Support Josh in His Fight Against Burkitt Lymphoma

Story

My brother, Josh Baringer, 29 years old, was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma back at the beginning of November 2024. As many of you who have followed the story already know, after seven out of eight rounds of an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, his cancer stopped responding to the treatment and grew back to its original size, all in a span of two weeks. He has spent much of the past seven months in and out of the hospital, often in emergency situations.

The impact of this illness has been devastating to Josh as he has lost his job, and although insurance covers many of his medical expenses, the accumulating copays, out-of-pocket costs, and numerous medications are becoming overwhelming.

Josh has remained strong through this treatment, no matter how tough it has been. He has suffered through intense chemo, kidney tubes, mouth sores, and much more. However, the cancer is more difficult to treat now that it has stopped responding to the chemo cycles.

Now, he is about to begin a treatment called CAR-T, which involves genetically modifying his stem cells to attack and kill the cancer cells. However, this treatment is in the experimental stage for his type of cancer. We are unsure of how the cancer will react to the treatment, as this is the treatment that can give him a chance at survival. We remain hopeful that Josh can defeat this illness that is causing him so much pain.

Additionally, my parents have been unwavering caregivers throughout this journey. They have watched Josh go through good days and bad days, and they have been there every step of the way. Now, they will have to relocate to Atlanta for the duration of this treatment, which could be at least two months, so that Josh can be closely monitored. Josh will also have more hospitalization and visits to the clinic. The added costs of having to relocate will increase Josh’s and my parents’ financial burden.

Josh is a fighter and a hero. While we have a long road ahead, he represents hope, not just for himself, but for the future of cancer treatment. We ask that you consider donating, or at least sharing his story. Every bit of support brings us closer to giving him a fighting chance and to helping him become an inspiration to others who are battling this terrible disease.

Organizers :

Ashley Elizalde is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of David Baringer.