Days was empowering and inspiring,” Josh says. “It was surprising to see how genuinely interested congressional staff were in hearing our story. For the first time, I realized the power of having elected officials represent us and the impact we could make.”
Kathryn reflects on the emotional experience: “It was productive and insightful. We came with a supportive community, and the representatives made us feel heard.”
During their meetings with Congress, Josh and Kathryn shared Laurel’s story and highlighted the urgent need for more effective treatments and long-term care for childhood cancer survivors. “There’s a future where a child like Laurel won’t have to go through two and a half years of chemotherapy, which is literally the process of poisoning the child to kill the cancer,” Josh explains. “The legislation we proposed to Congress will help accelerate the arrival of that future.”
Kathryn adds, “I shared my story as a mother to a child who never got to be ‘just a normal three-year-old’ because cancer took that away. We need better treatments, and we need them now.”
Laurel’s parents, Josh and Kathryn, advocate so that kids with cancer will have better treatment options.
The Importance of Advocacy
For Josh and Kathryn, advocating for better legislation is about more than just their own experience. They are fighting for a better future for all children facing cancer. “We’re not just looking at our past experience, but rather looking forward to a better future for those affected by childhood cancer,” Kathryn emphasizes.
Josh is hopeful that proposed legislation, like the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, will be signed into law. “Senator Capito has been a long-time champion for childhood cancer, and her office has already reached out to inform us that they’ve co-sponsored the bills we asked her to adopt,” he says. “I feel optimistic that our visits were well-received and increased the chance of this legislation being adopted.”
Looking Ahead
As Laurel continues her treatment, her family remains focused on the future, both for her and for the countless other children battling cancer. They plan to return to Action Days in the coming years, this time with Laurel and her sister Lillian by their side, to continue advocating for change.
“Laurel’s journey is far from over,” Kathryn reflects. “But we’re determined to make a difference, not just for her, but for all the children and families who are going through this nightmare. Advocacy is a crucial part of that fight.”
Laurel’s story is a testament to the strength and resilience of one family in the face of unimaginable challenges, and a powerful reminder of the importance of continued advocacy and support for children with cancer.
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