This Is How Long COVID And Cancer turned Into A Body Of Work

Josh Parra hiking in a mountainous area with trees and a lake, wearing outdoor clothing and carrying a backpack, in a black-and-white photo.
Josh Parra wearing sunglasses, a hat, and casual clothing sitting in a desert with sand dunes, taking a selfie with a selfie stick. There is a sandboard behind him and the sun is shining brightly in the sky.

Josh’s Journey Starts Here

It all began when Josh moved back to California’s Central Coast, where his parents live.

Josh enjoyed surfing, hiking in the Sierra Mountains, traveling, and living an active, fit, outdoor lifestyle.

Josh Parra and his parents sitting outdoors by a lake surrounded by trees and mountains. They are smiling and holding cups, with one person holding a camera. The scene is in black and white, and the sky shows the moon.
Josh Parra wearing sunglasses and a t-shirt standing next to a small helicopter on an airstrip, with mountains in the background.
Josh Parra holding a large yellow fin tuna on a boat in the ocean, wearing a cap and a face mask.
Josh Parra sitting by a river with rocks and trees in a natural outdoor setting.
Josh Parra smiling at the camera standing on a golf course near the water, with palm trees in hawaii with a cloudy sky in the background, in black and white.

During the global pandemic of 2020, Josh contracted Covid-19, an infection that became serious and life-threatening, marking the beginning of a more complicated journey.

He developed Long COVID and neurological complications that grew increasingly severe.

Josh faced the sudden loss of his movement and ability to talk. It was a terrifying realization that his body no longer worked like it once did.

Josh Parra in a hospital bed wearing a patterned hospital gown with a nasal oxygen tube, in a hospital room with medical equipment and monitors.
Josh is using the parallel bars at PT to learn how to walk again
Josh had to use a wheelchair to get around due to the ataxia, movement coordination, and muscle strain issues he faced
Josh participated in PT for several years, often experiencing muscle pain and fatigue during and after training
Josh is learning from PT how to use each leg and what areas to bend and what muscles to engage when taking a step
A simple activity -transfer the ball from one hand to the other- became a very challenging task that Josh worked at constantly
Josh is working on stepping over items without losing balance
Josh is attempting to walk along the parallel bars with only one hand for support/stability
At the SIMS PT center Josh worked in Aqua therapy pools to rebuild muscles
Josh continued to travel to see friends despite his limited mobility. His wheelchair became the only way he was able to physically access the world safely.

Josh began sharing his journey on social media, documenting the daily struggles to regain control of his body and life while searching for answers.

Through his social media, he reached millions of people, with thousands following him and his story.

Josh Parra in a hospital bed wearing a face mask, lying next to a medical imaging machine in a hospital room.
Josh Parra in a hospital gown walking with a walker, accompanied by two people, all wearing face masks, in a hospital hallway.
Josh Parra in a hospital bed with medical equipment and monitors in the background.

After several years of struggling and slow recovery, Josh was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Once again, he found himself fighting for his life. Through raw, unfiltered videos, and journal entries, Josh’s records became the documentation of his struggles, his pain, how he processed confusion, loss, small victories, and a deeper understanding of what it means to endure.

Josh Parra in a hospital bed wearing a hospital gown, lying in a hospital room with medical equipment and monitors around him.
Josh Parra in a hospital room, sitting near medical equipment and IV bags, smiling at the camera.
A smiling Josh Parra in a hospital bed with medical equipment, IV drip, and heart monitor in the background.
Josh Parra standing behind a walker on a dirt road in a suburban neighborhood.
Josh Parra and his mom standing outdoors on a sunny day, one wearing a hat and badge, and the other wearing a cap and a medal at the cancer walk, with trees and park benches in the background.
Josh Parra sitting in a hospital room, wearing a face mask, making a 'hang loose' hand gesture, with medical equipment visible around him.
Josh Parra sitting in a hospital chair, wearing a face mask, with IV drips and medical equipment nearby, in a hospital room.
Josh Parra going through chemo with no hair on his head lying in a hospital bed, making a hand gesture, with medical equipment visible in the background.

From those fragments, Josh began shaping what would become his first book, a reflection on self identity, resilience, and what it means to keep living when life itself breaks apart.

“Surviving Myself,” is built from those original notes. a collection of moments, insights, and hard earned lessons from the edge of life itself to healing.

Josh Parra wearing a mask, sunglasses, a cap, and a casual shirt sitting in a medical chair, giving a thumbs-up, in a hospital or medical setting.
Smiling Josh Parra sitting on the deck of a boat, surrounded by other people, with fishing gear and bags nearby, in front of a body of water.
Josh Parra sitting in a hospital chair with an IV drip, wearing a face mask, cap, T-shirt, and shorts, giving a thumbs up in a medical room with large windows.

Today, Josh continues to share his journey

His story is one of recovery and rediscovery of one’s true strength through adversity.

His goal is to inspire others to face their own challenges with honesty, courage, and the belief that, even in our darkest moments, there is hope: we can rebuild and become something stronger.

Josh continues to receive treatment at the Cancer Treatment Center at UCLA Santa Barbara.

A smiling Josh Parra walking on a train platform next to an Amtrak train, carrying a camera and backpack, with a row of lamp posts in the background.
Josh Parra smiling on a beach holding a fishing rod, wearing a beanie and a waterproof jacket. The background shows the shoreline and a distant pier with some palm trees on a hillside.
A smiling Josh Parra wearing a baseball cap backwards and a t-shirt, taking a selfie against a plain wall.
Josh Parra standing outdoors in front of a field of wildflowers with hills in the distance, wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap, in black and white.
Josh Parra standing in front of illuminated festive light displays spelling out "JOY" at night.
Josh Parra sitting in a hospital chair with IVs and medical equipment, smiling and giving a thumbs-up gesture.