Josh Luther’s TikTok account, “Josh 2.0,” has over 400,000 followers. His household makes use of the platform to unfold hope and training.
WILDWOOD, Mo. — A Wildwood household is touching the lives of lots of of 1000’s of individuals throughout the nation. They’ve gone viral sharing the resilient story of their son, who resides with a traumatic mind damage.
Aaron and Brenda Luter began sharing movies on TikTok as a option to preserve their household and buddies up to date on their son, Josh’s, restoration after a critical bike accident modified his life endlessly.
Now, 4 years and over 400,000 followers later, the account, “Josh 2.0,” has was a spot to not solely elevate consciousness however unfold hope. Josh’s resiliency and smile has captured the guts of 1000’s on-line.
Again on April 11, 2021, Josh was simply 19 years previous finding out to be a pilot at SIU Carbondale when he received into an accident.
“He was out on a Sunday afternoon on his bike with a buddy, taking a trip and an individual driving a SUV turned in entrance of him, and he actually did not have an opportunity to keep away from the accident,” Aaron mentioned.
Josh’s dad and mom described the accident as “violent.” First responders took him to Carbondale Hospital, however he was rapidly flown to Barnes in St. Louis due to the severity of his accidents.
“He had a number of damaged bones, lacerations, ruptured organs, he had a punctured lung, however worst of all he had a really extreme traumatic mind damage. We actually did not know his situation, what his situation can be aside from, at greatest, it was going to be a very lengthy restoration,” Aaron mentioned.
The in depth accidents left Josh with out the power to stroll and speak, and his dad and mom with extra questions than solutions. After 10 months within the hospital, Brenda mentioned it was time to carry “the brand new Josh” residence.
“It affected our complete household, there isn’t any doubt, all the things has modified. It isn’t something I would need on anyone. It is a actually onerous scenario to take care of, to lose one youngster and get a distinct one,” she mentioned.
That resilient attribute of Josh is one thing that is clear he inherited from his dad and mom. The Luters remodeled their residence to present Josh one of the best life they’ll. Brenda mentioned household, buddies and their religion is what will get them by means of every day.
“There’s so many occasions we’re like, ‘We will not do that, how are we doing this? How can we get by means of this?’ And you actually simply need to take one step at a time, not fear about tomorrow and simply preserve your religion,” she mentioned.
It is that religion that may now be seen by lots of of 1000’s throughout the nation. The Luter’s posting on TikTok and exhibiting the world what life is like for Josh. Aaron mentioned the thought behind their account started out of desperation.
“Folks wished to know what was occurring with Josh and we would have liked extra details about it too as a result of traumatic mind accidents actually aren’t that unusual, so to talk of, however they’re actually not talked about. There’s not that a lot info on the market a couple of restoration and what it appears like, and all people’s restoration is totally different,” he mentioned.
The Luters assist others caring for family members with traumatic mind accidents, or TBI, by means of the facility of social media. Brenda mentioned they get messages from individuals simply starting their journey, with nowhere to show.
“I keep in mind that scared journey myself. I keep in mind that scared preliminary a part of like any individual assist me, any individual inform me what that is going to be like. We get these determined calls, and we attempt to assist these individuals on their journeys. I speak to individuals quite a bit, throughout the nation and attempt to assist them,” she mentioned.
The resilient, now 23-year-old is bringing pleasure and inspiration to each one who clicks on his web page.
“There’s some those that have mentioned that their lives have been so dangerous they have been prepared to finish it, and Josh has made them keep alive,” Brenda mentioned.
“I feel that is type of a part of the hope of presenting this, is that everyone can see that you simply’re actually not alone in your troubles,” Aaron mentioned.
Over the previous 4 years, Josh’s dad and mom mentioned he has made super strides, and so long as he’s progressing, they can not ask for something extra.
