Joshua's Medical Fund

     It is very hard to for us to do this, but it is has come to a point that we have to urgently ask for some help from all of our friends and family. Some of you know about Joshua's condition and some of you do not know because he tries his best not to cause worry for the people around him. But he is in a very concerning medical state. In early October, Joshua's throat suddenly closed up and after many specialist's and doctor's appoinments, he was finally diagnosed with a rare and critical condition called eosiniphilic esophigitis. The specialist that is currently treating him (one of the best known in the field) had never seen an esophagus as small as Joshua's (had gotten down to about 4mm in diameter, less than half of a pea). Joshua was forced to go on a liquid diet, take numerous medications, and has now undergone 4 different surgical procedures. He has lost 75 lbs in 4 months, had numerous trips to the ER, and countless choking events where he couldn't breathe.
      Joshua has seen very little progress. He has been urgently called in for another set of procedures starting in a week that the doctors are very confident will help get him to a better state of health. But after appeals, letters, and many conversations with providers, insurance is denying the procedures with no chance of further appeal. The out of pocket costs that we are facing are close to $40,000. But we have to take the fall and do them no matter what because Joshua still can't eat most solid foods and he is still primarily on a liquid diet. We need him to get back to 100% for the sake of our family. We are totally confident in our doctors and specialists but have been left high and dry by the insurance companies.
      Each procedure costs around $9700 (the doctor is reccomending 3 more of them) and we are finally at a point where we can't afford anymore. His medication costs ($26 per pill or $104 per day and also denied by insurance) have depleted us to a point of financial exhaustion. It is with a heavy heart that I as a wife and a mother, ask for some support from our friends and family. Joshua is a man of pride and has a hard time asking for help so I will do it for him. His dream of going to India has once again been met by cataclysm and we will not be able to join some of our best friends on their wedding day. If any of you know Joshua, you know he is very generous and helps pretty much anyone who asks anything from him. We are hoping that some of that kindness he shows all can be returned. Thank you and much love to everyone.