Young man's fighting spirit was inspiration

In his final moments, Joshua Johnson was still fighting.

For four years, he had battled a rare bone cancer that struck him during his senior year at James Island High School. Since then, he had endured the chemotherapy and made the most of his remission. First the cancer retreated, then it came back even stronger.

And when it appeared he would not live to see his son born, Josh rallied. He would not give up.

But earlier this week, he realized it was time. Cancer does not give up easily, either.

Josh died Monday night.

For days, his entire family was around him — his father, his mother, his grandmother, his beloved aunt — even his 1-month-old son.

In a quiet moment, Josh thanked his girlfriend of six years, Chanell Lafayette, for sticking with him through it all.

"I couldn't have done it without you," he said.

His father, Damon Smalls, said Josh never lost his sense of humor — offering to sleep in the chair and give Smalls the bed.

"I told him 'I admire you, I am proud of you for fighting this,' " Smalls said. He said to me, 'Daddy, I'm not quitting.' "

But Josh grew weaker every day.

"Up until his last breath, he fought," Smalls said. "I asked him, 'Are you quitting? Squeeze my hand if you're not quitting.' "

Josh squeezed his father's hand and took his final breath.

Josh, 21, who was featured in a Post and Courier story March 29, had Ewing's sarcoma, a rare disease where cancer cells grow in the body's bones or soft tissues. It usually affects teenagers, mostly boys.

After fighting the cancer for three years, it appeared Josh had beaten it. He gained back the weight he'd lost, began to plan for his future. And then, soon after he and Chanell realized they were going to be parents, the cancer came back, more aggressive than ever.

Josh fought to see the birth of his son, and somehow managed to gain enough strength to watch the delivery. He was the first person to hold Joshua Johnson Jr.

On Sunday, Josh kissed his baby for the last time.

"I know he did it, I know he held on for me and the baby," Chanell said Tuesday. "It's so hard. I loved him dearly. He thanked me for staying with him, and I told him it was my responsibility."

Josh's story became an inspiration for many folks in the Lowcountry. Rachel Harvin, Josh's nurse from Hospice of Charleston, was amazed by his will to live — to see his son — and the huge number of people who rallied around him.

"He was in such pain," Harvin said. "I'm so glad that he's peaceful, finally."

For the family, that is some small comfort. They have watched Josh fight a horrible disease that strikes at random and takes away all a young person's hopes and dreams. At least, they say, Josh lived to see his son. It was his greatest, final accomplishment.

"He's home, he's no longer in pain," Smalls said. "Now he's watching us, watching his baby."

Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.