Help Joshua Galvan Recover After a Near-Fatal Medical Emergency

Joshua Galvan lives in a small mountain town between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, where life is usually quiet, peaceful, and centered around family, nature, and community.

What began as a completely normal morning changed his life forever.

After enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and walking the dogs, Joshua left home to pick up groceries at the local market. While driving through the winding mountain roads near his home, Joshua suddenly experienced a rare and catastrophic medical emergency. His heart stopped for nearly 9 seconds, causing him to become lightheaded and lose consciousness behind the wheel.

Instead of following the curve of the road, his vehicle continued straight ahead. With his foot pressing further onto the accelerator as he fainted, the car rapidly gained speed.

By a miracle, Joshua did not drive off the nearby cliffside.

Instead, the vehicle crashed head-on into a row of large trees, taking the majority of the impact on the driver’s side.

Joshua woke up disoriented and in severe pain to the sound of strangers rushing to help him. Civilians at the scene feared the electric vehicle could catch fire and began trying to get him out of the wreckage before paramedics arrived.

Unable to open the crushed driver-side door, Joshua managed to reach across the vehicle and unlock the passenger side. Bystanders carefully pulled him from the car moments before emergency responders arrived on scene.

He was rushed to a nearby medical facility and then airlifted to Roseville Medical Center, where doctors discovered devastating internal injuries and internal bleeding that required emergency life-saving surgery.

Joshua underwent multiple emergency procedures, including major abdominal surgery involving bowel and colon resections, mesenteric repairs, and treatment for extensive internal trauma. He remained in the ICU for 7 days following surgery.

After being discharged, Joshua relocated to Southern California to recover with family. Recovery has been extremely difficult. His digestive system has had to relearn how to function properly, leading to ongoing episodes of severe pain, vomiting, and complications that continue to affect daily life.

As doctors searched for answers about what caused the crash, specialists eventually determined that Joshua suffers from a rare condition called malignant vasovagal syncope — a disorder that can suddenly disrupt the heart’s natural electrical pacing and cause loss of consciousness without warning. He is now facing additional cardiac treatment and pacemaker surgery.

While Joshua and his family remain deeply grateful that he survived, the financial burden has become overwhelming.

Even after insurance, medical bills have already exceeded $10,000, with additional surgeries, specialist appointments, recovery care, and cardiac procedures still ahead. At the same time, Joshua is unable to work normally while recovering and is still trying to keep up with everyday responsibilities like mortgage payments and ongoing living expenses.

Joshua has always been someone who tried to handle life’s challenges quietly and independently, but this tragedy has changed everything in an instant.

Any support — whether through donations, prayers, or simply sharing this fundraiser — would mean the world to Joshua and his family during this incredibly difficult chapter of recovery.

Thank you for helping Joshua focus on healing and rebuilding his life after surviving this unimaginable accident.