Jody

Children's Care Fund

"We are extremely thankful to Hamot Health Foundation for their support."

In 2022, local teenager Grady was involved in an ATV accident and sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to UPMC Hamot, where his parents met him and the clinical team in the Emergency Room. They learned Grady had sustained a severed spinal cord, and he needed to be transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) for further care.

Upon learning of the teen’s accident, HHF established a fund for the family and matched an initial donation. This helped with the family’s accommodations in Pittsburgh during Grady’s long treatment journey, which included a week in the hospital and another 8 weeks on a rehabilitation unit.

Having their accommodations covered “was a huge burden lifted. It allowed us to focus on Grady’s recovery,” said Jody, Grady’s father. “We are extremely thankful to Hamot Health Foundation for their support.”

Grady now uses a wheelchair, but his wide smile still lights up any room he’s in. The tight-knit family was featured at the 2023 Bob-a-Thon, where they lauded the impact of HHF’s Children’s Care Fund.