On The Road Again: Wounded Veterans Receive Critical Gift

When Lt. Col. Ty Edwards, U.S. Marine Corps, returned to the United States on October 22, 2008 life as he knew it had changed. While fighting in one of Afghanistan’s remote mountain regions just 12 days earlier, an enemy bullet entered Edwards’ head, sending him in to an immediate coma. But even after he regained consciousness and steadily recovered over the following months, there was one obstacle his doctors and family could not have anticipated. Eventually, Ty would require a vehicle that was designed to operate under his physical limitations. Accomplishing this would present a new set of challenges.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a one-time grant and covers vehicle modifications for injured servicemen and women, it does not provide funds for the actual vehicle. This leaves the injured party to pay for the vehicle (in most cases, a wheelchair-accessible van), which can cost up to $25,000, an expense that imposes a heavy burden on the injured and their families. This, after already incurring a lifetime of medical, physical, and emotional damages. For most families, the purchase of an accessible van is not fiscally possible.

But in September 2009, as Ty slowly regained his cognitive skills and movement in one arm, the Edwards received an answer to one on their long-time prayers: a wheelchair-accessible van. Donated by Wheels for Warriors, a branch of the Operation Support Our Troops program, the van’s intuitive design allows those with mobility issues to drive safely and confidently. And, as the vendor’s name implies, the Mobility Freedom van offers Ty the opportunity to regain his independence and provide transportation for his family.

Since its inception in 2006, Wheels for Warriors has been accepting donations to purchase vans for injured veterans. As of November 2010, the group had donated 21 vans to those that were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. An all-volunteer, non-profit organization, Wheels for Warriors is dedicated to giving back to the men and women that have served in the armed forces.

Today, the 21 families continue to adapt to their new life, one day at a time. While their path to recovery has often been a challenging and unpredictable one, their road to the future is paved with wonderful intentions.

To read more about the Wheels for Warriors program or to donate please go to http://www.OSOTinc.org or contact Steve Middleton of Severna Park, MD at 410-544-3155

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