- W
Most people wouldn't know this, but my brother Joshua had a traumatic birth. There was a point where there was a high chance that neither he nor my mom would make it. Thankfully, that did not come to pass, but Joshua had extensive trauma to his skull due to the difficult delivery.
It took lengthy craniosacral therapy at a young age to help him resolve his 80% deafness due to the complications from shifted skull plates. Despite his difficult start, Joshua was a happy, cheerful boy who was known for his sunny disposition and charming people with his stories and long conversations.
He struggled with reading growing up, and was officially diagnosed with Dyslexia in his teens. Even with the challenges of being highly dyslexic, he is extremely intelligent (top 7th percentile) and he has always loved to learn new things.
In his Junior year of high school, he found a passion in playing lacrosse and gave it his all. This abruptly came to an end when he severely injured his knee. He needed knee reconstructive surgery and then physical therapy. Though it was an incredibly difficult time for him, it was during his physical therapy that he developed an interest in becoming a physical therapist himself, where he could help others recover from sports injuries.
Despite many challenges, he kept good grades throughout high school, played basketball and track & field, and then made the presidential honor society in the local community college, where he is earning a degree in sports sciences so that he can go on to pursue a degree in physical therapy.
However, he has to work extra hard to keep up in his studies because of dyslexia and difficulty focusing. He is grinding down, experiencing low lows, becoming exhausted and depleted.
Throughout his athletic endeavors and his active lifestyle, Joshua has experienced a series of concussions and head traumas. Studies are now showing that even mild brain trauma can be negatively life-altering, and Joshua has had to navigate the effects of head trauma from birth onward. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a host of implications that only get worse without specific treatment. Our family has been witnessing the impact on his physical, emotional, and mental health.
Over time, Joshua has increasingly suffered due to the effects traumatic brain injury and extreme stress has had on him; on his mood, his focus, and his hope.
Joshua has been known for pushing through tough things; he actually played two lacrosse practices on a destroyed knee as he didn't realize the extent of the damage. His coach had told him "you'd know" if ligaments were torn because the pain would be unbearable; when in fact, his ACL was completely severed.
But he can't push through these tough things that's he's been suffering alone, and many times his pain has become unbearable.
That's why I am trying to help get him to Amen Clinics; they are not only the experts on the devastating effects of TBI but they are also the experts on healing it. They actually look at the brain with SPECT imaging and use a variety of targeted therapies to heal the brain with powerful results. You can see an overview of the great work they do here: https://www.amenclinics.com/services/brain-spect/
“One of the main things we have learned from our brain imaging work with SPECT is that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) ruins people’s lives.”
-Amen Clinics
However, the cost for the imaging and evaluation is steep, and it isn't covered by my family’s insurance. It is outside of what they can afford right now. I am reaching out to you because I want to do whatever I can to help get him there, and as soon as possible.
The initial evaluation, SPECT scans, and lab work cost approximately $5,000. The nearest clinic is in California and requires 3 days of evaluation.
Our goal is to get together $6,000.
These funds will enable us to set up an appointment at Amen Clinics, get Joshua’s lab work, SPECT imaging and evaluation, travel to and from the clinic, and help with the lodging for the 3 days. If we exceed this goal it will be put towards his following treatment and prescription costs.
It is a big goal, but I hope to help gather enough funds by the middle or end of June so that we can schedule him an appointment and get him there as soon as possible.
Please help heal Joshua's brain so that he doesn't have to struggle alone anymore.
I promise you that your help will change a life.
Thank you so much in advance,
Valerie L.
It took lengthy craniosacral therapy at a young age to help him resolve his 80% deafness due to the complications from shifted skull plates. Despite his difficult start, Joshua was a happy, cheerful boy who was known for his sunny disposition and charming people with his stories and long conversations.
He struggled with reading growing up, and was officially diagnosed with Dyslexia in his teens. Even with the challenges of being highly dyslexic, he is extremely intelligent (top 7th percentile) and he has always loved to learn new things.In his Junior year of high school, he found a passion in playing lacrosse and gave it his all. This abruptly came to an end when he severely injured his knee. He needed knee reconstructive surgery and then physical therapy. Though it was an incredibly difficult time for him, it was during his physical therapy that he developed an interest in becoming a physical therapist himself, where he could help others recover from sports injuries.
Despite many challenges, he kept good grades throughout high school, played basketball and track & field, and then made the presidential honor society in the local community college, where he is earning a degree in sports sciences so that he can go on to pursue a degree in physical therapy.
However, he has to work extra hard to keep up in his studies because of dyslexia and difficulty focusing. He is grinding down, experiencing low lows, becoming exhausted and depleted.
Throughout his athletic endeavors and his active lifestyle, Joshua has experienced a series of concussions and head traumas. Studies are now showing that even mild brain trauma can be negatively life-altering, and Joshua has had to navigate the effects of head trauma from birth onward. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a host of implications that only get worse without specific treatment. Our family has been witnessing the impact on his physical, emotional, and mental health.
Over time, Joshua has increasingly suffered due to the effects traumatic brain injury and extreme stress has had on him; on his mood, his focus, and his hope.
Joshua has been known for pushing through tough things; he actually played two lacrosse practices on a destroyed knee as he didn't realize the extent of the damage. His coach had told him "you'd know" if ligaments were torn because the pain would be unbearable; when in fact, his ACL was completely severed.
But he can't push through these tough things that's he's been suffering alone, and many times his pain has become unbearable.
That's why I am trying to help get him to Amen Clinics; they are not only the experts on the devastating effects of TBI but they are also the experts on healing it. They actually look at the brain with SPECT imaging and use a variety of targeted therapies to heal the brain with powerful results. You can see an overview of the great work they do here: https://www.amenclinics.com/services/brain-spect/
“One of the main things we have learned from our brain imaging work with SPECT is that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) ruins people’s lives.”
-Amen Clinics
However, the cost for the imaging and evaluation is steep, and it isn't covered by my family’s insurance. It is outside of what they can afford right now. I am reaching out to you because I want to do whatever I can to help get him there, and as soon as possible.
The initial evaluation, SPECT scans, and lab work cost approximately $5,000. The nearest clinic is in California and requires 3 days of evaluation.
Our goal is to get together $6,000.
These funds will enable us to set up an appointment at Amen Clinics, get Joshua’s lab work, SPECT imaging and evaluation, travel to and from the clinic, and help with the lodging for the 3 days. If we exceed this goal it will be put towards his following treatment and prescription costs.
It is a big goal, but I hope to help gather enough funds by the middle or end of June so that we can schedule him an appointment and get him there as soon as possible.
Please help heal Joshua's brain so that he doesn't have to struggle alone anymore.
I promise you that your help will change a life.
Thank you so much in advance,Valerie L.
Organizer and beneficiary
Carla Liesemeyer
Beneficiary