Jimmie Johnson

Jimmy is a native of Paris, Texas and now he lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Following high school, Jimmy attended college in Waco but had to leave after one semester due to lack of finances. He moved back to his hometown to work for Campbell's Soup Company. Seeking a better life, Jimmy moved to the Metroplex and found a job with the city of Dallas. Jimmy married and he and his wife had 2 daughters.

Proceeding through an intersection just three blocks from his house, Jimmy's car was struck by another car that ran a red light. The accident left Jimmy with broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a punctured left lung, a dislocated right lung....And a spinal cord injury at the C-5 vertebrae.

Spending the next few months in the ICU and rehab, Jimmy recovered from his injuries and learned all he could about living life as a quadriplegic. He then returned home to a place that was now an obstacle course of multiple levels, sharp turns and narrow doorways. Jimmy's sister and brother-in-law owned a small contracting firm in Paris, Texas and they along with friends and former coworkers helped make the 1st floor of their home navigable. Since that time, much of Jimmy's income has gone to support costs not covered by insurance and to support his daughter who was diagnosed autistic as an infant. His daughter is now an adult, but still lives with Jimmy and his wife. Advancing years (Jimmy is now in his 60s) has made it more difficult for Jimmy to pilot his manual wheelchair around the house because it is carpeted.

While not something you often think about, carpet becomes just one more obstacle to an aging person in a manual wheelchair. After hearing foundation board members give a presentation at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas, Jimmy petitioned the foundation for a grant to change the carpet in his house and replace it with tile flooring.

Upon completion, Jimmy's wife asked him if he liked it (from a decorative point of view, of course). His reply was simply, "I love it and I am not talking about looks. Rolling is like gliding and it is great". She said "you have never shown that kind of excitement for home decor in the past".

According to Jimmy, "It does look great, but when I think of the long term physical relief to my shoulder, it moves me emotionally. I've not been able to easily access the outside patio since my accident; the new floor has also afforded me that opportunity. Again, thanks for all you've done, and may you be blessed to continue to help others through your foundation."