City woman 'showered' with kindness

SANDUSKY — For Sandusky woman Monica Ohlemacher, every morning starts with gratitude, followed immediately by action. For years, following an accident in which Ohlemacher lost part of her leg, getting around and doing the simple things like showering has been a major struggle she's had to endure daily. Her resilience in the face of adversity was recently recognized by Cleveland-based Window & Bath Expo, which donated labor and resources to construct an accessible shower in her home at no cost to her — a part of the company's Showering Kindness program. Her story Eighteen years ago, a devastating motorcycle accident on Ohio 4 left Ohlemacher with life-changing injuries, including the loss of part of her leg that necessitated the use of a prosthetic limb. As a result, Ohlemacher wasn't supposed to live, let alone walk or drive again. But for a grandmother helping to raise her three grandchildren — ages 14, 9 and 8 — giving up was never an option. "When you tell me I can't do something, that's the wrong thing to do," said Ohlemacher, reflecting on her recovery. "Tell me I can't do something, because I do it. And I will continue to do it." That fierce perseverance has driven her for nearly two decades. She lives for her grandchildren, taking them to and from school and supporting her daughter, a single mother. The cost of accessibility Behind closed doors in her Sandusky home, a quiet, daily struggle was taking a toll. Navigating a bathroom with fixtures dating back to 1951, getting ready for the day required maneuvering into a vintage bathtub with a prosthetic leg. It was a grueling ordeal that tested both her physical limits and her spirit. "I didn't want to get in the bath," Ohlemacher said. "It would take me almost two hours to get ready. I didn't want to step over to the bath. I just hated it." That daily obstacle is now a relic of the past, thanks to a ripple of community goodwill that arrived when she least expected it. Window & Bath Expo's Showering Kindness program gifts fully installed, accessible walk-in showers to community members impacted by injury, age or circumstance. When Ohlemacher first received the call from the company, she thought it was a scam. It wasn't until she spoke with Jenny Matthews-Pate, chief content officer for Window & Bath Expo, that the reality set in. "I started bawling. I'm like, 'Oh my God, this is for real,'" Ohlemacher recalled. "It touched my heart, and it's like, wow. It does come back. It's good to know that there are honest people out there." Restoring independence The remodel, entirely donated by the company and its partners, features a low-threshold walk-in entry, a built-in seat, three strategically placed grab bars and an anti-slip base. Window & Bath Expo project manager Bob Zielinski volunteered his time to oversee the project, the installation team donated their labor and the wall system was provided by Samuel Mueller. For Ohlemacher, the impact was immediate. A routine that used to drain two hours of her day now takes 15 minutes. "I get to take little showers now," she said. "I have a prosthetic, and I can put a shower leg on, and I can just go." The initiative is built on a "1-for-100" model — for every 100 bathroom remodels the company completes, it donates one to someone in need. "Monica's project perfectly reflects the original mission Tony Hoty had when he founded Showering Kindness: to use the success of our company to make a real difference in the lives of people in our community," Matthews-Pate said. "Monica has overcome tremendous challenges after her accident, and something as simple as a safe, accessible shower can greatly improve her daily life and independence." Hoty, the president of Window & Bath Expo, noted that the team takes great pride in giving back, a commitment they plan to expand alongside a July 7 grand opening of their new 24-hour showroom on the Huron-Sandusky border. "Our team at Window & Bath Expo is very proud to be in a position to give back," Hoty said. "We look forward to increasing our commitment to the local community." For the installation team, the work is about restoring dignity. For Ohlemacher, the true gift is the time and energy she gets back to focus on the life she has built and the grandchildren she cherishes. "It comes from your strength," she said. "In your heart and in your mind."