At 18 years old, New Hope native Joshua Bastean has already accomplished more than most. A senior at New Hope-Solebury High School, Joshua has navigated the challenges of living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic autoimmune disease, while launching a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for research.
His diagnosis came in 2017 when he was just 10 years old. After getting a piece of pork stuck in his esophagus and struggling for an entire night to swallow even his own saliva, he sought medical help. His primary care physician referred him to a gastroenterology specialist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he was officially diagnosed with EoE. The news was difficult for him to process. “When I got diagnosed, I was really sad,” he shared. “I thought, ‘Oh My Gosh! I have this disease and it’s going to be with me for life,’ and I worried about how my life was going to be different.”
While medication was available to manage his symptoms, there was no FDA-approved treatment at the time. Joshua was put on a non-FDA approved medication, which came with unforeseen side effects. “Physically, I looked younger. My facial structure looked younger, my voice sounded three or four years younger than it actually was, and my stature was stunted,” he explained.
Fortunately, in 10th grade, he switched to an FDA-approved medication that became available. Over the past two years, he has grown three inches, and his voice has deepened. “The main thing this new FDA-approved drug did for me was reverse some of the side effects of the first medication, which was huge for my self-confidence,” Joshua shared.
Additionally, his new treatment has reduced nearly all of his symptoms and allows him to eat whatever he wants without fear of food getting stuck in his esophagus. The only downside is it requires biweekly injections.
“I started my nonprofit about the time that I started on my FDA-approved treatment,” Joshua explains. “At the time, the injections were really painful, and I was thinking I really don’t want any other child with EoE to have to go through this, now or in the future.”
Joshua’s journey with EoE inspired him to take action so that others wouldn’t have to endure the same hardships. In August 2023, he founded Pics4EoE, a 501c3 nonprofit organization designed to fund research for EoE through his photography. “I have created a website that makes photos available of places I have been lucky enough to visit like national parks, parts of Europe, and other beautiful locations,” described Joshua. People can download his scenic photography for free, with donations encouraged.
In addition to his nonprofit work, Joshua’s passion for problem-solving and technology led him to become involved in his community in other meaningful ways. For his Eagle Scout project in 2023, as part of Troop 34, he introduced the idea of a first responder drone program to the New Hope Fire Company after witnessing a nighttime flash flood rescue near the ‘Inn at the Ruins’.
“My Eagle Scout project helped raise community awareness for a public safety drone program that the New Hope Fire Company was starting,” Joshua explained. “I did some events showcasing the drone. Kids could come out and use the controller and act like they were flying a drone. Adults could come out and see the drone being used and learn about its capabilities.”
Joshua obtained his FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification last year and now also volunteers as part of the drone team at the Fire Company where his idea for a drone, equipped with a thermal camera, can be used for search and rescue missions, firefighting operations, and river rescues.
“Once I started flying a drone, I thought it would be a great idea to integrate aerial photography into my nonprofit as a potential fundraiser,” Josh explained.
Recently, Joshua has added an aerial photography service that caters to businesses, real estate agents, and homeowners. “Unlike the ground photos I take, I fly the drone and capture both photos and videos,” he explained. “This part of my nonprofit is brand new, launched a month ago, and I’m in the process of getting the word out.”
His father, Brian Bastean, highlighted the unique aspect of Joshua’s initiative: “Because Joshua has his FAA remote pilot certification, he’s able to fly a drone for commercial purposes. Instead of keeping the money from aerial photography projects, he donates it to his nonprofit, which supports CHOP’s GI research team studying EoE.”
Looking ahead, Joshua plans to pursue a degree in data science with a focus on medical applications. “I want to enter the medical data field and possibly use machine learning and AI to make predicting diseases easier. If I had started a different treatment earlier, maybe my experience would have been different,” he says. “Especially coming from someone who has had a rare disease, if I can help lift someone’s burden in the future with data, I think that will be very special.”
His ultimate dream is to see a cure for EoE. He shared, “That’s why I’m putting all the money toward research; to make that dream a reality.”
With a combination of resilience, technological expertise, and a heart for service, Joshua Bastean is not only overcoming his own challenges, but also paving the way for a brighter future for others with EoE. To learn more about his nonprofit, request his aerial photography services for a donation, or to support his mission, visit the Pics4EoE’s website at www.pics4eoe.org.
