Patient Stories: Joshua Zepeda
Philanthropic support helps provide life-saving treatment for children like Joshua, ensuring families across Central Florida have access to innovative programs, equipment and services that guide patients and their families through diagnosis to recovery.
Before September 2025, Joshua was a healthy, active 13-year-old. He rarely got sick and enjoyed spending time with his family. His parents never imagined that an ordinary school morning would become the beginning of a life-changing journey.
As Joshua was getting ready for school, he suddenly complained of a severe headache. Within minutes, he became nauseous and lost consciousness. His mother immediately called 911.
At the hospital, a CT scan revealed a devastating diagnosis: Joshua had suffered a brain bleed caused by a ruptured aneurysm. Because of the severity of his condition, he was transferred to Orlando Health Children’s Arnold Palmer Hospital, where pediatric and adult specialists quickly came together to save his life.
When Joshua arrived, his neurosurgeon explained that he was facing a critical situation. After suffering a second bleed during transport, Joshua underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. To avoid a craniotomy, Orlando Health Children’s Arnold Palmer Physicians collaborated with the adult neurovascular team at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), where specialists used a minimally invasive coiling procedure to secure the aneurysm.
What followed was six weeks in the hospital and one of the most difficult seasons Joshua's family had ever faced. For nearly 30 days, Joshua remained unresponsive while his care team monitored him around the clock for dangerous complications.
His parents spent every day at his bedside, leaning on their faith, loved ones and the compassionate support of their care team.
"We didn't know if Joshua would wake up or what his future would look like," Aracely, Joshua’s mother, says. "There were days when we could only take it one hour at a time."
Throughout the uncertainty, nurses and team members cared not only for Joshua, but for his entire family. They included his parents in care discussions, answered difficult questions honestly and provided encouragement during the darkest moments. They even helped the family celebrate their wedding anniversary while they remained by Joshua's bedside.
"It was the worst time of our lives, but the kindness and compassion we experienced left a lasting impact on our family," Aracely says.
After nearly a month, Joshua finally opened his eyes.
He went on to spend several weeks at the Orlando Health Rehabilitation Institute, where he began the process of relearning how to hold his head up, sit, stand, walk and speak. Today, Joshua continues outpatient rehabilitation and has made significant progress.
"If you met Joshua today, you would never know everything he has overcome," Aracely says.
While his recovery now focuses on cognitive rehabilitation and returning to school, Joshua's family remains grateful. A scary, uncertain future is now filled with hope, thanks to the coordinated care, compassion and support they received throughout every step of his journey.
