April 12, 2010
By Rebecca Gladden
The most impressive set of wheels at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend may not have been Ryan Newman's winning car.
Nothing against the No. 39 team, which found its way to the winner's circle Saturday night. But for Arizona resident Heather Grossman and her family, a van parked in Victory Lane earlier in the day was the most amazing vehicle at the track.
Heather is a quadriplegic who uses a motorized wheelchair equipped with a life support unit. She needs a wheelchair-accessible van to get around, but a few months ago her old van finally gave up the ghost.
Through a cooperative venture between Phoenix International Raceway, track president Bryan Sperber, Vantage Mobility International (VMI), and U.S. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, Ms. Grossman received a brand-new Chrysler Minivan that will accommodate her wheelchair and ventilator and help her travel outside the confines of her home.
While the gesture would be a generous one under any circumstances, it was especially meaningful to Grossman, who turned the tragedy that made her a quadriplegic 13 years ago into an opportunity to help others, despite her severe physical limitations.
In 1997, at age 31 with three young children at home, Heather's former husband hired a group of men to kill her. She was shot in the neck and was clinically dead at the scene, but was resuscitated by paramedics. Grossman awoke in ICU on total life support. Since then, she relies on a ventilator for breathing and needs costly round-the-clock care.
While you might consider her story a sad one, Heather is one of the most optimistic people you will ever meet. Log on to her website, Friends of Heather, and you will be greeted by the words, "My name is Heather Grossman, and I'm here to motivate you!"
In 2007, Grossman started her own charitable foundation, "Heather's Haven of Hope," to help children, the most innocent victims of domestic violence. The Foundation provides doctors, dentists and other specialists to treat children in domestic violence shelters, with a goal of improving their physical and psychological well-being and breaking the cycle of family violence.
In a moving ceremony at PIR Saturday, Heather and her family were presented the keys to the new minivan, with Mr. Sperber, Senator Kyl, and VMI President Doug Eaton in attendance. Grsosman described the sense of freedom the van will provide as feeling like she was getting out of jail, adding, "I am so blessed today to be able to get out into the community again and work for domestic violence, and help educate people about the problems that we're faced with."
Though the public considers domestic violence mainly a problem of men against women, Grossman is quick to point out that all segments of society are involved - particularly in Arizona, which she said ranks second in the nation for domestic violence attacks. "There are men going in and killing their children, killing their spouse, and then turning around and blowing themselves away. It's a horrible situation and we need to help all of these people through education to save lives."
Along with increased awareness, Grossman believes that stricter penalties for domestic violence offenders is critical - an idea that Senator Kyl championed even before he entered politics. "Arizona has pretty good statutes on domestic violence and victims rights," he said. "That is one of the reasons that I actually helped lead the efforts in Washington to get a federal Victims' Rights bill passed. Being able to work with Heather on this issue has provided a real synergy for both of us. "
Kyl said the process of getting Heather a new van was a challenging one. VMI signed on to do the retrofit, "but then it was a question of finding someone who could pitch in and contribute the van." After searching for a donor, Kyl brought the situation to the attention of PIR's track president at the NASCAR race last November. "Phoenix International Raceway and Bryan Sperber just did it," said Kyl. "They bought the van, VMI fixed it up, and Heather is really happy now."
Senator Kyl describes Heather as a tour de force who has made a positive difference in the world and will continue to do so, even more effectively now with her new van.
"When Heather has wheels, she really gets around," Kyl said with a smile. "She is a great inspiration."
Visit Heather's Haven of Hope online.
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