Turning tragedy into a lifeline for families battling childhood cancer
Chevaughn Joseph, founder of The Just Because Foundation (JBF), transformed the heartbreak of losing her son into a lasting source of hope. In 2005, her son Jabez—affectionately called JB—was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer, at just three-and-half years old. For two years, JB fought with courage, but on March 24, 2007, at the age of five and a half, he passed away, leaving an unimaginable void in Joseph’s life. To honour his memory and cope with the overwhelming grief, Joseph and her husband founded JBF on what would have been JB’s 6th birthday, creating a sanctuary for children with cancer in T&T.
Seventeen years later, JBF has become a lifeline for countless families. In 2008, Chevaughn led the opening of the JBF Paediatric Specialty Unit at Mt Hope Children’s Hospital, which is dedicated to children battling cancer and other serious conditions. Known as “Aunty Chevaughn,” she brings care and comfort to these children, driven by the memory of JB and her mission to ease the burden of other families walking the same painful path.
Joseph’s writing journey began after JB’s passing, initially as a way to share her family’s experience and raise awareness about childhood cancer. Her words struck a chord, sparking support from readers. Encouraged to write more, she channelled her grief into storytelling that keeps JB’s memory alive and educates others about the realities of childhood cancer. In 2018, she began a newspaper column, JBF Talks, sharing intimate accounts of JB’s fight, the impact on her family, and the struggles of other families facing cancer.
Though the column ended in 2020, it ignited the idea for a six-part book series, Anansi Goes to Hospital, chronicling the boy-spider Anansi as he and his family confront his cancer diagnosis. Joseph has completed two books in the series, with the third underway. Writing has become her way of showing families in crisis that moments of strength and hope can shine through even in the darkest times. Through Anansi, she channels her experience with childhood cancer in a way that resonates with young readers and families alike. She continues to write under her brand, “Chev Writes,” using her voice to inspire and connect with others. Her leadership at JBF extends across multiple projects—from the JBF Home Away from Home to the JBF Siblings Only Club and the JBF HOPE Concert. Joseph believes her work is a calling driven by faith and an unwavering commitment to turning grief into something that helps others survive. Through her work, Chevaughn Joseph transforms personal loss into a force that lifts families, offering hope, strength, and compassion where it’s needed most, one child at a time.
Excerpt from Anansi Goes To Hospital Book 2 with full permission from the author exclusively for the Sunday Guardian
Start of Excerpt “At the hospital, Anansi’s parents waited anxiously while Anansi watched his favourite show on a small television in the room. Just then, the door opened, and a patient escort came bustling in, pushing a wheelchair. He was quite big. His name tag read Al Lypso. Anansi was startled, but when he saw the huge smile on his face, he relaxed. “Let’s go for a ride, young man.” Anansi’s parents jumped to their feet simultaneously.
The patient escort explained that he came to take Anansi to the Radiology Department to have a CT scan done. Anansi’s parents didn’t quite understand what he meant, but he told them someone would be there to explain the process. “I’m just the transportation,” he said with a big broad smile. Anansi was actually excited. He climbed onto the chair and laughed out loud as Al started making car sounds, manoeuvring the chair around anyone in his way. “Vroom, Vroom, Peep, Peep, Vrrrroom,” all the way down the corridor. Anansi’s parents had a hard time keeping up, but hearing his laughter in the distance was very reassuring. “Screeeeechhhhhhh!” They came to a stop in front of a door marked “Radiation.”
He waited for Anansi’s parents to catch up before wheeling him into the waiting area. The clerk explained what the procedure would entail, and the process to register Anansi was simple. A CT scan uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures inside the body, creating 3-dimensional views of tissues and organs. A CT scan would have to be done on the part of Anansi’s leg that was injured. Anansi was totally distracted while chatting with his new buddy about football and their favorite teams. Though they loved rival teams, they enjoyed sharing stories about the best goals they had seen. It was time for Anansi to go into the room for the CT scan.
When he realised his parents were not allowed in, he asked Buffy if he could come with him. “Sorry I can’t,” Buffy said, “but I promise to be waiting right outside the door.” He wheeled Anansi into a huge white room with something that looked like a spaceship in the middle. His eyes widened in awe, as he had only seen things like this in storybooks. Anansi had mixed emotions but tried his best to be brave. The radiographer, Ms Ocell Lott, was very friendly. He felt some pain as they adjusted his leg for the best angle, but before long, the pictures were taken. As promised, his buddy was right there with his “transportation.” “That was soooooo easy, Mom,” Anansi said as Al pushed him past his parents, who were sitting in the waiting area. “Can we go fast again? Can we speed?” Anansi squealed with delight.
His parents were relieved to see their boy so happy. Back at the Accident and Emergency Department, they were given a prescription for pain relief medicine, a pair of crutches, and were sent home. The ride back to the forest was a happy one, filled with laughter—even from Dad, the quiet one. Everyone who was waiting started jumping and waving when they saw Anansi and his family walking down the familiar path towards the field. He beamed with delight, feeling like a football celebrity as his friends circled him, bombarding him with questions. Anansi didn’t have a choice but to use the crutches, as he could not put too much weight on his bandaged leg. His friends were curious about the crutches, and Anansi tricked the younger ones by telling them it was a bionic leg. As always, he was the centre of attention. He told them everything that happened at the hospital, leaving out the parts about when he was scared, of course! Later that evening, when the kids had settled in, Anansi’s parents and granny took a walk down to the river to explain to their trusted friends Monty and Orson Owl what had happened at the hospital. They were still very concerned about waiting on the results of the blood tests and CT scan. Blood results would indicate if Anansi had an infection and the levels of his red and white blood cells. This was all very new to them, as none of the children had ever been to the hospital before.”
–End of Excerpt
Joseph’s ability to turn personal experience into captivating stories for young readers shines through in this excerpt from Anansi Goes to Hospital. Her journey as a mother, writer, and advocate continues to inspire many, and her work at The Just Because Foundation leaves a lasting impact on the families who need it most, one child at a time.
Ira Mathur is a Guardian Media journalist and the winner of the 2023 OCM Bocas Prize for Non-Fiction for her memoir, Love The Dark Days. Website: www.irasroom.org Author inquiries: irasroom@gmail.com.