When Josh was displaying symptoms such as weak muscles and extreme exhaustion, his mother took him to the doctor.  He spent six weeks in Intensive Care before the diagnosis was given:  Josh's body does not get the message that he needs to breathe more deeply in order to take in adequate amounts of oxygen and dispel enough carbon dioxide.  His Hypothalamus (in the center of his brain) controls this function and others like body temperature, sweating, growth, and development.  His Hypothalamus malfunctions.  

Josh has a tracheotomy (tube going into his throat from the outside of his neck).  This hooks to a ventilator, which helps him breathe.  He cannot swim or submerge his neck in water at all.  

Josh hopes to see a specialist in Chicago for a diaphragmatic pacemaker -- a device implanted into the chest which causes the diaphragm to contract and make your lungs take deeper breaths.  His mom quit her job to care for Josh, and the family fears that medical costs will exceed the insurance cap.   Like many families of handicapped children, they struggle with medical bills and travel from state to state to see doctors and have tests.

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