I contracted COVID during the pandemic. After the initial infection, my body did not recover. Developing acute autoimmune issues, long COVID, heart issues, and what they classified as “other neurological conditions caused by COVID.” The doctors and specialists couldn’t make sense of what was happening to me. I was having trouble coordinating movement and control of my muscles throughout my body, and I was having trouble producing speech and significant and persistent cognitive issues. I spent the next two years in physical and speech therapy, having to use adaptive equipment (wheelchair, walker, speech device). In 2023, I landed in the hospital with pneumonia, coughing up blood, night sweats, and horrible headaches. After an X-ray, they found my right lung collapsed, a mass in the center of my chest, which was cutting off blood from my brain to my heart. There was also fluid buildup around my heart. After a biopsy, I was diagnosed with late-stage primary mediastinal non-Hodgkin large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
From the local ICU, I was medevacked to UCLA Cancer Center in Santa Monica and started "Red Devil" chemotherapy. Once stable, I was able to return home before continuing my chemo regimen at UCLA Santa Barbara Cancer Treatment Center. I experienced typical chemotherapy symptoms with some complications. I had a brief remission before having to start secondary treatment, immunotherapy, when the PET scan showed the cancer had returned. One of the immunotherapies caused a bad reaction, and I was hospitalized with severe complications, which became the primary focus of care until we found a fix after trying IVIG infusions as a last resort/Hail Mary. I received confirmation from a PET scan in the summer of 2025 that I’m in remission and have maintained it while still dealing with a dysregulated immune system, causing other issues that I’m still being treated for into the present day.
Before getting sick, I was active, fit, surfing, hiking, and traveling. I’m working every day to get back there. I’m starting water physical therapy to start rebuilding my strength with the goal of climbing Mt. Whitney in 2027. I’m also writing a book about my journey called Surviving Myself, along with a cancer journey daily journal, to help other cancer fighters. I share my story online, on social media, host a weekly live podcast connecting with cancer fighters, write a small weekly blog about my journey on Substack, and have started my own t-shirt brand for cancer fighters. These are little ways I can help inspire other fighters to keep going, and that they aren’t alone.
Josh
primary mediastinal non-Hodgkin large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
