Rare cancer can’t keep teen patient down for long

Car show benefit keeps young victim feeling optimistic

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GARY SMITH Above, Alexis Ledman, center, watches as Nikkita Medlin fixes face paint for a design for her cousin, Josh Medlin, left, at a Saturday car show benefit for Josh and for research into the rare type of cancer he has. Above right, Brian Farrell of La Plata and his Indiana-built Ecstasy Renegade entered the car show at the Charles County fairgrounds. Left, 9-year-old Cade Brodsky, background, watches as his dad, Andy, fastens a California replica license plate to their ‘‘Herbie” Volkswagen. The Hughesville pair was part of the car show. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Click here to enlarge this photo

Josh, 16, of Hughesville was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round blue cell cancer in 2006.

‘‘There are only 210 cases of this cancer on earth,” James Medlin, Josh’s father said. ‘‘About 16 out of 22 people who get this disease will die from it. A tumor in Josh’s body will grow from the size of a marble to the size of a brick in only two weeks.”

Josh has been undergoing treatment since 2006 at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and has had surgery at Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

‘‘We have Josh on chemotherapy at home two times a week,” Gail Medlin, Josh’s mother said, ‘‘but the next step is to take him to Texas to receive the antibody AMG 579, a new experimental cancer treatment.”

To be able to receive the treatment, Josh and his family will have to commute to Texas every other weekend. To help raise funds for the treatment and related expenses, the Tri-County Cruisers Rod and Custom Car Club held a benefit car show at the Charles County fairgrounds near La Plata on Saturday.

Brian Farrell of La Plata brought his 2001 Ecstasy Renegade to the car show.

‘‘My wife and I were going through La Plata,” Farrell said, ‘‘and a member of the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department asked us if we could enter our trike in the car show for Josh. I am a first-time dad at 41 years of age. I just had an 8-month-old, so I thought it was a good cause.”

‘‘This town really rallies around someone in need,” Farrell said. ‘‘I picked the right town to live in.”

This isn’t the first benefit that has been held for Josh. Natasha Medlin, Josh’s aunt, remembered some of the previous fundraisers that have been held.

‘‘We had a Taste of Nations, a yard sale and barbecue chicken dinner at the Brandywine fire department,” Natasha said.

‘‘I am a member of the La Plata rescue squad, and everyone there kind of rolled with all the fundraisers.”

In addition to the car club, the Hughesville hazmat team, and the Charles County K-9 unit attended the fundraiser Saturday.

Josh, who turned 16 last Wednesday, attends North Point High School in Waldorf and is enrolled in the forensic science program there. While he was completing a police obstacle course, he broke his tibia and his fibula, two large leg bones.

When he had a bone density scan to see why his bones were so fragile, doctors found three new spots on his bones, according to Natasha.

‘‘Josh is just a remarkable boy,” Natasha said. ‘‘He has never complained about what has happened to him.”

James thinks the family has gotten closer since the ordeal.

‘‘We have a real strong family,” James said.

‘‘Gail has had to adjust her whole life to fit around Josh’s treatments. Josh has never felt sorry for himself. I have even heard him say that he was glad he was the one that got this cancer, because no one else could have dealt with it.”

Josh has had so much to deal with. He has had two surgeries which have lasted over 10 hours, and has had his diaphragm replaced with a Gore-Tex lining, along with the wall of his heart. Josh has also had the body and tail of his pancreas removed.

‘‘They have operated on every organ of his body,” Gail said.

Josh is getting home chemotherapy treatments twice a week through an intravenous port which is permanently placed under his skin.

‘‘It is just a mild dose,” Gail said.

Between treatments, Josh has managed to keep his place on the honor roll at school, and just got his learner’s permit last week.

Josh was at the benefit making cotton candy.

‘‘I didn’t want to do the face painting because I am not an artist,” Josh said. ‘‘Sometimes it is not easy, but I keep a positive attitude. That is real important.”

Contributions may be made to the Joshua Medlin Fund, 26602 Mattie Court, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.