Hi, my name is Tanya Peters, and I’m sharing this story with a humble and hopeful heart — for my husband, Josh, the most selfless, hard-working, and loving man I know.

I never imagined I would have to write something like this. Life changed for our family in an instant, and we’ve been fighting our way forward ever since.

Josh was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called GFAP meningoencephalitis — a condition so uncommon that most doctors have never seen a case of it. It attacked his brain and spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed and now wheelchair-bound. This disease stole his independence in the blink of an eye.

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The Day Everything Changed

On April 10th, 2021, Josh walked into the ER with a terrible headache and high fever — and that was the last time he ever walked.

Doctors ran tests — blood work, cultures, a spinal tap — but nothing seemed to make sense. He was admitted to the ICU and treated for alcohol withdrawal, though he hadn’t had a drink in a week because he hadn’t been feeling well. I stayed by his side and watched helplessly as he grew worse each day.

After three days, I noticed he couldn’t move his legs and was still in unbearable pain. His blood pressure was dangerously high. I knew deep down something was horribly wrong. Finally, a doctor ordered an MRI — and that scan changed everything.

The results showed severe inflammation around his brain and spinal cord. Within hours, Josh was life-flighted to Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. What followed was every wife’s worst nightmare.

Josh’s health spiraled out of control. He lost all feeling and movement from the neck down. He lost his hearing. Then his eyesight. He no longer recognized anyone. He was fading away before my eyes.

Then both of his lungs collapsed, and he was put on a ventilator. His brain stopped communicating with his heart, and I watched the monitors go flat three separate times. Once, his heart stopped for over three and a half minutes.

I remember standing by his bedside, holding his hand, praying harder than I ever have. Doctors and even a priest told me to prepare for the worst — but I refused to give up on him. And somehow, by the grace of God, Josh came back to us.

He spent over five long months in the hospital — from April 10th to September 23rd, which happened to be his 24th birthday. He came home a different man — still fighting, still recovering, but alive.

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The Daily Battle

Josh’s strength humbles me every single day. This disease continues to affect every part of his body. He recently had surgery on his nose due to calcium buildup — his body literally grows random bones. Later this month, he’ll have a medport implanted so we can administer IV medications from home. He battles chronic, severe UTIs that require antibiotics three weeks out of every month. Early next year, he’s scheduled to have his bladder removed.

Through all of this — through the pain, the exhaustion, the countless doctor appointments — Josh never complains. He gets up each day and finds a way to keep going, to keep being the husband and father he’s always been.

This man does not cease to amaze me. He still works on our vehicles. He helped our oldest son replace the rear end in his truck. He mows our six acres of land on a zero-turn mower. And every night, he cooks dinner for our family — and he truly is the better cook!

We have three children — two little ones, a 6-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter — and an older son who looks up to Josh in every way.

The 2 younger kids are in sports and after school activities, Josh helps coach our 6-year-old’s sports teams rolling up and down the football fields, baseball fields, and wrestling mats in his manual wheelchair and I take our daughter to her after school activities so I’m not always there to help. He’s very involved with our children but still misses out on a lot. He isn’t able to do a lot of the family activities with us because he has no way of transporting his electric wheelchair. I watch this amazing man roll up and down the football fields, baseball fields and wrestling mats in a manual wheelchair like it’s the easier thing but I also see the horrible price he pays for it that night.

But when he gets home, I see what most people don’t. The severe nerve pain. The tremors. The exhaustion that hits him like a wall. He’ll never say it, but I know he pays a heavy price for pushing himself.

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What We’re Asking For

What Josh needs most right now is a handicap-accessible vehicle — something that would finally give him the independence and comfort he deserves

Right now, he drives a Dodge Dart. Every time he gets in or out, he has to disassemble and reassemble his manual wheelchair piece by piece. Many of you have probably seen him doing this at games or practices. It’s painful, it’s exhausting, and it’s just not safe.

A wheelchair-accessible vehicle would allow Josh to transport his power chair safely, travel to doctor’s appointments more easily, and — most importantly — participate fully in family life again.

This would mean the world to him… and to all of us.

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A Husband, a Father, a Fighter

Josh has always been the one to lend a hand. The first to show up when someone’s car broke down. The neighbor who mowed someone’s yard without being asked. The dad who never missed a practice.

Now, for the first time, he has to do something that doesn’t come easily for him — ask for help.

The truth is, this illness has turned our world upside down - emotionally, physically, and financially. Medical bills, specialized therapy, mobility equipment and home modifications, have pushed us far beyond what we can manage.

Yet even through it all, Josh continues to smile, to joke, to help others however he can. He has every reason to be bitter, but instead he chooses love, faith, and family.

If you can donate — no matter how small — it will go directly toward a down payment on a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. And if you can’t, please share our story or keep us in your prayers. Every single gesture of kindness helps more than words can express.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story, for caring, and for helping Josh continue this fight — for our family, for our children, and for the life he refuses to give up on.

With love and endless gratitude,

Josh & Tanya Peters ❤️