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Last night from 7 to 9 I viewed the ABC first new show of the season, building a new house for a veteran of the Iraq Campaign who lost a leg in combat. It was wonderful, highlighting this tough young man and his family.
They were originally from Puerto Rico, but AMERICAN TO THE MAX - she working with wives of other wounded military and their families, and working on her Master's Degree so she can do it full time.
While he has been dischsrged because of his disability, he nonetheless is working in overdrive to recover physically, always an active man, running and biking.
He had a real problem with pain from the prosthesis furnished by the military - basic rather than high tech - and no longer able to move from side to side, run, etc. The house, of course, was designed with his needs in mind - special furniture (not overly soft cushions, so he could rise with little effort), widely spaced - luxury everything, including a fully equipped gym for him with huge whirlpool tub.
The master bath had not only a big tub, but a special shower for him with portable hand grips he canuse anywhere inthe house to make it easy to maintain balance; and a seat the right height for him to comfortably sit, holding a hand held shower head.
The couple has two beautiful young daughters, well-behaved and articulate. ABC is paying all her costs to finish her Masters Degree so she can counsel others - and a local real estate company is paying the entire mortgage on the house!
By the way, the builder for this project is one who is devoted to building houses for disabled veterans.
It was two hours of alternate cheering and weeping, and marveling at the goodness of REAL Americans!!
The back yard was designed like one they would have had in Puerto Rico - a magical mostly paved over yard (hard for him to mow one) where they can entertain, complete with the wooden dance floor where he demonstrated his new ability to sway from side to side and turn around with the new leg, and truly dance with his wife.
We "whole" persons take so many of our abilities and comforts for granted.
The wife attributed hisand her attitude and that of her daughters to their rock solid faith.
It was apparent that in losing his leg, his whole family had been redirected by God the Father into a life of effectively helping others, from the aspect of truly *knowing* the uncertainies, pain and adjustments to a life-altering disability.
