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Josh Hardy makes ‘tremendous strides’ after receiving experimental drug

Posted at 6:27 AM, Mar 26, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-26 08:32:27-04

(WTVR) - Seven-year-old cancer survivor Josh Hardy  appears to be improving after receiving an experimental drug. The Fredericksburg boy's mother posted on Facebook Tuesday that her son is out of the Intensive Care Unit and making "tremendous strides."

Hardy, a first grader and four-time cancer survivor, has been undergoing treatment at the St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis.

His health made national headlines when his family fought to have him treated with an experimental drug. The came after his immune system was threatened following a bone marrow transplant.

There was a bit of controversy, when Josh's family asked the company that makes Brincidofovir to give Josh the drug, which had not yet received FDA approval.

North Carolina-based Chimerix, the company that made the drug, originally rejected the request. But after a social media campaign, Chimerix allowed Josh to use the experimental drug.

Although Josh is out of ICU, his family is still waiting to see when his kidney functions will return.