Last of the Trolley Square wounded returns home (Community helps out!)

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 04/17/2007 | Lisa Rosetta

[TheDon]

His face bathed in sunlight, Stacy Hansen was all smiles Tuesday as he sat in a wheelchair on his newly paved driveway.

After spending nearly two months in University Hospital recovering from a gunshot wound to his lower back that left him paralyzed from the waist down, the 53-year-old was ecstatic to be home.

"This is just overwhelming," said Hansen, who was among nine victims during a Feb. 12 shooting rampage at Trolley Square mall.

Neighbors, firefighters, Salt Lake City police officers - including Chief Chris Burbank - and Ogden Officer Ken Hammond, who helped stop 18-year-old shooter Sulejman Talovic, were among the 50 or so well-wishers who showed up to welcome Hansen home.

With his wife Colleen and 16-year-old son Alexander at his side, Hansen waited to see the inside of his Sugar House home for the first time since it was renovated by community volunteers to make it wheelchair accessible.

Narrow doorways were made wider. The bathroom was made bigger. Even the Hansen's pitted driveway was repaved to make it a smooth ride for Hansen in his wheelchair.

The Heart 2 Home Foundation, Platinum Homes, Home Depot and ABC 4 News teamed up up to make it happen.

But that wasn't all.

...

Despite the horror of the shooting and the long road to recovery ahead of him, Hansen said his experience has taught them that the world is still a good place.

"Good friends and good people - this world is full of them," he said. "And this proves it."

[TheDon]

"Good friends and good people - this world is full of them," he said. "And this proves it."