Wounded Soldier Receives Home Makeover
Wounded Soldier Receives Home Makeover Save Email Print
Posted: 4:32 PM Mar 1, 2008
Last Updated: 11:07 PM Mar 1, 2008
Reporter: McKenzie Martin
Email Address: mmartin@kktv11news.com

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A Fort Carson soldier injured in combat got a home makeover Saturday thanks to dozens of volunteers from our community.

About fifty people spent the day working; it was all thanks to a program called Rebuilding Together, "Serving Those Who Serve."

Sgt. Heekin was injured last year while fighting in Iraq, and his recovery is still ongoing.

Volunteers paint walls and winterize windows, but most importantly they help a hero.

"This is amazing," said Sgt. Heekin.

He’s has been home since April, recovering. More than a year ago, he was hit by an IED while serving in Iraq.

"It blew through my vehicle like a knife through butter. My medic was killed instantly and my driver took shrapnel to his leg," Heekin said.

Since the attack, Heekin has had 19 surgeries and he's still battling the affects of a Traumatic Brain Injury.

"A big part of the recovery is dealing with what happened. When you lose your men, a good leader wishes you were with them," Heekin said.

But he’s extremely grateful to be home with his family and he's grateful for those who are helping him get his life back together.

"It was all sheet rock when we came down here this morning," said Tammie Vandeusen.

Thanks to the helping hands of volunteers like her, Heekin’s basement will soon be finished.

"They are putting a TV up here and there’s going to be a bathroom and a kitchenette, a hang out for him," Vandeusen said.

A special place for Sgt. Heekin to recover.

"We need to take care of our wounded soldiers and the families of fallen soldiers, we owe that to them," said Major General Mark Graham.

And in Heekin's front yard, there is also a new flag pole and a new flag that will always fly high for the brave hero who lives nearby.

This is the second wounded soldier Rebuilding Together has helped in Colorado Springs.

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