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Saturday, March 13, 2004 11:50 AM CST

At 9:00 am Josiah Michael Leonard went to be with the Lord. He passed away peacefully. But will be missed terribly.

If you would like to send flowers you may send them to.
Killeen Memorial Funeral Home
3800 Lake Rd.
Killeen, TX. 76543

Or send cards and gifts to.
Kelly and Gabe Leonard
3301 Plateau Circle
Killeen, TX. 76542

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The funeral for Josiah Michael Leonard will be on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 11:00 AM.
at East Side Baptist Church
500 North W.S. Young Dr.
Killeen, Texas
Paston John Hallum will perform the
service.
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The burial will follow at Killeen Memorial Cemetary
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Wednesday, March 10, 2004 2:56 PM CST



This page is about Josiah Michael Leonard.
He was born on July 13, 1993 along with his twin brother, James Peter Leonard.
In early 1997, at the age of three and a half Josiah began bumping into things, falling a lot and stopped
wanting to go outside to play, he also began to tilt his head to one side. We
contacted the Pediatrician and set up an appointment to see a neurologist.
While waiting for that appointment he began having bad headaches with vomitting. We made
many calls to the Doctor and finally got into the Neurologists. After assessing Josiah, the Neurologist
ordered a CT scan, which revealed that he had severe hydrocephelus and he was rushed to emergency
surgery. The Neurosurgeon, Dr. Frank Harris, placed a shunt into his skull which allowed the fluid in the
brain to drain. At that time they were not able to tell what caused the fluid to not be able to drain on its
own, so we needed to wait several weeks for his brain to go back to the normal shape.
In July of ‘97 after doing another scan we discovered he had a brain tumor in his Thalamus. An
area of the brain that is not accessable even for the neurosurgeon, except to get a needle biopsy.
The biopsy report showed he had an Astrocytoma Glioma grade II tumor, which is a fairly slow growing
tumor. Another surgeon put a port-a-cath into his left shoulder so that the nurses could have easy
access to his blood for testing and so he could begin his first round of Chemo therapy. Not quite four
years old yet, Josiah became the patient of one of the absolute best doctors, Dr. Lawrence Frankel.
After a few months on Chemo in ‘98, another scan was done and the tumor was still growing unabated
by the Chemo, so he was referred for radiation treatments. He did 30 days of radiation, and with
great relief the tumor stopped growing. He continued to see the Doctor regularly and had a MRI every 6
months. Unfortunately , after two years, Josiah begin having headaches again, another MRI showed
new growth again it was late 2000.
So again, we began looking for treatment options, His Doctors decided to try him on two types of chemo
that he took in Pill form, alternating between the two. The first couple of rounds caused his blood counts
to go very low and his hair all fell out, but other wise it had no bad side-affects. He has been an
incredibly strong young man, always pleasant to be around (well most of the time anyway) and an
inspiration to everyone he meets. The next MRI showed no change, and again we breathed a sigh
of relief the tumor was not growing. For three years he continue the VP-16 and Temadar with no growth.
On November 19th 2003 on mine and Gabe’s 13th aniversary, he had another MRI the Doctor
called me that afternoon to tell me that they had found significant growth this time. I felt like the floor
had fallen out from under me. A few days later we were back at the hospital to discuss the situation,
we decided to have a new biopsy to tell us what we were dealing with. On December 12,2003 he had
the biopsy performed by Dr. Frank Harris again. The following week we had the pathology report, the news
was very bad the tumor had changed to a Glioblastoma Multiforme, grade IV, the most aggressive
type of astocytoma. Now there is no time to waste, Josiah is now on Temadar and a medication called
Thelidomide. In the 50’s Thalidomide was used to treat pregnant women as a sedative that caused
severe birth defects. (Many children were born with flipper like arms and legs.) The reason for this is the
medication stops the developement of new blood vessels. If Josiahs tumor can not develope new blood
vessels it will hopefully not be able to feed itself and therefore stop growing. If it doesn’t work he may not
have but about a year left to live. We are going to make the best of every moment we can with him and
Pray for a miracle. If the medication works we can buy him more time so the researchers can find a cure. `
Well the thalidomide did not work and Josiah's tumor continues to grow. In early January of 2004 Josiah
started having more trouble with his speach, and began losing the use of his right arm and leg and
MRI revealed that the tumor had grown 4 times the size it was in November. Near the end of
January while we were preparing to go have a family portrait made, Josiah began having seizures.
He started out just not being able to to talk and while rushing him to the hospital he had his first seizure.
