About Joshua's Puzzle Connection

Joshua Emile-Thomas Gant was born on February 7, 1999 at 11:48 pm. He was a good baby didn't cry much and was very curious. Josh developed at a fast pace and hit each milestone early, however around 16 months everything changed and when I questioned his doctor his reply was some children are late bloomers but if  he's not talking and hitting age appropriate milestones by age two, then I will give you the necessary paperwork to have him tested. Josh went through months of testing, at 22 months he started speech therapy . On January 28th 2002 two weeks before his third birthday Josh was diagnosed with autism. During the early years of schooling  was most difficult, due to the fact we had to make sure he was in the right programs. During the early years I had to remove him from two programs a family daycare and 107th St school  in Los Angeles. Josh attended 122nd St school , he started in the middle of his second grade year and had great success. Josh graduated from the 5th grade and in the summer of 2011 Josh started middle school at Glenn Curtiss Middle School. Josh had an amazing teacher that gave him an challenge and prepared him for high school and the real world. Josh attended George Washington Prep where he successfully completed his freshman year of high school. Josh passed away quietly in his sleep three weeks before his sophomore year. (He had a seizure, forever 15)

Josh played baseball and enjoyed singing, dancing, and music. Often times at midnight Josh would give us midnight musicals singing Donnie McClurkin songs. He enjoyed going to church and would look at his Bible DVD along with a couple of his bibles. He loved Nascar and Hotwheels, also he enjoyed reading and loved Dr. Seuss. Although Josh had autism he didn't let that stop him, he was a kind and gentle soul filled with love. He will always be remembered as the kid who was the life of the party and his awesome smile.