The response of the community to the health challenges Josh Kirby has faced since being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor has made him believe that “the kindness of people is healing.”
Kirby, the First Ward Mount Vernon City Councilman and president of Kahrl and Co., an independent insurance agency, said he experienced the first symptoms in January when his vision felt off. His doctors at first believed it might have been a side effect of COVID-19. After many tests, an MRI was scheduled.
As he waited on that appointment, he went on vacation with his wife, Missy, and two of their children. Missy told him she was concerned because he was not like himself.
The MRI revealed a mass in his brain. He was diagnosed with an inoperable grade IV glioblastoma on the right thalamus deep in the center of his brain, Missy said.
“It is a very rare, aggressive tumor but he is responding to treatment quite well,” she told the Mount Vernon News in an email.
Josh said he was in disbelief. Nothing prepares one for having a stage four brain tumor.
“But I was determined not to let it get me down. I have wanted to remain positive that we are going to beat this by God's grace,” he said.
He praised his support system of his friends, the community and “most of all, my family have just been great.”
On Wednesday, June 15, he said he had five more treatments to go out of 30. These required daily drives to Columbus.
He’s been working from home as he can, but he did get to attend high school graduation for his middle son, Logan.
“He graduated high school with an associate degree in business management. His grades were fantastic,” Josh said.
The dad said Logan, a first-year volleyball player and four-year soccer and basketball athlete, had the highest GPA of any of the students on the volleyball and basketball teams. Logan will join his brother, Wyatt, at Cedarville University with plans to enter the medical field.
Josh made it back to his first City Council meeting on June 13.
“Just doing normal things is really helpful to just feel like you're not a circus sideshow,” Josh said.
He said he has a responsibility to be there as he was elected to that position and is paid for it.
“If I have the ability to be there, I want to be there,” he said.
On some meeting nights, he had every intention of showing up. But one of the main side effects of radiation treatments is fatigue. On those other times, he’s felt so wiped out he couldn’t even get out of his chair.
“But Monday I felt good and strong. And it was just really nice to be able to contribute and be there and do what I'm supposed to be doing,” he said.
He calls his family his biggest success. His kids have stepped up as their dad concentrates on his health and recovery.
“They have been so helpful around the house and helping to take care of me when needed without any complaints, without any hesitation,” Josh said. “In fact, quite the opposite.”
He had his office moved into his home. He’s still limited in what he can do, but he responds to emails and phone calls as needed. His staff has stepped up and been phenomenal, he said.
His business has flourished.
“And I wish I could say that's because I'm a genius, but it is not,” Josh said. “It's because I have great people that work with me. And they have through this have really stepped up.”
Loretta Carter, a Kahrl & Co. employee for more than 30 years, is as faithful and loyal an employee as can be found, he said.
“We've worked together for 10 years, but it seems like we've worked together for a lifetime. … She's an amazing person,” he said.
He has several people like that working for him, Josh said, including Corey Harmmann. He has worked at the agency for about six or seven years.
“He's a phenomenal person. He's maybe one of the most patient people that I've ever met,” Josh said. “He's kind. He truly cares about what he does for work and takes care of people in a way that reflects that.”
All of his staff is like that, Josh said.
The community response upon learning he was ill has been overwhelming, Josh said. A friend set up a meal train. People have been bringing meals every night for a month or maybe more.
“It's not just been meals that have been thrown together. It's been meals that are fantastic,” he said.
The only way to describe it is overwhelming, he said. He said he’s been well-loved and well-cared for by the community.
“If somebody had asked me prior to having a brain tumor, if my community likes me, I would have said, ‘Yeah, I think so,’” Josh said. “But after this, I feel like I am the most well-cared for, most well-loved man in Knox County.
His church, Lifepoint Church with its pastor, Adam Pursel, put out an email request for gift cards for the Kirby family. The collection brought in $1,500 in gift cards and some cash and checks.
“Just every time that I think that it can't continue or there can't be something else that gets given to me, something else happens and I'm just blown away,” Josh said.
His mother-in-law started a GoFundMe fund that reached its goal of $20,000. Many donations came from people in the community, but many were not.
“I just can't believe the generosity of people and the kindness of people,” Josh said. “It's, again, overwhelming, and I owe a debt of gratitude to these people that literally the kindness of people is healing.”
