Friends, family and community have rallied to help a dying five-year-old boy from the South Coast complete his bucket list of wishes.
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Brave Joshua Joel Oakhill was diagnosed with a rare form of soft-tissue cancer at three years old.
The fun and bubbly personality won the hearts of many as he battled cancer.
However, he is now losing his strength and mother Hannah White and Joshua have returned home to Eden to spend the final stages of his life as best they can.
He had received 43 cycles of chemotherapy and 24 cycles of radiation at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital.
More recently he was hit with news the tumour in his liver has proved too persistent to cure.
“We thought everything was fine at the start but when he got his scans back, within three weeks the tumour had grown back more aggressive,” Joshua’s nan Julie Wells said.
His family admired Joshua’s ability to be so brave after spending so much of his young life in hospitals.
After moving to Sydney Children’s Hospital for a further six cycles of treatments, medical professionals confirmed the tumour in his liver had spread and there was nothing more they could do.
“From what I understand, Joshua may be with us for the next few months or up to a year depending on whether Hannah decides to prolong his life or let him live his life out,” Ms Wells said.
Joshua knows he is sick, but in his best interests Ms Wells said he doesn’t know how sick he is.
With help from the community, friends and family, Joshua is looking forward to accomplishing his bucket list of wishes which include re-creating the video game Fortnite in real life (paintball), going on a boat, meeting Paw Patrol, Batman and Lego man, and going for a ride in a truck and an Australian Post van.
In the meantime his family remain positive, while the doctors appointments are still scheduled in the hope they come across a miracle drug that will give Joshua his life back.
The community continues to show support by posting videos to his Facebook page, each video is a unique rendition of the chicken dance – Joshua’s favourite dance.
“Anyone can post their videos of their chicken dance with the hashtag #doitforjoshie – he has watched every single one and joins in!” Ms Wells said.
South Coast’s heartfelt response to five-year-old's wish list
Eden Marine High dance with Joshie – Friday, August 24.
Eden Marine High welcomed Joshie to the school for a special chicken dance extravaganza!
Students’ clapping and chicken flapping filled the quadrangle as Joshie and his family joined in for his favourite dance.
First ride in a fire truck - Thursday, August 23
Merimbula Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer Sam McGovern drove Joshua around town in a fire truck, sounding the siren as they returned back to the station.
“Which button did she press for that?” Joshua curiously said.
