They sit, yet they are never still.
Encouragement, movement, and laughter are overriding themes each time they gather. Chuckles and giggles always fill their space.
On a gorgeous, sun-kissed late summer morning, in a setting where laughter and life are everywhere, greatness engulfs Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Muscatine, Iowa-based Cedarwood Clinic.
It is there a gifted occupational therapist with a 10,000-watt smile – a combination whirling dervish of upbeat and today’s-even-better-than-yesterday-positivity – is engaged deeply in the betterment of the person to her right.
Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Kelly Jeffers-Gray, MOT, OTR/L, CLT, is a wife, a mom, forever compassionate, who through spirited, knowledgeable pushing, corny jokes and difficult but reachable goals – has won the trust and admiration of Missy Toyne, an exceptionally kind yet tough-as-nails 57-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother-to-be.
The two have formed an inseparable bond.
By outside accounts, the head-on collision Toyne was involved in on the New Boston, Illinois blacktop nearly a year ago, should/could easily have taken her life.
Through God’s grace and Toyne’s dogged determination, it did not.
It must be noted, life is different these days, but Toyne is excited to be where she is, to benefit from a dedicated and caring family, and to have people like Jeffers-Gray, who for almost a year, has been at her side, doing everything possible to make her better.
And Toyne, ever determined, has responded in shining star fashion.
Sakes alive, has she responded.
These days, Toyne begins her day with devotional reading, followed by her morning coffee on her front porch. There is too much ahead to look back with any regret.
Included in her “thankful’ list is her twice-weekly therapy sessions with Jeffers-Gray, whose eternal optimism, drive, and dedication are contagious.
“She is my savior,’’ Toyne said of Jeffers-Gray, closing in on her 25th year of making better lives. “I don’t know where I would be without her. She made me realize I cannot stay on the pity train, that together – and with some hard work – we could reach my goals for getting better. Those goals were a long way away when I got here, but we have reached some big ones and continue to reach for more. Through it, and this is a bonus, Kelly and I have become friends.’’
The work by the two – and others inside the Rock Valley walls – has been remarkable.
The accident left the ever-spirited, forever-determined Toyne with a litany of life-threatening and life-altering injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and a splenial laceration of the splenial artery. She suffered an L1 fracture (the first vertebra in the lumbar region, primarily controls hip and thigh muscle movement and sensation) five broken ribs and a crack in her sternum, a broken right thumb, a bevy of scrapes, cuts, contusions and an injury so devastating to her left hand it was believed she might never gain use of it again. The incident also left Toyne with a severe case of vertigo-related balance issues.
In November of 2024 – following a lengthy hospital stay and several surgeries — an outside healthcare representative – versed on occupational therapy – said to Toyne: “You need to see (Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s) Kelly Jeffers -Gray.’’
Toyne says it was some of the best advice she has ever received.
Since her arrival at Rock Valley/Cedarwood, Toyne – with Jeffers-Gray leading the way – has worked tirelessly at a bevy of strengthening exercises – especially with her left hand, wrist, and shoulder. Toyne continues daily range of motion work and the two have spent hours reducing swelling.
This, in addition to the great vestibular (the body’s balance and spatial orientation system, primarily located in the inner ear) efforts by Rock Valley’s Tyler Reid, PT, DPT, and Tanner Kurtz, PTA, that have had a significant impact on Toyne’s overall balance and movement.
But it has been Jeffers-Gray’s experience, guidance, bevy of creative ways to strengthen (shoulder and arms) and decrease swelling in the damaged left hand, that has Toyne on a path to a better life.
“I am just a guide in all of this,’’ Jeffers-Gray said. “Missy was ready to work from day one and came in here wanting to get better and with great determination and the greatest of attitudes. Truth be told, there were some days that were tough on her, but she attacked everything in such a positive and determined manner.”
“She is the perfect example of why I do what I do and why I have been doing this for 25 years,’’ added Jeffers-Gray, a standout basketball player during her prep career. “I can empathize with her having dealt with injuries of my own. We have had some great days like in January (2025) when the swelling in her hand had gone down enough so she could wear her wedding ring. Now it will not stay on. The credit goes to Missy.’’
Because of her brain injury, Toyne has shifted her focus away from her career as a truck driver. The arrival of her first grandchild in October (due the 14th) has lifted her spirits, kept her motivated in her rehabilitation, and allowed her to do typical grandmother-to-be things.
“I can’t wait,’’ Toyne said. “I will be ready to help. And yes, spoil.’’
It was then that Jeffers-Gray laughed – loudly – at Toyne. The two are constantly using humor to wind their way through every visit.
“Go ahead and admit that you have already bought enough stuff for the baby to fill at least one bedroom,’’ Jeffers-Gray said to Toyne. “That baby’s not going to want for anything, and Missy will be the greatest grandmother. My two daughters were the first girls on my husband’s side, and they have always had their grandfather wrapped around their fingers. This baby for Missy is going to be so lucky to have her as its grandmother. And that’s what this is about.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller