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JOSHUA SVEJDA
Eighteen-year-old Joshua Svejda of Spencer loves horses. He also enjoys hunting, fishing and being on the Spencer High School wrestling team--all typical activities for a young man of Joshua’s age. But Josh’s life is anything but typical.
Joshua’s story begins nearly 16 years ago. In July of 1988, 2½-year-old Joshua was diagnosed with RhabdomyoSarComa, a form of cancer. As a toddler, his treatment included several surgeries, radiation and 22 months of chemotherapy. He spent many days in the Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. After a long struggle, Joshua overcame his battle with cancer and was considered in remission in December 1989, and ten years later, he was considered “cured.”
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Joshua Svejda
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With cancer behind them, Josh and his family, including his younger sister, Jacky, parents Vickie and Lanny Parker, and father David, looked forward to living a “normal” life. But then in October 2000, at the age of 15, a lump was discovered on his neck. Less than one month later, a diagnosis was confirmed. Joshua had another form of cancer called T-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Joshua and his family would again be faced with hospital stays, surgeries and chemotherapy.
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Saint Joseph’s Hospital became a second home for Joshua’s family in the winter of 2001. Joshua became very ill during his treatment. What started out as a cold, grew into a fever and then an infection in his leg. The infection needed to be removed, which required skin grafting. Difficulties continued, as Joshua needed a colostomy due to the complications from the radiation he had received nearly 13 years ago.
Joshua was in the hospital for 73 days. “He couldn’t walk, eat and did little but sleep,” remembered his mother Vickie. “He dropped from about 109 pounds to 85 pounds – it was like looking at a skeleton with skin. Being in the hospital was very difficult for him and our family. He wanted to return home to our farm and the four horses we have boarded there.”
But Joshua was too ill to be released. He was unable to even walk the length of the halls. But as Joshua’s strength returned, he began physical therapy with the goal of going home. Joshua reached his goal, only to return to the hospital in January 2003 with a cold and fever. This time he was battling pneumonia.
Dr. Michael McManus, Marshfield Clinic Pediatric Oncologist on staff at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, admitted Joshua into the PICUt where he was placed on a respirator. “After several long days with many tubes, and being turned every two hours, his lungs started getting better,” said Vickie, “and he was finally taken off of the machines.”
During the summer of 2003, chemotherapy treatments were stopped. Tests came back negative and Joshua was again placed in remission.
Dr. McManus recommended that Joshua be referred to a geneticist at Marshfield Clinic. Through this referral, research and blood tests, it was discovered that Joshua was born with a rare chromosome birth defect called Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome. Among other characteristics of the syndrome, there is an increased risk for cancer, particularly lymphoma. “Although there is little known about this birth defect,” said Vickie, “this diagnosis has given the family a lot of answers to questions about Joshua’s life.”
Joshua continues to be tested to watch for the return of the cancer, but he keeps on smiling. “Don’t ever give up,” said Joshua. “Things will turn around. Stay close to family and friends and don’t be afraid to ask for help. To me, being a miracle means being well, alive and doing normal things in life.”
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