Jeremy with His Son in the Hospital Following His Accident

Foundation Recipient

Jeremy Ray

Jeremy with His Son In the Hospital Following His Accident

Jeremy’s Story

For the past 15 years, Jeremy had worked as an industrial and commercial journeyman electrician in and around the Austin, Texas area. Some of the projects he was involved with over the years included changing and revamping clean rooms for Samsung, construction of the Circuit of the Americas racetrack in Austin, projects at Hewlett-Packard and the University of Texas among others. In recent years, he also had taken an interest in becoming a Certified Safety and Health Official, but fate had other plans.

On March 5, 2016 Jeremy suffered a severe spinal cord injury as the result of a motorcycle accident.

In the accident he also sustained multiple rib fractures and 2 collapsed lungs. The spinal cord injury was in the T-5/T-6 area, so doctors fused from T-4 through T-8. Unfortunately, an infection set in near the incision site, so Jeremy had additional surgeries and went on IV antibiotics for a total of about 10 weeks. As with all paralyzed individuals however, thoughts turn to life after hospitalization and Jeremy was no different. The house he and wife Mandy would occupy needed a number of alterations, and of course insurance doesn’t cover any of them. While undergoing rehabilitation at the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in Houston, the Ray family came across the Joseph Groh foundation while doing research for assistance. They petitioned the foundation for an exterior ramp, changing out the carpet for hard surface floors, widening interior doors and completing a bath remodel, including roll in shower.

Thanks to our many donors, we were able to meet Jeremy’s request!

Meanwhile, Jeremy had also requested a shower chair from a Texas rehabilitation organization, because insurance does not see this as something medically necessary. After months of taking bed baths, Jeremy was delighted when he was finally able to take a regular shower. We all take these things for granted, but the next time you take a shower, think about how good it feels and how your donations were able to bring that feeling back to another individual who has shared our experience in the construction trades! See pictures below of the work done at the Ray residence.

Ramp Built for Entry/Exit from BackdoorLaminate Flooring in LR to Replace Carpet

New Accessible Sink and ToiletNew Roll in Shower