Sources: CentralJersey.com; TractorPullKoC.org
Facing cancer is like facing a batter with a .900 batting average — though beating cancer is far from a numbers game.
Joshua Cohen was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2016 when he was a junior at Indian Hills High School. “After my mom sat me down and told me, I ran outside and said, ‘Why me?'” Cohen said. But the next day, when he met with a doctor, his first question was “When is the next time I’ll be able to pitch?”
Cohen wants to be a major league baseball player one day. He loves baseball more than anything and just wanted to get back on the field. That’s where everything made sense and that’s where he wanted to be.
Cohen’s last day of chemotherapy was April 7, 2017. He was declared in remission May 1. Because he had to reclassify and retake his junior year, he not graduate with his original class.
The ordeal brought Cohen’s life more into focus. “I matured as a kid and learned how precious life really is. You can’t take it for granted,” Cohen said. “I’m focused on preparing for what’s next. It brought a new life to my life and really opened my eyes to a lot of things.”
For his perseverance in battling cancer, returning to school, and getting back on top of the pitching mound, Cohen received the Kelly Family Scholarship from The Jay Fund, founded by former New Jersey Giants coach Tom Coughlin and worth a maximum of $8,0000.
Winners were selected based on their leadership ability, academic record, moral character, and financial need.
Joshua Cohen looked at cancer as just another opponent that needed to be struck out.
“I love the competitiveness,” Cohen said. “I love to compete and I love to win. I love the pressure when I’m on the mound. It makes me go.”
And strike out cancer he did.
