For more than 30 years, Carl Keith of West Des Moines, Iowa, built his career in the electrical, instrumentation and controls trades, working on the construction, maintenance and operation of power plants and paper mills. Much of his work involved leading teams responsible for installing turbine combustion electrical equipment, including conduit, wiring and control panels. Outside of work, he put those same skills to use building two homes, completing all the electrical installation himself, from the service entrance to the finishing details.

On Nov. 16, 2022, Keith’s life changed during what was expected to be a routine disc replacement surgery. He awoke with paralysis from the stomach down, resulting in an incomplete C6/C7 spinal cord injury that left him with quadriplegia and no use of his lower extremities, hands or fingers. Before his injury, Keith was an active professional who frequently traveled overseas for work to provide for his family. He also enjoyed jiu-jitsu, hunting, fishing and home improvement projects.

Today, he faces the ongoing physical and financial challenges of living with a spinal cord injury, including the costs of daily nursing care, physical therapy and medical equipment. Despite these challenges, Keith remains committed to his rehabilitation. After making progress through outpatient physical therapy, he began researching functional electrical stimulation (FES) bikes as a way to continue his recovery at home. That search led him to the Myolyn website, where he discovered The Joseph Groh Foundation.

Through the generosity of the Foundation’s donors, Keith received a grant for a MyoCycle Home Plus (MC-HP-2), a 10-channel FES cycling therapy system designed to support his continued rehabilitation. Access to this equipment means more than adding another tool to his home. It provides an opportunity to build on the progress he has already made and work toward improving his physical health, mobility and quality of life.

“Having an FES bike will improve my physical and emotional health by giving me access to a new form of movement during my physical rehabilitation sessions,” Keith said.

He hopes the equipment will help reduce muscle spasms and pain, improve his range of motion and support bowel health. Without the bike, Keith explained, his rehabilitation options are limited to exercises from his wheelchair or bed, making further progress more difficult.

Keith’s discovery of Myolyn highlights the importance of the Foundation’s reach in connecting individuals with resources that support life after a life-altering injury. Through the generosity of its donors and the strength of the trades community, these connections help individuals like Keith build their next chapter.

About The Joseph Groh Foundation: Established in 2009, The Joseph Groh Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals within the contracting and construction trades who face permanent, truly life-altering disabilities. To date, the foundation has provided financial assistance totaling $1.5 million to 150 families with connections to the contracting and construction trades in 38 states. Assistance has ranged from wheelchair accessible vans and home/bath remodels to assistive technology, rehab equipment, home repairs, and more. The foundation also offers a pathway for contractors to offer short and long-term disability insurance to contractors through its website. The Foundation’s inception is rooted in a profound event on Father’s Day of 2008. Joe Groh, an HVAC industry veteran, experienced a life-altering accident during a bicycle ride, resulting in high-level quadriplegia. Despite the challenges, Joe’s resilience inspired the creation of this foundation. His story and our mission can be explored further on our website at www.josephgrohfoundation.org.