We had to call an ambulance to meet us and finsh taking him to the hospital. He spent 3 days there
getting the seizures under control. He came home and we were able to get that portrait done. Since then
however, his condition has continued to deteriorate. His right side is pretty much useless. He is now in
a wheel chair all the time. He can not sit up straight in the chair though, he kind of slumps over, he can't
hold up his head all the way and his eyes are very heavy and barely open. He still tries to get up out of
the bed and if I do not watch him he will try to stand up and then he falls. It is sad, because there is
nothing really wrong with his body, it is the brain that controls the body, his body still wants to move and
go and do things. And Josiah is still in there, but the doctors have said eventually I'll just be taking care
of his physical body and he will no longer be able to control any of his bodily functions. I can see him
slipping away from us. My husband Gabe says that Josiah is like a snowman melting in the spring.
The past two days Josiah has slept most of the time. Which is a blessing in that he is resting and not
in any pain.
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This is a bit about Josiah’s spiritual side. Josiah has been raised as
a Christian his entire life. He has always loved to go to church, and to
sing praise and worship music. He loves songs like, “Come, Now is the
time to Worship and “Shout to the Lord” ,and “Here I am to worship“.
Josiah also loves to pray for people. If you told him you had a headache he
would drop everything and pray for you. In church during praise and
worship you would always find Josiah at the front of the church with his
hands lifted up to God and his eyes closed giving his all to God.
Josiah always told us he loves Jesus more then us. He would say “I love you ,
Mom but I love Jesus more.” In school Josiah would take his bible to
read, and always told his friends about the Lord. He often asked us to pray
for his friends to come to know Jesus. Many times over the past few years ,
while undergoing treatment, Josiah would have kids make fun of him because
he was bald but he never said anything bad about those kids. Josiah is the
most loving child I have ever known. In February, Josiah began to pray all of
the time.On March 1st Josiah was laying on the bed in my room, and he said,
“Mom call the family in here now I need to pray for them”. He was already
losing ground quickly, but at that time he could still speak and he said a short
but complete payer for us. The next day he could not say but very basic words.
On Friday, March 5th, Josiah and I had lunch with his Grandparents,
and a friend, before we ate we asked Josiah if he wanted his Grandpa to pray
and he said “no“, he wanted to. He said “Dear Heavenly father, let this food be
good” and that was the last time he was able to pray. This most
incredible child has been a prayer warrior, and a true worshipper of God.
I can hardly stand to watch this once vibrant, beautiful child fading away from me.
But I know without a doubt that he will be with God soon.
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***March 12, 2003
Today Josiah is very restless and agitated. His arms and legs can't stop moving but he has
no control over them he does not seem to recognize what is going on or what we are saying
to him. He can still say "Mom" though, and that is the greatest gift to me.

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***This is a special poem I want to share with you.
I'll lend you, for a little while, a child of mine," He said.
"For you to love while he lives, and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years, or maybe twenty-three.
But will you, till I call him home, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and shall his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, as all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I've looked the whole world over in my search for parents true,
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love - not think this labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again.
I fancied that I heard them say, 'Dear Lord, thy will be done.'
For all the joy this child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shower him with tenderness and love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.
And should the angels call for him much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand."
~Author Unknown.~
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We would like to thank everyone who has been so kind and sent gifts and cards, and words of
encouragement. We would also like to thank the many people from the Killeen area who have cooked
meals for our family and given gifts to help with our fiancial needs. Special thanks to KISD and
employees for support and understanding. And the KPD for their help also.
And last but not least to my family who have been so supportive even while they are hurting also.
If you would would like to write or send a card please send to:
The Leonard Family or
Kelly & Gabe Leonard
3301 Plateau Circle
Killeen, Tx.76542

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----End of History----