Hello, my name is Rebekah. On Christmas morning, my brother Joshua passed away in his sleep. Joshua was only 18 years old and had no prior medical complications. His death was sudden and unexpected and not related to suicide or substance use.

Although his passing was peaceful, our family is devastated by this unimaginable loss. Instead of watching him open presents on Christmas morning or enjoy Christmas dinner, we began grieving the loss of a son, brother, and loved one on what should have been a day filled with joy and togetherness.

Joshua was on disability and lived with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other challenges, but he never let those define who he was. He was a gentle giant, standing 6’5” with the softest heart. Joshua was a bright, kind soul who deeply loved his family and adored his pets. All he ever wanted in life was to make the people he loved happy, and he did that simply by being himself.

Unfortunately, my parents, Andrea and Steve, do not have funds set aside to cover funeral and burial expenses. Joshua had expressed that he wished to be buried, and despite how unexpected this loss was, we want to honor his wishes and give him the respectful resting place he deserves.

In addition to this heartbreaking loss, my parents are now facing serious financial strain. They are losing roughly one-third of their household income, and my mother should not have to worry about working simply to survive while grieving the loss of her son. My father is disabled and underwent open-heart surgery the day after Joshua passed away, making this an especially overwhelming time for our family.

This GoFundMe was created to help cover funeral and burial costs and to ease the financial burden on my parents so they can focus on healing and supporting one another during this unimaginable time. Any donation, no matter the amount, is deeply appreciated. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page or keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers means just as much.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any kindness you are able to offer.