Josh Peterson

Josh was the happiest kiddo a parent could ask for. He loved dogs,
fishing, all things outdoors and made friends everywhere he went. He
loved learning about history, figuring out how things worked, and
engaged in the most intellectual conversations about world affairs,
religion, and politics. Just after Josh turned 5 years old, he lost
vision in his left eye and the doctors found a brain tumor that they
were not able to remove. He spent the next 8 years enduring chemotherapy
and many setbacks with his physical abilities. He didn’t let any of
that hold him back though. Josh played team sports as long as his body
would let him and then figured out that golf and fishing were the best
options for him. He was bright and did very well in school, did all the
extra credit, and was a proud member of student council. He spent as
much time as he could with a fishing pole in his hand and dreamed of the
day he could start hunting with his dad. When Josh was 13 years old, his
brain tumor started to bleed causing a massive stroke. He lost his
vision and function of the left side of his body. After months in rehab,
he learned to walk, eat, and talk but was left with left hemiplegia and
blindness. This life changing experience came with a truck load of
barriers that Josh has been breaking down ever since. He graduated from
high school in 2019 and has been working to get to college all while
learning to do the things he loves, just one handed and blind. He is
always up for trying new things! Josh’s complex medical situation
continues to throw him curve balls but he takes these opportunities to
fight back that much harder. He is grateful for people in this world who
recognize his will to be an outdoorsman and support his efforts in
making check marks on his bucket list.