Support Josh Noronha
Donation protected
On the evening of August 18th Josh who is a level 2 trampoline coach was practicing his flips at the trampoline centre in Collingwood, where he has worked off and on since he was a teenager. One of Josh's best friends was with him when his head and right arm went through the springs and smashed into the floor breaking his neck and leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Josh was airlifted to Sunnybrook hospital from Collingwood that evening and he was rushed into surgery. Josh is the son of our good friend Leslie Pocklington and her partner Chris Dopp.
We are looking to his friends and community to support Josh and his family in dealing with untold expenses in the coming years due to the fact that his employer had no insurance. Please give generously.
Here is a message from Josh's mom, Leslie, written on August 24, 2017:
"Josh is amazing! He can use his right hand now so he communicates with us by writing on a white board. His messages are often heartfelt and leave you in tears. His sense of humour still comes out even in the face of such adversity! Josh was moved into a room with a window yesterday because he was hallucinating. It's common in the ICU because there is no natural light in most of the rooms. The patients have no idea if it's night or day. They literally start going bonkers after a couple of days. The first few days were filled with trauma and shock for all of us. We are resigned to the fact that Joshua will never walk again but continue to believe that he will breathe on his own soon and be able to use his left hand as well at some point. He gets such joy from reading messages from his friends and sisters on his phone.❤️ If we hold his phone for him he can poke out messages back. Yesterday they hoisted him into a chair for an hour or more so he could see out of the window. Such joy!!! The staff and team of neurosurgeons have been incredible. Such a support under one roof. They are remarkable. Truly. We are so blessed to have them. Josh will probably be in the ICU for up to a month and then he will get moved to another ward. After he leaves Sunnybrook he will live at the best rehab centre in the universe, called Lyndhurst, for a minimum of three months. As an aside, his employer did NOT have insurance. This has made us sick we we realize there is nothing coming from insurance to help Josh for the rest of his life. Keep Josh in your prayers please. Our boy is a survivor but he has many tough times ahead in this new journey.❤️"
A message from Chris Dopp, Leslie's Partner:
"Josh is 25 years old, athletic and was going to open his own trampoline centre. As a matter of fact, his business plan is sitting on our coffee table because I was reviewing it for him. It's very comprehensive, outlining every dime coming in and out. Josh budgeted $1,000 per month for insurance because that's the number his "boss" gave him. Josh broke his neck, is paralyzed and it turns out his "boss" has no insurance. This kid had his life planned out. Worked and saved his money and his life went from a missed trampoline landing to a wheelchair in a matter of seconds. I could carry on about what kind of piece of **** would put his employee and his customers at such peril for $560 per month ( that's what he was quoted for insurance), however, I'm going to take the high road. Life is short. Enjoy whatever you can. Seize the moment. Live life till its fullest. But most importantly, never, ever quit. That's what Josh has done and will continue to do. I'd put money on it."
For a journal from Leslie on Josh's journey go to:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/josh2
Treatment and rehabilitation will be lengthy and costly with no insurance .
Short Term:
- support needs for accommodations, meals, travel, parking for immediate family
Long Term (unknown at present but possibly):
- mobility aids, splints
- motorized scooter
- motor vehicle accommodations
- housing renovations
- vocational training
- long term living expenses
- care givers
- physio, occupational therapy
- psychotherapy
August 27, 2017
We are looking to his friends and community to support Josh and his family in dealing with untold expenses in the coming years due to the fact that his employer had no insurance. Please give generously.
Here is a message from Josh's mom, Leslie, written on August 24, 2017:
"Josh is amazing! He can use his right hand now so he communicates with us by writing on a white board. His messages are often heartfelt and leave you in tears. His sense of humour still comes out even in the face of such adversity! Josh was moved into a room with a window yesterday because he was hallucinating. It's common in the ICU because there is no natural light in most of the rooms. The patients have no idea if it's night or day. They literally start going bonkers after a couple of days. The first few days were filled with trauma and shock for all of us. We are resigned to the fact that Joshua will never walk again but continue to believe that he will breathe on his own soon and be able to use his left hand as well at some point. He gets such joy from reading messages from his friends and sisters on his phone.❤️ If we hold his phone for him he can poke out messages back. Yesterday they hoisted him into a chair for an hour or more so he could see out of the window. Such joy!!! The staff and team of neurosurgeons have been incredible. Such a support under one roof. They are remarkable. Truly. We are so blessed to have them. Josh will probably be in the ICU for up to a month and then he will get moved to another ward. After he leaves Sunnybrook he will live at the best rehab centre in the universe, called Lyndhurst, for a minimum of three months. As an aside, his employer did NOT have insurance. This has made us sick we we realize there is nothing coming from insurance to help Josh for the rest of his life. Keep Josh in your prayers please. Our boy is a survivor but he has many tough times ahead in this new journey.❤️"
A message from Chris Dopp, Leslie's Partner:
"Josh is 25 years old, athletic and was going to open his own trampoline centre. As a matter of fact, his business plan is sitting on our coffee table because I was reviewing it for him. It's very comprehensive, outlining every dime coming in and out. Josh budgeted $1,000 per month for insurance because that's the number his "boss" gave him. Josh broke his neck, is paralyzed and it turns out his "boss" has no insurance. This kid had his life planned out. Worked and saved his money and his life went from a missed trampoline landing to a wheelchair in a matter of seconds. I could carry on about what kind of piece of **** would put his employee and his customers at such peril for $560 per month ( that's what he was quoted for insurance), however, I'm going to take the high road. Life is short. Enjoy whatever you can. Seize the moment. Live life till its fullest. But most importantly, never, ever quit. That's what Josh has done and will continue to do. I'd put money on it."
For a journal from Leslie on Josh's journey go to:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/josh2
Treatment and rehabilitation will be lengthy and costly with no insurance .
Short Term:
- support needs for accommodations, meals, travel, parking for immediate family
Long Term (unknown at present but possibly):
- mobility aids, splints
- motorized scooter
- motor vehicle accommodations
- housing renovations
- vocational training
- long term living expenses
- care givers
- physio, occupational therapy
- psychotherapy
August 27, 2017
Organizer and beneficiary
Guy Laporte
Organizer
Collingwood, ON
John Dopp
Beneficiary