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'An Amazing Smile and Contagious Laugh'

Family Seeking Help to Buy Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle

Series: Williamsburg | Story 146

At 20 years old, Josh Richardson is described by his mother Lucinda as a "happy, go-lucky guy with an amazing smile and contagious laugh."

His mother describes him as "truly, one of a kind."

Doctors had told Lucinda at birth that Josh had certain characteristics of a chromosome disorder. They then had said that blood work was sent to Pittsburgh for testing but warned her that often children like Josh suffer from failure to thrive.

On his first doctor's appointment in Pittsburgh, the doctors diagnosed Josh with Tetrasomy 9Q and that it was a rare, genetic disorder.

Doctors didn't know what to expect. There are a lot of possibilities for Josh's mental and physical capabilities.

"There was no way of knowing 100 percent of what to expect," Lucinda said, "so with a heart full of love, faith in God's will, and determination to give him the best life he could have no matter how long or what laid ahead. What a blessing he has been."

A few years later, Josh's cleft palate was fixed, shortly after he had a feeding tube placed due to gastroesophageal reflux disease and aspiration pneumonia.

The doctors were all impressed but gave him a life expectancy of five years.

Around five years of age, he started seeing an orthopedic doctor and received a new diagnosis of arthrogryposis, a term to describe a variety of conditions involving stiffness in joints. Those with the condition can also have fragile bones, which Josh suffers from.

Around this time, Josh entered special-needs school and he seemed to progress well, but not enough to walk.

Since Josh is now 20 years old, his mother has become his primary means of transport and his caregiver. As part of this, Lucinda has to lift Josh out of his chair, into a car seat, and then lift the wheelchair into the back of the vehicle.

All the lifting is becoming more and more difficult, leading to the need for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Josh's family is fundraising for the remainder of the balance on the wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Those who want to help can visit "Wheelchair Accessible Van for Josh" on GoFundMe or contact his mother, Lucinda Richardson, via Messenger.

 

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