Posted by: Pablo Pereira, Meteorologist / Reporter / Web Producer - bio
Written by: Gerri Shaftel Constant, Fox 11 Medical Producer -
Keeping
up with Joshua Miller isn't easy, neither is keeping him down. Like the little
engine that could, Josh never ever backs down from a challenge. It's hard to
imagine this strong little boy was at one time so fragile. His mom Laura was
told during pregnancy Josh would be different. His condition: "Werner's
Mesomaliac Dysplasia With Hirshprungs. It's quite a mouthful," Laura
tells me.
Josh
was born with multiple challenges inside and out. His most obvious difference:
no tibias. There was no bone connecting his knees to his feet, and he
didn't pop out with 10 fingers and toes. "Our son actually had 26 digits
all together because he had 7 digits on each foot and 6 digits on each
hand," Laura explains.
"I've almost been through 8 surgeries. One was very difficult, Uhm heart
surgery. I almost died, but i lived through it." Josh remembers.
At Children's Hospital Los Angeles Cardiologist Jackie Szmuszkovicz explains Josh was born with a defect that
blocked blood flow, between his lungs and his heart. Now that he's
recovered from open heart surgery, she marvels at how active he is today,
"To me that's the most important sign that his
heart is doing well.
Laura still remembers living with the fear of all that could go wrong. Why
didn't it? "He hasn't learned to feel sorry for himself. Hasn't learned to
be downtrodden," she says.
On the contrary, Josh sees himself as a role model. He's already competed in 3
triathalons to raise money for the Challenged Athlete Foundation., and he often
meets with new amputees to showing them all that he's learned to do.
Seeking to toughen the allowable alcohol limit for drivers, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on states to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.05 or lower from the current 0.08.
Seeking to toughen the allowable alcohol limit for drivers, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on states to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.05 or lower from the current 0.08.
Certain projects, such as adding a well thought-out family room can be a wise investment, as they do add to the value of the home. Other projects, however, allow little opportunity to recover the costs when it's time to sell.
Certain projects, such as adding a well thought-out family room can be a wise investment, as they do add to the value of the home. Other projects, however, allow little opportunity to recover the costs when it's time to sell.
Los Angeles & SoCal NewsLos Angeles & SoCal NewsMore>>
Californians will get their first look at the health plans to be offered through the state's new insurance exchange and how much that coverage will cost them.
The state's largest health insurers, including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente, will be among 13 plans competing for policies on California's new health care exchange.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:18:07 GMT
After emerging victorious from a hard-fought and costly campaign, mayor-elect Eric Garcetti thanked voters today for propelling him into office and said he was prepared to take on the city's major issues.
After emerging victorious from a hard-fought and costly campaign, mayor-elect Eric Garcetti thanked voters today for propelling him into office and said he was prepared to take on the city's major issues.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:23 AM EDT2013-05-23 14:23:56 GMT
Officials say a woman in a Los Angeles suburb found a bear cub sitting on her kitchen counter. A Los Angeles county sheriff's statement says the department received a 911 call Wednesday from the woman.
Officials say a woman in a Los Angeles suburb found a bear cub sitting on her kitchen counter. A Los Angeles county sheriff's statement says the department received a 911 call Wednesday from the woman.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:34 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:34:01 GMT
A bear with a tag on its right ear wandered around in a neighborhood in Sun Valley for more than an hour today before being tranquilized by fish and game personnel.
A bear with a tag on its right ear wandered around in a neighborhood in Sun Valley for more than an hour today before being tranquilized by fish and game personnel.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:52 PM EDT2013-05-22 18:52:33 GMT
Wendy Greuel had a light moment with the media as well as serious and sometimes emotional ones as she officially conceded the Mayor's race to Eric Garcetti.
Wendy Greuel had a light moment with the media as well as serious and sometimes emotional ones as she officially conceded the Mayor's race to Eric Garcetti.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:42 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:42:08 GMT
When tragedy strikes - like the tornado in Oklahoma, USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Teams are called to help from all over the country. In fact, the USAR Team from LA City Fire is ready to go on 2 hours notice.
When tragedy strikes - like the tornado in Oklahoma - USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Teams are called to help from all over the country. In fact, the USAR Team from LA City Fire is ready to go on 2 hours notice. They have thirteen K9s trained to sniff out victims under rubble. Seven are ready to travel on a moment's notice.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:04 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:04:01 GMT
"Ty" is 17 years old and had not eaten in about two weeks, according to his caretakers at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.
