Hi guys. It's Victoria Nahum. Thank you so, so much for all of your love and support for Josh and us. We will never forget you. Here is what I know: On September 2nd Josh was critically injured in a freak accident due to complex air density near Boulder, Colorado. In the ensuing weeks since initially experiencing a broken femur and skull fracture, he developed hydrocephalus, bacterial meningitis in 2 separate incidents and a tragic spinal cord injury due to acquired cerebellar tonsillar herniation. (Brain herniation) In the weeks that followed Josh’s initial injuries we were hopeful that, even though the experts told us Josh would have a long road ahead, he would, with rehabilitation, fully recover within a year or two. Late afternoon on Monday, October 9th Josh’s neurosurgeon performed a lumbar puncture to ward off a spiking fever and increased pressure around his brain. 5 hours later Josh coded and stopped breathing becoming comatose with no respiratory effort whatsoever. The Emergency Room was called and he was put on a ventilator. His neurosurgeon was awakened from sleep at home and rushed to Josh. He reinserted the ventriculostomy (drain tube in his head) at which point Josh awoke and was responsive again. The ventric procedure saved his life but the ensuing spinal cord injury, down to his thoracic spine caused by an excessive pressure buildup on his brain, permanently interrupted his ability to breathe on his own as well as his ability to move his head, arms or legs ever again. In a matter of just a few moments Josh, our bright and spirited, adventurous son in the prime of his life had suddenly become a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic with no hope of ever recovering. As the doctor explained Josh’s awful condition to us I couldn’t stand it; the words sounded so mean, even evil to me as they fell out of the doctor’s mouth. Even now I vividly remember wanting him to stop saying them and in my minds eye I actually imagined clasping my hand over his lips so that he would stop talking. Less than two weeks later, our extraordinary and beloved 27 year old son finally died from that series of unexpected complications arising from his initial head injuries. I am still struggling with our grievous loss and have terrible moments when I am emotionally overwhelmed, finding it unbearable to imagine the world without him in it; without him with us, in our lives. I love you Josh. I want you to know I am a better person for having known you.
[email protected] Quote
