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Josh Pilger was making plans for his future serving the United States after graduation from Illinois Valley Central High School this spring.
Those plans are now on hold as he focuses on getting well after being diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a non-Hodgkins cancer of the lymph nodes.
The week before Josh began a more than two-month stay in the hospital, the 17-year-old was accepted into the U.S. Air Force. He signed up for eight years and received deferred deployment. He was set to be an intelligence apprentice, who would gather information from satellite images.
Getting to a diagnosis
His symptoms began with what he thought was the flu, his mother, Cindy Payne, said.
With the flu going around, it seemed likely until his right side began hurting, so his father, Kevin Pilger, took him to a prompt care facility. Because of his age, the health care workers did not send him for a CAT scan, but his blood work came back normal. He was told to follow up with his doctor. For three weeks he took over-the-counter medications for upset stomach. He tended to feel worse in the morning but fine in the afternoon, his mother said.
After working at Taco Bell in Chillicothe one night, he came home early, Payne said. His lips were blue and he was shivering uncontrollably. His mother rushed him to the emergency room, where he was found to have low blood pressure and a high temperature.
Thinking his appendix ruptured, the doctors ordered a CAT scan, telling Payne he may have an abscess. Doing a laparoscopic procedure, doctors rinsed out his abdomen and put him in intensive care.
He was sent home later, only to return to the emergency room, an occurrence that became familiar. His stomach became distended to the point of looking like a pregnant woman’s stomach, his mother said. Doctors said they thought the abscess was from a ruptured appendix and decided to do a colonoscopy with an oncologist standing by to observe.
After the procedure he began bleeding internally from the biopsy. The family was called in due to the serious nature of the problem.
“It’s just the scariest thing in the entire world,” said Payne.
Performing an ileostomy, doctors removed 80 percent of the tumor in surgery, and a little under half of his small intestine.
Josh’s stomach continued growing and doctors worked to shrink it. Doctors told the family he needed to start chemotherapy right away, but mild chemotherapy did not shrink the aggressive tumor.
Josh Pilger was making plans for his future serving the United States after graduation from Illinois Valley Central High School this spring.
Those plans are now on hold as he focuses on getting well after being diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a non-Hodgkins cancer of the lymph nodes.
The week before Josh began a more than two-month stay in the hospital, the 17-year-old was accepted into the U.S. Air Force. He signed up for eight years and received deferred deployment. He was set to be an intelligence apprentice, who would gather information from satellite images.
Getting to a diagnosis
His symptoms began with what he thought was the flu, his mother, Cindy Payne, said.
With the flu going around, it seemed likely until his right side began hurting, so his father, Kevin Pilger, took him to a prompt care facility. Because of his age, the health care workers did not send him for a CAT scan, but his blood work came back normal. He was told to follow up with his doctor. For three weeks he took over-the-counter medications for upset stomach. He tended to feel worse in the morning but fine in the afternoon, his mother said.
After working at Taco Bell in Chillicothe one night, he came home early, Payne said. His lips were blue and he was shivering uncontrollably. His mother rushed him to the emergency room, where he was found to have low blood pressure and a high temperature.
Thinking his appendix ruptured, the doctors ordered a CAT scan, telling Payne he may have an abscess. Doing a laparoscopic procedure, doctors rinsed out his abdomen and put him in intensive care.
He was sent home later, only to return to the emergency room, an occurrence that became familiar. His stomach became distended to the point of looking like a pregnant woman’s stomach, his mother said. Doctors said they thought the abscess was from a ruptured appendix and decided to do a colonoscopy with an oncologist standing by to observe.
After the procedure he began bleeding internally from the biopsy. The family was called in due to the serious nature of the problem.
“It’s just the scariest thing in the entire world,” said Payne.
Performing an ileostomy, doctors removed 80 percent of the tumor in surgery, and a little under half of his small intestine.
Josh’s stomach continued growing and doctors worked to shrink it. Doctors told the family he needed to start chemotherapy right away, but mild chemotherapy did not shrink the aggressive tumor.
He began a heavy dose of chemotherapy through a lumbar puncture and intravenously.
Over the last few months, Josh has underwent three major surgeries, two laparoscopic surgeries, nine CAT scans, numerous X-rays and multiple drains.
“He’s such a tough kid,” Payne said of her son who has lost at least 35 pounds. “He never complains.”
Now in a St. Jude room, his mother learned recently she had almost reached her insurance maximum.
He sleeps most of the time while taking the chemotherapy, but walks twice a day.
Tests have showed the cancer, which is staged between a two and three, has not spread to his spinal cord or brain.
While the cancer is very aggressive and fast growing, it also is fast dying, Payne said.
“Everything has been so unique with Josh’s case,” she said, including his medical history. “Josh has never been sick a day in his life.”
Now he faces three more of four cycles of the heavy dose chemotherapy, consisting of one week of chemotherapy and three weeks of rescue drugs. He may be able to come home in between treatments.
Pray for Pilger
As Chillicotheans are well aware, residents rally around those needing assistance, and Josh is no exception.
At the high school, both a blood drive and a fundraiser assisted their classmate.
Students purchased puzzle pieces for $3 each to write notes to Josh. Measuring about 3-by-8 feet, the puzzle keeps him company at the hospital. After auctioning the four corners off to different groups — bringing in $250 up to $1,000 per corner — the puzzle raised $3,200 for Josh.
“This is the least we could do to help Josh,” said IVC Counselor Mark Kosinski. “He has always given so much to others; it was time to give something back to him. When you look at everything he has been through and how he keeps fighting, it is quite inspirational. Josh is an awesome young man. Hopefully this puzzle gives him a small idea of how many people love and support him.”
The IVC Student Council also purchased an iPad for Josh to use while he battles cancer.
“It was awesome of the school. It’s been fantastic,” said his mother.
He is a movie junkie, his mother said, and tries to watch a movie each night with his father. He also likes to watch the Bears.
The blood drive also came about after Jeff, Lori and Brooke Wallin visited Josh at the hospital and asked what they could do. The Wallins lost their son and brother, Brad, to bone cancer seven years ago and have continued to raise money for St. Jude. Josh recognized he had used a lot of blood and wanted to replenish the local supply.
A blood drive already had been planned to be at the high school Nov. 29, so it was named in Josh’s honor. Alec Cain, Dan Heinz and Brady Bowen, all of the Everyday Leadership Class, headed up the project, with others from the class volunteering to help. More than 40 people donated blood, which was staffed for up to 50 people to donate.
A local band who Josh befriended through Chillicothe Christian Church’s youth group held a benefit concert for him.
A benefit for Josh is currently being planned for Jan. 14 at Three Sisters Park.
“It’s going to be huge. We’re hoping that he’ll be feeling well that day,” said Payne.
There is an account at Associated Bank set up for the family as well.
With his immune system so low, the family is not encouraging visitors. But, residents can keep in touch through sending cards to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center or sending e-cards through the medical center’s website:
http://www.osfsaintfrancis.org and click on “Send an E-card.”
When Josh went into the hospital, he told his mom: “There’s one thing I want you to do: update my facebook.”
She did not, however, do that at first when the cancer diagnosis came.
He told her, ‘Mom, I want everything up there.’ “I update the good with the bad,” she said now.
A separate page has been created to help keep friends and family informed: “Updates on Josh Pilger.”
The sign at Taco Bell for weeks now has reminded residents of Josh’s situation: “Pray for Pilger.”
At one point, the medical staff told the family one thing they could do for Josh.
“The doctors and surgeons said, ‘All we can do is tell you to pray.’ Knowing that we have surgeons who recognize the power of prayer — there is always hope because of that,” said Payne.
