Man with crushed spine was unconscious for a month after crash—his response on daughter's 20th birthday stunned his family
Small moments of happiness might help a person push through the toughest challenges. A dad who was unconscious for a month after a motorcycle crash could keep going and getting better because he wanted to dance with his daughter on her 20th birthday. The tattoo shop owner, Joshua Ray Farmer, was riding his motorcycle to Bass Lake with his friends in March when the crash happened. The accident left Farmer with many life-threatening injuries and his spine had to be rebuilt, but the family got a big surprise on his daughter's 20th birthday, per ABC 30 Action News.
The man was unconscious for a month after the crash in March and the doctors had to rebuild his spine with titanium. His road to recovery was long and is still going on as his right eye remains closed shut. Farmer had to relearn how to breathe, talk and walk all over again after the near-death experience. He also shared a message for all the bikers after he got a little better. "I've lost a lot of friends, even family, in these situations. I could tell you right now, a really good professional full-face helmet, as much as some guys don't want to hear it, will and can absolutely make a difference," the motorcycle enthusiast pointed out.
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The dad hoped that he would regain enough strength to dance with his daughter on her 20th birthday and he was able to do that as he recovered enough. "When I was coming around the turn, I just saw a bunch wreckage on the street and I didn't know what it was so I kind of went around the wreckage and that's when I saw the bike and then I saw Josh in front of the bike," the man's friend, Eric Bangerter told the outlet at that time. "Riding a motorcycle is something, can't really compare it, but we do understand that there's a risk when it comes to riding motorcycles just because you don't have the cage protecting you obviously."
At the time of the crash, quite a few tattoo artists from different shops came to Farmer's shop to make tattoos for free at his shop in his honor. The man was recovering well, just like many people around him had hoped. His friends started a fundraiser for him to cover medical expenses and provide him with support during the difficult period. "It goes without saying, Josh will not be able to work for the foreseeable future and will require an incredible amount of medical care and family support in the coming months. His local business, High Sierra Tattoo company, will need assistance to continue to run in his absence," the fundraiser read.
"Many of us have seen Josh coordinate memorial motorcycle rides to honor his fallen comrades and host tattoo events to support some of his local community who have suffered from significant medical issues and family losses," the person went on. The page was able to raise $22,041 out of its $75,000 goal. His tattoo shop's Facebook page, High Sierra Tattoo co, shared that they were organizing fundraisers and other community events to ensure that they can keep the shop going until Farmer's eventual return to work. "Joshua has always given back to this community in every way he could—it’s our turn to show up for him," they wrote.
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