Making Every Day Count

On March 9, 2020, I was diagnosed with glioblastoma.?I was told I had 14 months to live.?I was given a death sentence.

Seven days later, I had brain surgery, which removed 95% of the tumor in my head.?I immediately started 6 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, and then additional chemo for another 6 months.?The same week as my diagnosis, Covid had gripped NYC and the world, my company RevCascade lost its biggest customer to bankruptcy, and I was financially struggling.

This all happened 3 years ago today, March 9, 2023, and I continue to beat the odds and try to win every day big and small.?A significant side effect of glioblastoma is aphasia which affects my reading, writing, and comprehension, and I’m learning to embrace the new version of my brain and how I interact with the world.

My kids, my family, and my friends continue to be a constant daily joy and I am so grateful.??

I am beyond grateful for my doctors Dr Mary Welch (https://www.neurology.columbia.edu/profile/mary-r-welch-md ) and Dr Guy McKhann (https://www.neurosurgery.columbia.edu/profile/guy-m-mckhann-ii-md) who have taken care of me the entire journey.

While aphasia and glioblastoma are constant challenges, my day to day joy is stronger than ever.?I am often asked about my bucket list, and the truth is my goals are simple, I try my best to win big or small every day.

There are no guarantees when living with aphasia and glioblastoma.?Making every day count big and small sounds cliché, but every day is the only day we have.?The first year after surgery I had no change in my original tumor.?In year two, I was told I had a new tumor which a month later turned out to be residual radiation, although my doctors are still not 100% sure to this day.??

Three months ago, I was diagnosed with a new growth in my brain.?I was planning to have surgery last week.?The week prior this new growth got smaller.?I have another MRI scheduled and hope this new growth stops growing.?Along with my mindset and support with my family and friends, I continue to make every day count.

Amplify joy with the people you love.?Trust the process.

Make every day count.

This is a recap of my health journey the past 3 years:?

Year 1 - from March 9, 2020 to March 8, 2021 - this new rhythm became daily radiation and chemo with monthly MRIs.?6 weeks in, I stopped doing radiation, but I continued taking chemo.?During this process, a great alternative doctor, Dr Chang recommended 30 pills and supplements, in addition to my Columbia doctor’s pills.??

I did not miss a single appointment in 3 years.?After every MRI, I meet with Dr Welch and review the results.?There are short moments to process my emotions as best I can.?

Year 2 - I had an MRI which showed a new growth.?At the time, we thought it was a new tumor, the first new growth in 2 years.?I started taking a different type of chemo which was part of a trial.?A month later, my doctors determined that I did not have a new tumor, but instead called residual radiation.?I continued taking chemo until 2 months ago.

When the 2nd year into the journey started, fabric acquired my company, RevCascade .?We reached out and spoke to over 25 potential companies including Shopify, Big Commerce, Authentic Brands Group, and FedEx.?While looking for the right acquisition, we were incredibly grateful for our team - Andrea Tobin , Kyle Stainer , Matt Cox , Steve Lundby , David Ballardo , Brittany Johnson , and fabric.? Our retailers and brands helped us to grow an incredible, innovative businesses including Crate & Barrel, CB2, Pier 1, The Tot, DressBarn, Over The Moon, Modells, Martha Stewart, Motherhood Maternity, A Pea In The Pod, and thousands of brands.??

I am incredibly grateful for my RevCascade team; the fabric team and especially Faisal Masud , fabric’s CEO and Stacy Saal .?Also for our incredible investors including John Harper , Kara Berklich Weber , Justin D. Tobin , Michael Ferdman , David Stern , Rick Schnall , Daniel Goldberg, Ian Siegel , Raj Chauhan , Brad Hathaway , Thom & Francelia Sanders, Bruce Ostrover , Howard Metzger and Ken Giuriceo; and advisers including Andrea Wasserman , Michael Parker , Ingrid Sanders , Ken Pilot , Jiayi (Ray) Cao , Rich Caccappolo , Tony Cianci , Don Steele , Dennis Paul and Len Breslow among others.??

It’s now been 3 years - March 9, 2023.?A week ago I learned I have another new growth and scheduled a brain ablation, described as a light weight surgery.?I was ready.??

Then I had another MRI on February 27, 2023 and the surgery was scheduled for on March 3, 2023.?Dr Welch met me in the Columbia Presbyterian office.?“Josh, the new growth has gotten smaller.”?Wow, wow, wow.?I am so relieved, grateful, and feel straight up lucky.

My next MRI is scheduled for March 29, 2023.?I’m ready.?The journey continues…