“He Wasn’t Supposed to Make It”: Joshua’s Miracle Journey
Joshua’s life began in the harshest way imaginable. Born behind a bus stop and left in a dumpster late at night, his first moments were filled with cold and fear.
Thankfully, a kind stranger heard his screams and called for help.
When Joshua was taken to the hospital, wrapped in a thin, stained blanket, he was tiny, shaking, and crying uncontrollably. Doctors quickly realized why: he had cocaine in his system.
Two days later, CPS brought him to the Jonathan’s Place Emergency Shelter. He arrived with a feeding tube, a long list of medications, and a desperate need for safety. At Jonathan’s Place, he was finally greeted with soft clothes, a comfy bed, and the loving arms of staff who refused to give up on him.
His caseworker, Laura, worked tirelessly to find the perfect placement. She called a Jonathan’s Place foster family who didn’t hesitate—they left a dance recital early just to come pick him up that very night.
But the road to healing was tough.
Joshua was still withdrawing from drugs. This meant tremors, screaming, stomach aches, and terrifying seizures. He visited the doctor five times in just one month.
In the middle of the night, during his seizures, his foster mom would sing lullabies while his foster dad whispered, “You’re safe, little man. You’re safe.”
Slowly, the love began to outweigh the trauma. After a few months, Joshua started recognizing his foster parents’ faces. The screaming turned into smiling.
At his 6-month check-up, his pediatrician wept when she saw him. She told his foster parents, “Joshua wasn’t supposed to make it… and look at him now!”
Today, at 7 months old, Joshua is thriving:
- He is learning sign language and can already say “all done” and “milk.”
- He is eating solid foods (made from scratch by Mom!).
- He loves tummy time and making friends.
Joshua experienced more trauma in his first days than most do in a lifetime. But because of donors like you, he didn’t have to face it alone. You provided the Emergency Shelter that took him in, and the Foster Care program that found his forever family.
PS. This is a Father’s Day card Joshua made for his Daddy. You can see his little footprint!