"He thinks he's a celebrity," Lisa Adkins said. "I think it's a good experience."
Support helps through treatment
The first time Josh was diagnosed and went through treatment, he stayed sick all the time. She said the support is helping him through this time.
"I really think he's getting better faster," Lisa Adkins said. "This is really awesome. It's keeping his spirits up."
Josh and Jaden's story has captured the attention of Lexington TV stations. Jaden said the attention is "pretty neat" and thinks Josh likes it, too.
Jaden got the idea for breaking the world record for the most get-well cards received from the movie "Magic of the Cards." With thousands of letters received within a month, no one has had a chance to read them all. Kathy Steberl, Jaden's mother, said her expectations have already been exceeded.
She is keeping the letters for Josh in her basement. She said she keeps count of them as they come in and boxes them up for Josh. Josh is the first to read the letters.
"It's a lot of hard work, but it's rewarding," Kathy Steberl said.
Letters have come from England, South Korea, the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, along with 20 autographed photos from the World Wresting Federation and a photo, which Josh particularly liked, of the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders and football team. Letters have come from all over the country - Texas, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio and New York.
Visited by Tubby Smith, Cameron Mills
University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith and former player Cameron Mills visited Josh in the hospital.
UK football players Jacob Tamme, who's from Boyle County, and Dallas Greer of Pineville brought individual, handmade cards from all of the UK football players to the hospital.
Josh's story has been an inspiration to others, Kathy Steberl said. She said a nurse from West Liberty contacted them and said before she heard the story, she had been praying for some direction in her life. Josh's story gave her insight to do what she said she was supposed to do - care for cancer patients.
"I'd like to stress that an 11-year-old can make a difference," Kathy Steberl said.
Lisa Adkins said a woman with the Tates Creek Center McDonald's heard Josh's story on TV and felt compelled to do something. The restaurant hosted a party and collected donations for Josh. Josh attended the party, where he and others received free food and presents, Jaden said.
While Josh's story has attracted much attention and lots of letters, Jaden's goal has yet to be reached and Josh's final chemotherapy dose isn't scheduled until August. Kathy Steberl hopes people will keep the letters coming.
