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Samantha Gott
ADAPTING TO A NEW REALITY:
SAMANTHA GOTT’S STORY
Samantha Gott of Taylorsville, Utah, was building her career in the HVAC industry as an Air Distribution Estimating Supervisor for LONG Building Technologies when a ground-level fall in December 2025 changed the course of her life. The fall resulted in a C4 spinous fracture and a C3/4 ligamentous injury. Samantha underwent C3-7 ACDF surgery and began the difficult process of adjusting to life with a significant spinal cord injury.
As Samantha prepared for her eventual return home from inpatient rehabilitation, accessibility became an immediate concern. Her multi-level home did not have a bedroom or full bathroom on the main floor, creating significant barriers to safely navigating her home. As she began identifying the equipment and modifications she would need, she explained, “Due to my current state, I will be needing a number of things, chief among them right now is a chair lift.”
The accident also created a financial strain for Samantha and her family. “As the primary income earner, my reduced income has required my husband to postpone his planned retirement and continue working to help meet essential financial obligations.”
Samantha heard about The Joseph Groh Foundation through colleagues at LONG Building Technologies and Krueger-HVAC. LONG Building Technologies is a manufacturer’s representative with offices throughout the Intermountain West. The company represents a range of HVAC products, including Lennox commercial products, Krueger air distribution products, and Ruskin air management and control products.
She further described the next phases of returning home with The Joseph Groh Foundation: “We plan to modify our home by installing equipment such as a Hoyer lift, a chair lift, wheelchair ramps, and completing a bathroom remodel to accommodate accessibility needs. In addition, we are researching wheelchair- accessible vehicles so I can attend appointments and participate in daily life. While these changes represent a significant financial burden for our family, they are essential for my safety, independence, and long-term recovery. Any financial assistance would have a meaningful and lasting impact on our ability to adapt to this new reality.”
The Joseph Groh Foundation donors stepped in to help Samantha and her family address two of the most immediate barriers to returning home. Samantha received a Harmar Pinnacle SL300 chair lift for her home and an accessible van featuring a lowered floor, a manual folding ramp with carpet flooring, and retractable straps.
The assistance gave Samantha greater mobility and helped make her return home safer and more accessible as she and her family adapt to a new way of living.
BECOME A LUMINARYThroughout the year, The Joseph Groh Foundation provides life-changing grants that help individuals connected to the contractingp 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.