An 8-year-old Virginia boy whose family sparked a movement to provide him access to an experimental drug hit a big milestone in his recovery this week.
Josh Hardy didn't need dialysis Monday, his mother, Aimee Hardy, told Fredericksburg.com. She told the media outlet that the family was hoping he would be able to skip it Wednesday as well.
The Hardy family made headlines back in March after Josh caught a dangerous illness, adenovirus, following a bone marrow transplant to treat cancer. Their #SaveJosh movement on social media helped convince pharmaceutical company Chimerix to provide Josh with an experimental drug.
Shortly afterward, Aimee Hardy said there were signs that the medication was working for Josh after just two doses.
Since then, Josh has been discharged from St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Tennessee. He continues to be treated there as an outpatient, so the Hardys -- who hail from Fredericksburg -- are living in an apartment on the St. Jude's campus, Fredericksburg.com reports.
Aimee Hardy told the website that the tubes in Josh's nose have been removed, and he can eat and drink on his own. They've also been working on helping Josh to improve motor skills and get stronger, the site reported.
Josh has been undergoing dialysis as he regains kidney function, but Monday's promising milestone may be a sign of even more improvements to come because it means his kidney function is returning, Fredericksburg.com reported.
