( CNN ) -- After days of pleading with drug company executives , Josh Hardy 's parents got what they 'd been praying for : a chance to get medicine that could help their son survive . The Chimerix pharmaceutical company said Tuesday that the ailing 7-year-old will receive medicine that doctors hope will help him when he becomes the first patient in a new trial set to start Wednesday . Todd Hardy , Josh 's father , said he got the call from Chimerix president Kenneth Moch about a half hour before the public announcement was made . `` It was wonderful , '' Hardy said . `` Truly wonderful . It was overwhelming . '' In an emotional Facebook post , mother Aimee Hardy praised the company 's decision . `` Glory to GOD ! '' she wrote . `` They are releasing the drug for Josh ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! '' The company had previously denied calls from the 7-year-old 's family to give him the drug , brincidofovir , arguing that spending the time to help Josh and others like him would slow down efforts to get the drug on the market . Josh 's story drew national attention as his parents and supporters pushed the company to change its mind in online and media campaigns . CNN told Josh 's story Sunday night , describing his parents ' desperate pleas for help from Chimerix . Josh 's journey began when he was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer at 9 months old . Over the years , cancer turned up in his thymus , lung , and bone marrow , and each time Josh beat it . But a bone marrow transplant left Josh without much of an immune system , and in February doctors diagnosed him with an adenovirus that spread through his body . Now he 's in critical condition in an intensive care unit as the virus ravages his body . Josh is in heart and kidney failure . He vomits blood several times an hour as his family gathers in vigil . His doctors at St. Jude Children 's Research Hospital in Memphis had also been pushing for the company to provide the drug . In a statement Tuesday , the hospital said it expected to receive the medication within 48 hours , but noted that its safety and effectiveness has not yet been established for use in children . `` It is also important to understand that this remains a critical and complex medical situation , '' the hospital said . `` St. Jude will continue to pursue state-of-the-art treatment for Josh and all of our patients . We are grateful for the efforts of Chimerix , the FDA and many others who worked to achieve this outcome . We ask that you continue to keep Josh and his family in your thoughts . '' An FDA policy known as `` compassionate use '' allows someone with a serious or life-threatening disease to ask a drug company for an experimental drug . Though it 's called compassionate use , sometimes it feels anything but compassionate . Companies often say yes : The FDA approved 974 compassionate use arrangements in fiscal year 2013 . But pharmaceutical companies often say no , as Chimerix did at first to Josh Hardy . Moch previously told CNN he would n't back down from his decision not to give Josh the drug . He said Tuesday that he hopes the new FDA-approved study will help other patients as well . `` I 'm happy for Josh and I 'm happy for many patients , '' Moch said . `` We 've come up with a way of helping not just Josh , but helping other patients in need , and there are many . '' Over the past two years , the company has received more than 80 requests for compassionate use of brincidofovir from patients like Hardy , according to Moch . Todd Hardy hailed Moch as a hero . `` He 's a super man . He worked diligently on behalf of everybody , '' Hardy said . `` His integrity was unquestioned . He was utterly professional . '' A Facebook page dedicated to the online campaign to help Josh get the medicine posted a thank-you message to supporters Tuesday night . `` Thank you to every member of Josh 's Army . The world has heard you and because of you Josh and many others will have the opportunity to receive CMX001 ( Brincidofovir ) the life saving antiviral drug made by Chimerix . '' In cancer drug battle , both sides appeal to ethics . CNN 's Ed Payne , Jennifer Moore and Jennifer Bixler contributed to this report .
7-year-old Josh Hardy will receive a drug his family hopes will save his life . The family and supporters had been pushing a drug company for the medicine . Company officials who denied their request were pressured online as word spread . Now the company says it will start a new study and give Josh the medicine .