THE STRENGTH OF FAMILY: JAMIE HOYT’S STORY

Under normal circumstances, Jamie Hoyt would have been the one remodeling the bathroom himself. A skilled mechanic and tradesman from Gray Summit, Missouri, Jamie spent his career repairing equipment, building decks, and helping others tackle projects large and small. A tractor-trailer mechanic for River Roads Sales & Leasing, Jamie spent the last nine years rebuilding damaged trailers and repairing equipment. Before that, he drove trucks delivering building materials to job sites. Known by family and friends as a jack-of-all-trades, he also spent countless hours building decks and tackling projects for loved ones whenever help was needed.

On the evening of July 5, 2025, Jamie's life changed in an instant. After complaining of a headache, he reached for ibuprofen when his right arm suddenly went limp. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, where doctors discovered a massive brain bleed on the left side of his brain. Emergency surgery was performed immediately to relieve the pressure on his skull. The catastrophic brain injury left Jamie paralyzed on his right side, unable to speak, and dependent on a feeding tube. Since then, he has faced an extensive rehabilitation journey. While receiving inpatient therapy at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Jamie and his wife, Michelle, began planning for the day he could return home.

For Michelle, bringing her husband home was never a question. "I refuse to put my 50-year-old husband in a nursing home," she shared. "I want him to be at home with his family. Jamie is a good man who helps everyone, he didn’t deserve this happening to him. I want his quality of life to be at its best."

However, their home's small bathroom created a significant barrier. The existing bathtub and limited space would make it nearly impossible to safely assist Jamie with bathing and personal care. While their son stepped forward to build a wheelchair-accessible ramp, the family still needed help transforming the bathroom into a space that could accommodate Jamie's needs. Michelle learned about The Joseph Groh Foundation through Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and applied for assistance to help make Jamie's return home possible. Through the Foundation's network of generous donors, a bathroom remodel was funded and installed, creating a more accessible environment with the space and features necessary for Jamie's daily care.

The renovation has allowed Michelle to safely assist her husband with bathing and personal hygiene while preserving the dignity, comfort, and quality of life that every family deserves. Most importantly, it will allow Jamie to continue his recovery surrounded by the people who love him most. After 25 years of marriage, Michelle remains focused on keeping her family together under one roof. With support from The Joseph Groh Foundation, Jamie's transition home has been safer, more manageable, and filled with the comfort of being where he belongs.

Throughout the year, The Joseph Groh Foundation provides life-changing grants that help individuals connected to the contracting industry with life-altering disabilities access essential resources—such as accessible vehicles, bathroom modifications, and rehabilitation technology—empowering them to reclaim independence. By becoming a monthly Luminary, you help propel this mission forward.