AJ Knox says his life has changed significantly since 2018, when the now 18-year-old sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident. Five years later, paralyzed from the waist down, AJ is still trying to navigate his new normal. From mourning the loss of big dreams...
AJ loved all sports and played many of them, and you couldn't keep him from outdoors. I feel like AJ was stripped of his childhood and dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Now, AJ doesn't have the drive or desire to play any sports at all.
…to relearning run-of-the-mill daily activities…
Everything became difficult because I had to figure out how to do things differently than I normally would, such as showering, cooking, washing clothes and dishes, using the bathroom and other daily things that needed to be done.
While the journey has been long, and the road ahead is still long and challenging, AJ and his mom, Yolanda, have kept a positive attitude along the way. Plus, they've made helpful friends like Mike Dascal of the Changing Lives Together Foundation.
"AJ's tragic situation spoke to us because, unfortunately, his situation is a frequent occurrence in our society today. A lot of families do not have the financial ability to satisfy their accessibility needs. The costs to renovate a house to ensure it is safe and accessible for a wheelchair is very often more than most families can afford to pay."
Enter Lowe's Livable Home™ services with a mission to make home accessibility for those with disabilities and aging-in-place a top priority. Offering nationwide coverage for services and endless products to make mindful renovations, Lowe's Accessible Home Customer Experience Manager Angie Wally says partnering up with the CLT foundation to join AJ's team was a no-brainer.
After hearing about AJ's situation, Lowe's Livable Home immediately wanted to assist with providing accessibility and mobility installation solutions. Being able to help AJ regain his independence and live safely in his home is what our mission is all about. These solutions are also critical to his mother and primary caregiver, Yolanda. Seeing the difference in someone's daily life with these accessibility solutions gives me purpose, and the big smile on AJ's face was the best part.
Together, Lowe's and the CLT Foundation have made critical renovations in AJ's home, like installing a wheelchair ramp in the garage, modifying the bathroom and shower to allow for roll-in and out access, expanding entryways, painting AJ's room, and even creating a little backyard oasis for the family.
They have made it so much easier for me to get around and be more independent without asking for help. I feel so free now that I can move around more and not be confined to just one spot in the house.
Bit by bit, AJ is regaining independence and rebuilding his life. Remnants of the old AJ are shining through. He still loves to watch sports, and his next viewing will be up close and personal at the Carolina Panther's stadium wearing this signed Bryce Young jersey, courtesy of the team at Lowe's.
