Joshua Levine

Thank you for supporting Joshua's journey to walk again and be independent. On June 26th, a sudden storm knocked a heavy tree branch onto him in Zadar, Croatia, where he was traveling alone. The local hospital could not operate and he was transferred to Graz, Austria. He suffered many injuries all over, but the most serious was the left knee being destroyed. He had surgery on July 4th to rebuild the knee, using metal and part of the hip bone. He is mostly confined to bed, and as the knee cannot bend at all and the hip is very painful, he cannot do everyday things by himself--sit up, eat, drink, bathroom, etc. Despite the original assurances of his insurance provider, he now owes more than $20,000 in medical bills and other expenses. He need constant monitoring and attention, and has daily medicines and injections. It has been especially challenging being abroad during this experience.

Once he can sit up and the knee will be allowed to bend, he can fly to the US and begin his new job teaching English in Minnesota. He will need the wheelchair and then crutches for many months, and it will be at least 3 months before he can try to stand. Joshua is optimistic, as even though he will have pain and problems walking for the rest of his life, he knows he can walk again and that he escaped even more serious injury. He is grateful for all of the words of encouragement he has received. He is humbled by the fact that the tree limb could have easily fallen slightly one way or the other and the outcome would have been completely different. Thank you all for your support.