Help support Occupational therapy student Joshua to overcome courageous 5 year battle with his illness

Joshua is a kind, caring, loving, supportive, and honest human being. He encourages and drives others to be, and achieve the best they can despite all else which perhaps is due to his own determination, enabling him to fight a courageous battle with depression for the last five years. On February 14th this year the devastating thing happened, Joshua suffered a relapse with his battle, requiring urgent hospitalization due to a major depressive episode. As difficult as this was to accept the worst was yet to come, three weeks later I received the most devastating text of my life, after hours of searching I found my best friend, and the love of my life lying lifelessly face down on the ground. As I scuffled through my phone to call emergency services, and a few minutes later hearing the sirens of an ambulance and police personals, a sudden outburst of emotions, tears, and heartache arose from me as I realised just how close to death Joshua had become. This was later confirmed in the emergency department who advise us that had it been a further 10 minutes before we reached Joshua, the love of my life could have passed away in front of my eyes. He later required surgery, and other medical treatment and spent a further week in ED before returning to the hospital he had previously been admitted too just weeks before for further supervision, intervention, and rehabilitation. It was at this point myself along with Joshua’s family realised just how much hope the once positive, and energetic young man had lost which resulted in a harsh suicide attempt that become so close to being achieved.

Joshua as a boyfriend, friend, and work colleague is the person who is first to help in a heartbeat. Whether it be a shoulder, ear, or conversation he is always there to help everyone to the best of his ability, striving to achieve the best result he can, and too the best of his ability. He has experienced his own battles and tough times throughout his life however he has never let this come close to affecting his commitment to others through his greatest strength and quality of love! Joshua has achieved so much in his short but jam packed 20 years of life. However his most precious and cherished achievement is his acceptance into the bachelor of occupational therapy and the continuous study he endures which has assisted him in being able to use his own experiences and challenges to help others also facing similar mental health issues, and situations.

So much is unknown in terms of the outcome, however it proves that rehabilitation is a crucial part of this process, in particular by engaging in purposeful, and meaningful activity, one that has been taken away for Joshua due to the duration of his hospitalization. I would love to see others give back some of the kindness Joshua has given out while enduring what must be one of the hardest and most traumatic illnesses to overcome, but one that josh has never let people feel pity for him or affect his love towards others. It is unimaginable to comprehend that Joshua has lost all the hope he once had to beat this illness, leaving him alone and ready to give up this inspirationally long yet painful fight and by your support you are assisting Joshua to restore that hope by allowing him to achieve his dream of being an occupational therapist which is currently unlikely due to the loss of financial income but would be beneficial in many ways towards his rehabilitation, these donations will go towards him returning to his studies next year by paying placement costs etc to fulfil his most enduring dream ever of becoming a qualified health professional, and continuing to help others struggling in there time of need. Please help the man of my dreams, and someone who is always putting others before himself even through his depressive relapses..