Josh Wilhelm

Joshua Wilhelm
HelpHOPELive South-Central Spinal Cord Injury Fund

Hi, I’m Josh. I’m from Austin, Texas. I attended Texas A&M for a year, then got a job that I really loved at the College Station Ford dealership where I sold and customized trucks. I excelled at what I did and by the time I was 22, I was promoted to Finance Manager. I’ll be 23 this July. I recently moved into a duplex, bought a Ford F150 truck and customized it, and enjoyed the good life with my girlfriend. I had a million possibilities before me.

What Happened?

Then on April 19, 2009, I hit my head on the bottom of a swimming pool and suffered a “complete” spinal cord injury, a C6 burst fracture and several laminar fractures of the cervical spine. Currently I’m paralyzed from the top of the chest down. I’m on a ventilator (but weaning from it). The doctors say the upper chest muscles will adapt over time to help me breathe, like my diaphragm used to do.

What’s Next?
Sometimes the spirit takes a little longer to heal. While I was figuring out how to breathe and battling pneumonia, I learned that I could no longer work, I would not be able to return to my duplex, and I would have to part with my hot red Ford F150 truck. My funds are insufficient to pay for all the immediate medical needs I have which include:

Wheelchair
Hospital Bed (at home)
Bed Lift
House Modifications
Special Needs Mini-van
Physical & Occupational Therapy

I want you to know right now that I’m not afraid. I have faith in God. I’m working hard at my assigned tasks every day. I strive to remain positive, patient, and maintain my sense of humor. I am redefining who I am. I can learn how to do things in new ways. I just need a little help to get home.

With the support of family, friends, and many people I’ve never met, I’m learning how many people care.

Thank you very much for your generosity!

– Josh

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Josh has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive Catastrophic Injury Fund in part because HelpHOPELive provides both tax-deductibility and fiscal accountability to his contributors. Contributors can be sure that funds contributed will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800-642-8399.

Here’s how to make a contribution to Josh’s fundraising campaign.

Donate online now.

HelpHOPELive Fund – In Honor of Josh Wilhelm

Donate by mail.

Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive South-Central Spinal Cord Injury Fund
Note in memo section: In Honor of Josh Wilhelm

Mail to:

HelpHOPELive
Two Radnor Corporate Center100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

Donate by secure credit card.

Call 800-642-8399 or click the “Contribute Now” button

You may also click the following “Contribute Now” link and scroll down the alphabetical list to select Wilhelm. To email this page directly to others in your community, click on the “Email to a Friend” link and type as many email addresses as you wish.

Thanks again for your generosity!