Josh Gray

Today is the nineteenth day since Josh took a new direction in his life. I am personally amazed of the unexpected twists, turns, ups, downs, bumps, jumps, surprises, thrills, chills, knuckle gripping and nail biting events that take place every day. I don’t think you could write a story that kept you intrigued, motivated and inspired as this real life experience.  Who needs a reality show?  You can’t get anything more real then living this reality with Josh Gray. I started to think about society and how kids as well as adults look or even depend on having an idol, hero or some sort of person to admire or aspire to.  We are so easily impressed or moved by their ability, skills, or accomplishments in their career because they are public figures.  It could be athletic abilities of setting or breaking records. There are some of us more impressed by those who are financially successful. Others are impressed and motivated by the people who have accomplished fame. There is nothing wrong with us looking at the people that are placed in front of us by the media.  Or we may find it easier for the media to tell us what is inspirational. Sometimes we tend to find it to difficult to just take a step back and look around us. To really search and look at what is right there in front of us for what is inspirational or heroic.  It is typical and expected to go with the majority. It is also the American way to think big, go for the grandioso. I sit here at this point in my life and hope that one day my own kids could find a hero in someone close to them or just an ordinary person who does something extraordinary and inspiring that they can actually feel it and be a part of it. Someone who can encourage and motivate them realistically so that they feel that maybe they might or could be an inspiration to someone as well by what they do.  I can remember going to school and having that assignment given to me “Who is your hero, or who inspires you” and thinking real hard what my answer was going to be.  I always searched for the right answer, because I thought I should pick my parents or someone famous.  The result was always the same I picked someone famous.  The truth then and up until nineteen days ago was there wasn’t really anyone that I would say was my hero.  Of course there were many people in my life that inspired me for different reasons during different moments in my life.  Did I ever think that I would be back in the position where I would be writing a story about a person I felt was my inspiration or I saw as a hero,  “Never” would be my answer.  As I write this now I realize never to say “Never”.  I am proud to be writing this story.  I am proud to say I am a forty-year old mom who in my own right has had many challenges in my life and was proud enough of myself for overcoming certain obstacles and unfortunate circumstances.   I didn’t find myself to be easily impressed or inspired by other people.  Regardless of the strength that I thought I had many times I felt weak and hopeless as though I wouldn’t be able to get through certain times.  But honestly I never appreciated my life and those challenges and accomplishments no matter how small they may have been.  I took for granted the normalcy I have been able to maintain and be blessed with, that getting through each day is heroic and an accomplishment to be proud of.  Now that I have found a real hero and true inspiration I realize that every day that I just get up and accept the day and get through it and face just my life obstacles and challenges can maybe be an inspiration to someone else, hopefully my own kids.  Josh Gray has become my inspiration to be strong for me and hopefully that I will one day pass that strength and inspiration on to other people. Josh doesn’t fight every day to become better for anyone else but himself but without knowing it, his fight becomes the inspiration to so many other people. It could be so easy for Josh to give up and no one would question it, as a matter of fact it was expected. Now because of the strength he has shown it gives all of us hope to never give up and never believe anyone when they say something is not possible.  Anything is possible with hope, determination and love.  Why does today touch me even more then the last nineteen days, well Josh is walking on his own.  He is using a cane and able to lift his right side to move it forward. If you have followed Josh’s story I don’t think I need to say much more about how incredible this accomplishment is. You know what I do wonder, is do you think Josh would have ever discovered what he was capable of if his life had not taken this course. I hope that each of you realize what you really are capable of and never underestimate yourself or let anyone else leave you to believe you can’t do something. 

Following up on Josh’s heart surgery from Friday 6/26/09 it had some concerns but results were positive.  As earlier stated the doctors discovered a second hole close to the first.  This caused the surgery to take longer than expected. They successfully closed both holes.  I will attempt to describe the procedure and hope that you can get an idea of what was done.  The holes were side by side they put a device I can only assume is like a wire that is made of nickel and titanium in to squeeze the two holes together.  As Gary described it was if they brought the holes together by squeezing them until they faced each other like two parts of a yoyo. It will take about four to six months for tissue to form over the area and be completely healed. After surgery there were concerns because Josh’s blood pressure was higher than normal and he had to be closely monitored.  He spent the evening in I.C.U at CHOC.  He was in slight discomfort and did receive pain medication to make him rest peacefully.  It was necessary that he not move for the first six hours after the procedure. He made it through the evening without incident. The next day several tests were conducted such as an echocardiogram to determine if he was fit enough to return to Casa Colina.  Everything came back positive.  As before with his first departure from CHOC no time was wasted and little notice was given.  They got him up and in the ambulance and sent him on his way to continue his incredible recovery.  Josh is now back at Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center in Pomona and continuing to amaze therapists, doctors, family and friends.  We welcome everyone to start visiting Josh to help him during the recovering process.  I don’t expect that Josh will give me many days off from reporting something incredible, so stay tune.  The family would like me to encourage you to share Josh’s story and welcome everyone and anyone regardless if they know Josh or not to visit the two websites set up.  Josh’s story is incredible and it should be shared.