Josh was born in Ethiopia. His family was very poor but he learned at an early age to triumph

over obstacles. He loved sports, especially running, the national sport. He was very competitive

although he was unable to join a private club. When Josh was eight years old his father died of

HIV which had ravaged many in his African nation. Josh was left an orphan with no means of

support so he took to the streets where he begged and scavenged for food in dumpsters in order

to survive. At the age of ten he was hit by a train and was almost left to die when he lost both

legs above the knee and his right arm below the elbow. After four months in a run-down

hospital he was blessed when a family from Washington State adopted him and moved him to

the USA. He was soon introduced to wheelchair basketball by the ParaSports organization in

Spokane, WA. After years of training, eventually, he excelled and was honored to represent the

USA in the 2016 Paralympics where he won a silver medal. An opportunity to play for the

University of Arizona and pursue a degree in economics followed.