JJ Hutson Updates

14/08/2025

JJ is getting so close to driving solo! After a few trips to Springfield this week all of his controls have been installed. He still has some training left to do before he’s able to drive alone but things are going well. Prayers for strength and endurance are greatly appreciated!

12/08/2025

Another person who was blessed by Missouri KIDS! Such an amazing organization! 

🚗💙 FREEDOM & INDEPENDENCE FOR KALEB! 💙🚗

We are thrilled to share that Kaleb, one of our amazing Missouri KIDS recipients, has his new accessible vehicle—and it’s already changing his life!

This was truly a team effort:

✅ Thank you to Napleton Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and United Access Springfield who worked with us to find and customize the perfect vehicle.
✅ Thank you to Cox Health Driving Rehabilitation Program -- they were phenomenal to work with, ensuring Kaleb is set up for success and safety on the road.

At Missouri KIDS, we provide lifelong support to permanently disabled student-athletes—helping with vehicles, adaptive equipment, tuition assistance, and more. Kaleb’s new ride means more than just transportation—it means freedom, independence, and opportunity.

💛 To continue making stories like this possible, we need YOU! Our 50th Anniversary Benefit Auction is coming up on September 25, 2025. Join us as a sponsor, donor, or guest—and help us create more life-changing moments for Missouri KIDS! 💛

📅 Event Info & Tickets: https://one.bidpal.net/mokids50th/welcome

03/08/2025

JJ is 18 today!!! 🎉🥳🎈He was able to celebrate yesterday with some friends and family Freedom Park in Rogersville. Thanks to JP Sell and his team of awesome people, JJ now has a custom fishing pole and already has plans to fish with friends on Friday. 

Update on JJ driving… his hand controls are getting installed next week! He will still have a little training left, but before long he will be driving on his own!

JJ returned to Craig hospital in July for an outpatient evaluation. The team at Craig was very impressed with his progress. They even let him leave a day early because he didn’t have anything else he needed to work on. 

JJ completed his sleep study last week and everything looks good although we haven’t received the official report yet. 

JJ continues to have an amazing attitude about his situation. He knows that God has a plan and he’s looking forward to living that out. He’s already making plans to attend college and would love to be part of a nonprofit organization to help other people out in similar situations.
Our family is truly grateful for all of the support and prayers that we have received throughout this process. Thank you all! Stay faithful! God is good!

Check out Freedom Park at
https://freedomparkmo.com/

13/06/2025

Drivers training is going well! JJ is still trying controls out in the training car but should have things narrowed down to get controls in his van soon.
When training started the instructor was worried that JJ would need a lot of extra technology, but he has gained a lot of strength, working with OT and PT and it appears he will not need much. This is a huge improvement and we are so proud of all his hard work!

27/05/2025

Big day for JJ! We picked up his 2023 Chrysler van today! He no longer has to duck or tilt his chair to get in or out and this van has some really nice features to accommodate his needs. Next week he will start his summer drivers training and before we know it he’ll be driving himself around!
We could not have gotten here without the help of Missouri KIDS and United Access of Springfield. So thankful for everyone’s hard work to make this happen!
Remember to be patient and faithful! God always provides!

25/04/2025

JJ was able to drive a little again on Monday. He won’t start all of his training until June but he has some homework to do to help him get stronger. Lots of prayers needed for strength in his arms and shoulders. Missouri KIDS is working hard to help get him a vehicle that he can drive from his wheelchair and we should hear from them again soon.
JJ’s attitude continues to stay positive but that doesn’t mean all of this is easy. Please continue to pray for him and thank you all for your support!

29/03/2025

JJ got to do a little fishing this week. He’s been working with JP Sell, who is the founder of the National Youth Fishing Association, to get the right fishing pole set up. JP tried multiple buttons, different poles, reels and all kinds of set ups. JP has it nailed down to just the right set up for JJ and will have it all finished up in a few weeks. While JJ was practicing he was even able to reel in a fish! We all had a great time hanging out with JP and his family. They have a beautiful place in Rogersville and they have helped a lot of people have a great time fishing.

https://nationalyouthfishingassociation.com/

21/01/2025

Update on JJ! He’s still doing great in therapy! This video is the first time he’s been able to balance himself and play catch. Once again the insurance has started denying visits so we are starting the appeals process again. I wish the insurance could see the progress he is making. He continues to work out every night in his room and just asked us to get him heavier weights!
Over Christmas break JJ had an appointment with his neurologist. Everything looks great on his x-rays and he’s been cleared from his surgery. He also had some more breathing test done and has a couple more scheduled in April. The pulmonologist would like to see a little more inflation in his lungs and they’re doing what they can to progress that.
For those of you that remember the fishing pole JJ was able to use in Colorado… We have a person working on that. It hasn’t happened yet but it’s a for sure thing that it’s going to and JJ is very excited for that to come.
Coming up in February, JJ has a drivers evaluation for the use of hand controls! He is looking forward to this and hopefully he will be able to get into his own vehicle before his senior year.
We continue to have people ask if there’s things that he needs so there is a link in the comments for ongoing needs if you would like to help. Thank you all so much for your support and your prayers! We love it when we see people in town and they ask how he’s doing. Sometimes we don’t even know who they are but it’s great to know how many people care about his journey!

23/12/2024

Great news today!
We received a letter in the mail today that the denial for physical therapy has also been overturned! There was a mixup with the paperwork, but once it all got sorted out, we got the answer we’ve been praying for!
Thank you all for your prayers and support!
Merry Christmas!

25/11/2024

We received some good news last week from the insurance. After I filed a grievance with the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, our insurance overturned their denial for occupational therapy! They have given JJ approval for 12 visits and will do another evaluation at the end. Please continue to pray for them to overturn their denial for physical therapy. I will be handling that issue this week and next.

JJ is doing really good! He’s looking forward to a week off school, just like every other teenager. Today he got a temporary cast put on his left arm to help with loosening the tendons, nerves, and muscles, to help with straightening his arm all the way. He has struggled with this for quite a while, and he’s agreed to let the therapist cast his arm for his week of Thanksgiving break to see if it’ll help.

Thank you all so much for the continued prayers and support! Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

15/11/2024

Update on insurance issues... All of JJ's therapy (OT and PT) have been denied at this time. We are working on an appeal and have filed a grievance with the state to help with this matter. Please continue to pray that thing will work out for his therapy to continue. If anyone has information on grants that may help with this please let us know. There's a ton of information out there and it takes a while for us to sort through all of it. Thanks!

12/11/2024

Things have been going well for JJ. His overall health is very good. He’s attitude is great, unless he catches me taking his picture. 😆 He has awesome therapist at Mercy and he continues to get stronger each week. JJ has not even been home for a year since the accident and he has made tremendous progress! We are so proud of him. We are currently struggling with getting approval from insurance for his PT and OT visits and would appreciate your prayers in that matter.
We continue to have people ask about JJ and we are so grateful for the support from our community. Thank you all for your prayers!