I am writing on the behalf of my fiancé Joshua Weatherford, the man whom I am about to marry in the spring! Joshua was an active 25 year old, a full time employee, and a college student when a tragic injury changed his life; a blood clot formed in his spinal cord and left him paralyzed from the chest down. Joshua had emergency surgery to remove the blood clot and he spent three months at Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation. Although Joshua’s injury is a C8 quadriplegic level incomplete, he is determined to walk again! He tells me every day that when he is able to walk again he will do great things. I believe this with every bone in my body. God has a plan, and Joshua just has to work with it.
In spite of everything Joshua has been going through he is hopeful, determined, positive and working towards getting back to the active lifestyle, camping, range shooting and working on cars, that he enjoyed prior to his injury.
As a result of Joshua’s condition, he is not able to work for the company he has been with for the past two years. Currently, Joshua is in intense physical therapy three days a week, every week despite the fact that medical insurance does not cover it. We are paying out of pocket for therapy and cutting corners other places so he can get what he needs. Joshua would like to purchase equipment to work on muscle strength at home on days that he is not going to physical therapy. This would need to be paid out of pocket as well.
To help offset such expenses, a fundraising campaign in Joshua’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. In 2000, they expanded their mission to include those who have sustained a catastrophic injury. All contributions are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southeast Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury-related expenses only. If you would like to make a contribution, see the “Mailing a Check?” section of this page or select the “Donate Now” button:
Thank you for your support,
Kelly Patterson
Kpatterson1991@yahoo.com
