About the portrait
Self-Titled
Never Give Up
Photographer
Rachel Doar
About Jamie and Justin
Jamie and Justin McLarty, a couple from Carrollton, Georgia, began their journey at Shepherd Center after surviving a devastating house fire in February 2023. While staying in an Airbnb, both sustained nearly identical spinal cord injuries that left them paralyzed from the waist down. After initial care at Grady Hospital, they spent two months as inpatients at Shepherd Center, where they began the long road to recovery, side by side.
They titled their portrait “Never Give Up,” a phrase that captures the grit, hope, and determination that have defined their healing. For both Jamie and Justin, hope hasn’t been a vague concept; it’s been immediate, urgent, and deeply rooted in their daily fight to heal.
Recovery hasn’t come quickly or easily. Two years later, they continue to make steady progress, a testament to the long and winding path of spinal cord injury rehabilitation. They acknowledge that a photograph can’t capture the hard days, the small victories, or the quiet strength it takes to keep going, but it can mark a moment of transformation, when hope began to take hold.
Today, they return to Shepherd Center often to visit staff, connect with new patients, and give back the hope that was once given to them. Their message is simple but powerful: take it one day at a time, celebrate small steps forward, and trust the team walking beside you. Most importantly, never give up. Even in the toughest moments, there’s still room for progress, purpose, and healing.
In their portrait
Jamie and Justin included their three children (Rhett, Knox, and Quinn) in the portrait because they were their greatest source of motivation and hope. Being apart from them during rehabilitation was one of the most difficult parts of recovery, and the portrait reflects the love and strength that fueled their determination to heal and return home.
They also chose to include Don Archer (physical therapist), who became a key part of their journey. From the very beginning, Don offered unwavering encouragement and helped them set meaningful goals, like getting back to their kids’ baseball games. More than a therapist, he became like family, and the portrait honors his lasting impact on their recovery.
