Living Magazine Fall 2018 doTERRA Living Magazine | Page 18

Conner Hoyt
GOLDEN
BOY
Shelby Hoyt pressed against the roadside spectators, her
eyes scanning the horizon for a flame. Her son and Special
Olympian, Conner Hoyt, was running as the last Randolph
County torchbearer in Indiana’s 2016 Bicentennial Torch
Relay, and Shelby anxiously watched for his arrival at the
county line. She heard the onlookers cheering before she
spotted the distant light glimmering in the afternoon sun.
Conner was running strong.
In many ways, it had been
a devastating year for
the Hoyts. Just months
before the relay, Shelby’s
husband, Jay, passed
away unexpectedly in
his sleep. On this day,
Conner carried more than
the Bicentennial torch—
he carried his father’s
memory.
Overcoming
Adversity
Special Olympian and Wellness
Advocate, Conner Hoyt, golfs
for the gold medal at the 2018
Special Olympics Nationals.
“To me, dōTERRA
means new friends. It’s
very educational and I love
using the oils for a lot of
different things. I love the
positive energy I feel at
convention and
at classes.”
18 / FALL 2018 LIVING MAGAZINE
Leading up to this trium-
phant moment was a long
road of developmental
misdiagnoses and personal
struggles. The Hoyts’ pedia-
trician began worrying
about Conner when, at
two years old, he showed
signs of delayed speech.
In fact, he did not form
complete sentences until he was five. Initial diagnoses placed
Conner on the autistic spectrum, which led the Hoyts to an autism
support group. It was there Jay and Shelby connected with
oncologist and alternative practitioner, Dr. Michael Williamson.
At that time, Dr. Williamson was researching the benefits of essen-
tial oils, which he recommended the Hoyts integrate into their
daily routine. When the Hoyts could not purchase Frankincense
from their essential oil provider, Dr. Williamson suggested they
switch to dōTERRA ® . It did not take long for Shelby to track down
a dōTERRA booth at a local vendor event, and soon she enrolled
under Lisa Herd—now a beloved leader, mentor, and friend.
From Shelby’s perspective, the oils have helped him respond to
the loss of his father with resilience. Says Shelby, “Conner has had a
lot to deal with since the time of his father’s passing. I feel the oils
and dōTERRA Life Long Vitality Pack ® have made a huge impact
on his ability to deal with his struggles. Conner is now a Wellness
Advocate and he helps me with my events and DIY classes.”
Strength in Community
When he is not teaching dōTERRA classes with his mom, Conner
is playing sports and training for his next Special Olympics event.
After his basketball team won the bronze medal at the 2014
Special Olympics Nationals, Conner took an interest in coaching
other young players. Now he volunteers as assistant basketball
coach at Monroe Central Junior High and High School. When
Conner played in a basketball tournament at Taylor University this
past year, the Monroe Central Jr. High basketball team was there
to cheer him on. This is just one example of the hometown pride
that follows Conner like a shadow.
Conner’s easy love for others and his perseverance through hardship
endear him not only to the community of Farmland, Indiana, but
also to his dōTERRA family. Friends like Jessica Pinkerton and
Natalie Wysocki—Diamonds in the Hoyts’ upline—have been
instrumental in supporting the Hoyts on their dōTERRA journey.
They have watched with admiration as Conner continues to
follow his passions.
Shelby and Conner are also grateful to all the coaches, volunteers,
and unified partners through Jay County Special Olympics and the
staff and support people at the Indiana State Special Olympics
office. Their hard work makes these magical Special Olympian
moments possible.
“Special Olympics means I get to
stay active in sports that I love and
try sports I didn’t play in high school.
I get to make new friends and always
be positive and have fun.”
USA Nationals 2018
A Well-Oiled Olympian
Immediately, Shelby embraced the oils and Conner began
using them both on and off the field. According to the Hoyts,
the oils have played a critical role in Conner’s Special Olympics
career. He uses InTune ® before his golf games to improve his
concentration, and he applies Peppermint as part of his warm
up and cool down regimen.
This year, Conner and his Unified Golf partner, Dr. Dave Fullenkamp,
represented Team Indiana at the USA Special Olympic Nationals in
Seattle, where they won a gold medal! As always, Shelby was there,
oils in tow. She is proud of her son and grateful for the oils, faith,
and friendship that have carried him to another Special Olympics.
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