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Joshua Cantrell

Past stories

• January 09, 2007: 2 young patients get same Duke doctor
• January 5, 2007: Two families in the same fight against tumors

The 3-year-old grandson of longtime Floyd County High School girls' basketball coach Alan Cantrell died Monday at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, according to Patricia Vaughn, a Floyd County resident and family friend.

Joshua Cantrell was pronounced dead about 4 p.m., less than a day after being taken off life support, Vaughn confirmed. The family returned home to Floyd late Monday night. Funeral arrangements have not been determined.

Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in late December and admitted to Duke on Jan. 9, Joshua had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments before being transferred to an intensive care unit on Feb. 19 with a staph infection and accelerated heart rate.

An MRI later revealed he had suffered a stroke that damaged his cerebellum -- the area of the brain that controls breathing, speech and motor skills. His physician deemed the swelling around the cerebellum a side effect of the radiation and chemotherapy.

Friends and supporters in and outside the Floyd County community -- where dozens of fundraisers and thousands of dollars have been generated for Joshua and 4-year-old Floyd County cancer patient Chance Harman -- mourn the death of the little boy who was well-known around Floyd County High School, particularly with the Buffaloes girls' basketball team.

"Joshua's life was short but he blessed so many people," Vaughn said.

Joshua's father, Travis Cantrell, is a first-year assistant coach under Alan Cantrell. Travis Cantrell took a leave of absence from the team when Joshua was diagnosed.

"We're all put on this Earth to glorify God and some of us just do it faster than others," said Vaughn.

"Although Joshua's life was short, he made such an impact on so many lives. I don't know what else to say."

Chance, the son of Floyd County boys' basketball coach Brian Harman, was admitted to Duke with a brain tumor three days after Joshua.

He continues to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

"Remember the Harmans," said Vaughn, who last month helped organize the Web site www.samefight.org as a means to generate funds and support for Chance and Joshua.

"This is extremely hard for them. They don't know what to say. What do you say when Chance wants to know where Joshua is?"

The undefeated Floyd County girls' basketball team is scheduled to compete in a Group A state quarterfinal game against J.J. Kelly High School at 7 p.m. Friday at Christiansburg High School.

The Buffaloes earned the Region C title last weekend with a win over Radford.