Meet Josafat – Leukemia Warrior

“There are a lot of emotions right now,” shared Joanna, Josafat's mom. “We are feeling blessed… This was very emotional for me, but I am grateful that we made it.”

Josafat’s Journey

Three-year-old Josafat had only just begun his life when it was suddenly interrupted by something no family ever expected. Born January of 2023, Josafat was a joyful toddler growing up surrounded by siblings who loved him deeply. On February 28, 2025, everything changed when he was suddenly diagnosed with leukemia.

At the time of Josafat diagnosis, his mother, Joanna, was only one month postpartum with the family’s youngest baby. What followed was a whirlwind of fear, separation, and uncertainty. Josafat and his mom quickly began traveling more than three hours each way to the hospital for specialized care.

Josafat’s treatment plan was intense and complicated. Early chemotherapy caused severe inflammation in his brain, which doctors initially feared could be a brain tumor. Josafat underwent MRI scans and lumbar punctures to gain a clear picture. Eventually, doctors confirmed the inflammation was caused by the chemotherapy itself and adjusted his treatment to a less aggressive regimen. While this brought relief, the emotional toll remained heavy.

From early March through mid-August, Josafat and his mother were forced to relocate to be closer to the hospital. Josafat experienced multiple hospital admissions, some lasting more than two weeks. His newborn sibling spent the first months of life in a hospital room, while his other siblings stayed with their grandmother back home. The family was separated, stretched thin, and trying to hold on to a sense of normalcy through video calls and short visits when they could.

Despite the hardship, Josafat showed incredible resilience. After months of treatment, setbacks, and hospital stays, September 26, 2025, marked a milestone the family had been dreaming of. Josafat completed his last day of chemotherapy! As he left the hospital that day, balloons decorated his stroller and strangers cheered him on. It was a moment filled with relief, pride, and overwhelming emotion.

Soon after, Josafat rang the bell to celebrate the end of treatment. “There are a lot of emotions right now,” shared Joanna. “We are feeling blessed… This was very emotional for me, but I am grateful that we made it. We are praying that everything is fine, but I will always have a small fear that something will come back when we go in for [follow-up] labs and scans.”

By November, the family gathered in joy, with his oldest sibling traveling in from out of state to celebrate his remission. Tears flowed freely, not from fear this time, but from gratitude. For the first time in many months, the family could be together without splitting time between home and hospital.

How We Helped

Because state insurance did not cover transportation to and from Josafat’s appointments, the NCCS provided support through the Transportation Assistance Fund to help cover the many trips between home and hospital for chemotherapy, labs, biopsies, and follow-up scans. These trips added up quickly and were unavoidable. The NCCS also supported the family through the Emergency Assistance Fund, helping cover meals and daily necessities during long hospital stays when both parents were focused on keeping Josafat company.

In addition, the NCCS provided educational resources to help the family navigate the emotional side of childhood cancer. Publications on how to talk to siblings about cancer and a parent guide for educational and emotional support helped their family begin conversations about what Josafat was going through.

Josafat continues his follow-up care with regular labs and scans, and his parents remain hopeful while still acknowledging the lingering fear that many families impacted by childhood cancer carry. Still, they move forward with faith, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for simple, everyday moments.

Josafat’s story is one of courage, family, and the power of support beyond medical care. Childhood cancer does not only impact a child. It affects siblings, parents, finances, housing, and the emotional wellbeing of everyone it touches. By providing practical assistance when families need it most, The National Children’s Cancer Society helps ensure that families like Josafat’s can focus on what matters most, helping their child heal and come home. Josafat is a survivor, and his journey is a reminder that when families are supported every step of the way, healing is possible.