Josh’s Journey: Williamsburg 10-year-old classic car lover remembered for kindness and compassion

Josh’s Journey: Williamsburg 10-year-old classic car lover remembered for kindness and compassion

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) – A 10-12 months-previous Williamsburg boy is currently being remembered for his variety spirit and previous soul.

All the things seemed normal the week in advance of Xmas for the Peck loved ones, right up until their son, Josh, started out experience unwell.

He died eleven times later.

Now this community military spouse and children is remembering the optimistic reminiscences they shared and celebrating his adore for all points traditional.

Josh Peck would constantly convey to people he was from Germany, for the reason that which is where by he was born when his dad was stationed there.

Josh wasn’t your ordinary kid. He was exclusive, with a like for classic Volkswagens. He also assisted kindergarteners in the computer system lab and collected things for the lost and found then actively searched for the young ones who misplaced them.

He preferred all autos but vintage Volkswagens have been his most loved, mainly because his mother and father experienced a Yellow ’74 Beetle when he was little.

“Anytime we have been outdoors, he would fake like he was working on it,” explained Matt Peck. “I’d allow him sit in the driver’s seat with the gear shift. He would fake he was driving it.”

He was even hoping he’d locate an outdated VW bus to correct up someday.

“We often explained to him that is not too real looking, you never just discover a van. Then he achieved anyone who did, so that was demanding,” explained Josh’s mother, Christina Peck.

Every thing all seemed typical the week before Christmas, right until it was not. The household attended a Christmas get together on Saturday, days later on he was intubated in the hospital.

“You’re generally concerned they’re heading to tumble off their bicycle and strike their head, something bodily like that,” mentioned Matt.

Josh at first begun complaining of ear discomfort, but given that he swims, his moms and dads imagined it was swimmer’s ear. The discomfort went away, then Josh started off throwing up.

“We took him to urgent treatment and they just assumed it was a stomach bug since he seriously was not presenting any other indications,” mentioned Matt. “We introduced him home, he started type of finding delirious, not definitely earning perception so we took him to the ER.”

From there every move forward was like two methods back.

“They took one search at him, ordered some exams then arrived back and explained he most likely has meningitis,” reported Matt.

Josh was flown to CHKD in Norfolk. On the way, he stopped breathing and Matt and Christina later on acquired he experienced a stroke.

“The major concern was not truly the meningitis as opposed to the difficulties because of to it, since just with all the inflammation there was no location for the tension to go so it just compounded on the brain stem,” said Matt.

“To know that this occurred and there is very little they could do for him,” stated Christina. “We just want him back again.”

Josh was admitted to the healthcare facility 6 times before Xmas, and died five times immediately after.

CHKD Director of An infection Prevention and Handle, Dr. Laura Sass, claims meningitis isn’t prevalent since young ones are vaccinated from most strains.

If your kid has a fever, headache or especially neck discomfort, those people are signs to see a medical doctor, just like the Pecks did.

“You know when your child is not performing standard,” said Dr. Sass.

Dr. Sass says not each case is lethal or even warrants a doctor, but parents know most effective.

“You want to be able to touch your chin to your chest like this,” stated Dr. Sass. “When you have meningitis, it is infected and your head hurts.”

Matt and Christina say they really feel like a piece of them is lacking.

Josh’s very little brother, James, misses sitting on the couch taking part in movie video games collectively.

And newborn Josephine turned one month old the working day Josh was admitted to the hospital.

“He was so thrilled to be her significant brother,” claimed Christina.

But they’ll have so several stories to notify her about her significant brother someday.

Stories of kindness and compassion.

“He was the a person at college that would enable force a person in a wheelchair or support the kids all through recess, like on the playground if there was a hole, he was often be like ‘hey, we have to fill this in somebody is likely to twist their ankle,’” said Matt.

“He had a certain form of empathy that you really don’t see in a regular 10-12 months-old,” mentioned Christina.

In just a issue of times following Josh’s dying, assist for the Peck Household rolled on in from in close proximity to and significantly.

A GoFundMe Page elevated more than $40,000 in the times subsequent Josh’s loss of life.

Matt and Christina wanted to include Josh’s enjoy of traditional cars and trucks into the memorial support, and vintage automobile homeowners arrived from all over the point out.

“It felt like the appropriate matter to do,” claimed Joe Whitlock.

Whitlock brought his ’61 beetle, entirely equipped with a sticker that says “Ridin’ with Josh.”

“It’s got a silhouette of a Volkswagen, but which is not just for nowadays, it is going to be on our autos until finally the sunshine will take him absent,” claimed Whitlock.

Riding off in that yellow ’74 beetle, likely singing a small karaoke, or actively playing his guitar, most possible serving to a person someplace together the way.

“You try to remember the superior points and you want all those things back, but you cannot get them so you try to remember,” claimed Matt.

Josh’s household desires to honor him by donating to the matters he beloved, like fixing up the computer system lab at college or helping children with disabilities.

If you’d like to donate in honor of Josh, the Peck family members has established up a Memorial Fund.


Meningitis Data From the CDC:

Distinctive kinds of meningitis

Meningitis vs Meningococcal Disease