Meet Ezra – Medulloblastoma Warrior
Sandra shared, “Ezra and I have always had a strong bond that I didn’t feel could get any stronger, yet I was wrong. We now have what I feel is a stronger bond.”
In June of 2023, Josiah, who goes by Ezra, was enjoying summer camp when he suddenly began vomiting throughout the night. Concerned, his mother, Sandra, took him to the doctor, who diagnosed him with heat exhaustion and dehydration. But when the vomiting persisted, another visit led to a diagnosis of acid reflux. Over the course of multiple doctor’s appointments, they kept searching for answers.
When Ezra began experiencing headaches, vision problems, and difficulty walking, Sandra knew something was seriously wrong. She took him to the emergency room four separate times, only to be sent home each time with more questions than answers. On their final visit, the doctors said it was migraines, but Sandra knew better. There was no history of migraines in their family, and Ezra was vomiting daily and missing school, forcing Sandra to leave work. She refused to leave until they conducted further tests. Finally, doctors performed a CT scan—and that’s when they learned he had a grade IV brain tumor, known as medulloblastoma.
When Ezra learned he had a tumor, it didn’t fully register with him. His reaction was simply, “At least now they know what it is.” He was told it was cancer but that it was treatable, and his mother assured him she would be by his side every step of the way.
That same night, Ezra was transported by ambulance over an hour away to another hospital for emergency surgery. Less than 24 hours after his diagnosis, he was in the operating room. He was sedated before he even had time to comprehend what was happening. When he woke up, his left eye was fully turned inward, and he couldn’t walk. Sandra poured love and reassurance into him, promising that he would be okay. He quietly accepted everything, never asking many questions—just taking each moment as it came.
A month after his emergency surgery, Sandra and Ezra moved eight hours away from their home for continued treatment in San Diego: 30 rounds of radiation and six sessions of chemotherapy simultaneously. While this only lasted two months, it felt like an eternity. He returned home and had a break for a few weeks. But, the day after Christmas, he began nine additional rounds of chemotherapy, completing his final round a year and four months later.
As a single mother with no family nearby, it was just Sandra and Ezra. They tackled every obstacle together as a team. There were so many difficult moments—Ezra just wanted to be a normal kid again. He wanted to run, play with his friends, and go back to school. Sandra helped him through those emotional struggles while also managing the physical toll of treatment: vomiting, nausea, pain, headaches, and exhaustion.
Sandra recalls one of the most challenging moments was on Halloween. Ezra had long, beautiful hair down to his shoulders, but he suddenly felt excruciating pain in his scalp—he described it as a thousand knives stabbing his head – truly unbearable. In that moment, Sandra grabbed scissors and started cutting his hair as close to his scalp as she could. The relief was immediate. He took a deep breath and simply said, “Thank you, mom.” They had never been advised to shave his hair, and he didn’t want to lose it, but they didn’t realize how much pain it would eventually cause him.
There were emotional struggles, too. One day, Sandra was reading a letter from a foundation that had provided assistance, and she saw that it was started in memory of a child who had lost their battle. Sandra stopped reading, and Ezra asked why. She told him she wanted to focus on success stories. He looked at her and said, “Then just focus on the fact that I’m here. You have me now. I’m alive.”
Two years before Ezra’s diagnosis, Sandra lost her mother—Ezra’s grandmother—to COVID. But throughout this journey, she truly felt her presence with them. The love and support from their community also carried them through. Ezra’s school checked in on them constantly, and his two best friends, Gunnar and Gavin, called him every single day. Sandra shared, “Ezra and I have always had a strong bond that I didn’t feel could get any stronger, yet I was wrong. We now have what I feel is a stronger bond.”
Now, they are adjusting to a new reality. Ezra is relearning how to walk and adapting to the limitations on his left side. Sandra shared, “You truly do have to be present and focused on today. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anybody, so enjoy and embrace every day. I was consumed by worry and fear, and that was robbing me of my joy and happiness, which is all Ezra deserves to be around. He’s gone through enough sadness, and I, as his mother and support, only want him to be happy. It brings out a strength in you that you have gone through so much in life; this is the ultimate eye-opener. Focus on today, and be present; tomorrow is not promised for anybody.”
Through it all, The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) stepped in when Sandra needed help the most. The NCCS provided support through the Transportation Assistance Fund, which allowed them to make every appointment, reminding Sandra that she and Ezra were not alone in this fight. Along with transportation assistance, Sandra also received support through the Emergency Assistance Fund to help with additional household expenses. The organization also provided her with its free publication, The Other Side of the Mountain: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Childhood Cancer, while Ezra received the I Can Move Mountains activity book.
Sandra shared that Ezra is a bright light in this world. He loves being with family and friends, playing video games, and reading. His huge, radiant smile reflects his kind and empathetic nature. He has an incredible sense of humor, and his love and respect for those around him shine through in everything he does.
When asked what brings Ezra the most joy, Sandra shared, “Ezra loves being with family and friends. He loves playing online video games with friends and loves reading. Ezra’s character and huge gorgeous smile illuminate the beautiful person he is. He is so kind and empathetic. He’s very attentive to others. He’s got a funny sense of humor that everyone loves, yet he is very calm and composed!”
His dream? To walk again and leave the wheelchair behind. He is determined to excel in school, push through every challenge, and never give up. Even before his diagnosis, Ezra had a heart full of determination. He once ran in a marathon and completed 40 laps in honor of his classmate Jacob, who had passed away in an accident. Though exhausted, Ezra kept going—for Jacob.
Ezra’s journey has been filled with unimaginable challenges, but he continues to push forward with courage and resilience. Something Sandra and Ezra hope people take away from their story is to focus on today, to be present, and to embrace the gift of now.