A 400-pound tiger had a basketball-sized hairball surgically removed Wednesday. "Ty" is 17 years old and had not eaten in about two weeks, according to his caretakers at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:11 AM EDT2013-05-23 06:11:46 GMT
The World's #1 DJ & five time number one position holder in the critically acclaimed DJ Mag's Top 100 poll, Armin van Buuren is a Dutch Electronic Dance Music Artist.
The World's #1 DJ & five time number one position holder in the critically acclaimed DJ Mag's Top 100 poll, Armin van Buuren is a Dutch Electronic Dance Music Artist. Armin sat down with FOX 11's Pablo Pereira recently to talk about his passion for music and his new album, 'Intense'.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:34 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:34:01 GMT
A bear with a tag on its right ear wandered around in a neighborhood in Sun Valley for more than an hour today before being tranquilized by fish and game personnel.
A bear with a tag on its right ear wandered around in a neighborhood in Sun Valley for more than an hour today before being tranquilized by fish and game personnel.
Thursday, May 16 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:42:02 GMT
A judge has officially ended more than a decade of federal oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department that was triggered by a corruption scandal involving abusive officers.
A judge has officially ended more than a decade of federal oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department that was triggered by a corruption scandal involving abusive officers.
Thursday, May 16 2013 7:22 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:22:53 GMT
A homeless, hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who became an Internet celebrity earlier this year has been arrested in Philadelphia and charged with the murder of a New Jersey lawyer.
A homeless, hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who became an Internet celebrity earlier this year has been arrested in Philadelphia and charged with the murder of a New Jersey lawyer.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 9:20 PM EDT2013-05-15 01:20:50 GMT
Federal accident investigators recommended Tuesday that states cut their threshold for drunken driving by nearly half, matching a standard that has substantially reduced highway deaths in other countries.
Federal accident investigators recommended Tuesday that states cut their threshold for drunken driving by nearly half, matching a standard that has substantially reduced highway deaths in other countries.
Some parents in Reseda say they not longer let their children play outside or let them walk alone to school. That's because of multiple residential drug and alcohol treatment centers are moving into the area.
Some parents in Reseda say they not longer let their children play outside or let them walk alone to school. That's because of multiple residential drug and alcohol treatment centers are moving into the area.
Friday, May 10 2013 8:32 PM EDT2013-05-11 00:32:50 GMT
There was lots of emotion in Duarte this morning as two Leukemia patients and their families met the generous strangers who saved their lives at the City of Hope's annual Celebration of Life Bone Marrow Reunion.
There was lots of emotion in Duarte this morning as two Leukemia patients and their families met the generous strangers who saved their lives at the City of Hope's annual Celebration of Life Bone Marrow Reunion.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 8:53 PM EDT2013-05-08 00:53:50 GMT
After three women who vanished a decade ago were found captive at a house in a discovery that exhilarated the city, Cleveland police are facing questions for the second time in four years.
After three women who vanished a decade ago were found captive at a house, Cleveland police are facing questions for the second time in four years about their handling of missing-person cases.
Monday, May 6 2013 10:21 PM EDT2013-05-07 02:21:47 GMT
The Huntington Park Police Department today released photos of a man and woman believed to have been responsible for an attack on a 57-year-old taxi driver.
The Huntington Park Police Department today released photos of a man and woman believed to have been responsible for an attack on a 57-year-old taxi driver.
Monday, May 6 2013 8:47 PM EDT2013-05-07 00:47:48 GMT
As more Americans get access to health care coverage in 2014, there is plenty of concern that there won't be enough doctors to care for everyone with coverage. Some hospitals are now using medical robots.
As more Americans get access to health care coverage in 2014, there is plenty of concern that there won't be enough doctors to care for everyone with coverage. One way several Southern California hospitals are preparing for a physician shortfall: by increasing their use of medical robots.
After the Christopher Dorner manhunt, the LAPD promised to take another look at how and why he was fired. Now, dozens of former cops want their cases looked at again as well.
After the Christopher Dorner manhunt, the LAPD promised to take another look at how and why he was fired. Now, dozens of former cops want their cases looked at again as well. FOX 11’s Phil Shuman has their story.
