Triple amputee vet to get new 'smart' home

ALEXANDRIA, Va. —  Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Walker rode his motorized Segway through a cheering crowd Wednesday to the empty plot of land that will help him reclaim the independent life he had before an explosion took his limbs.

About nine months from now, Walker, who lost both arms and his left leg to an improvised explosive devise (IED) set off during his second deployment in Afghanistan in 2012, will move into a 'smart house' that will help him with simple tasks such as opening the blinds, turning off the lights and cooking a meal  -- tasks he says are too difficult for him to do in an "everyday person's house."

When Walker opens the front door to his new home, he will be one of 46 severely injured veterans to get an assist from The Gary Sinise Foundation, a group founded by Gary Sinise, the actor well known for his role in Lt. Dan in the movie Forrest Gump. The foundation’s R.I.S.E. program -- Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment -- has built 27 mortgage-free homes for severely injured veterans and their families since the program's start in 2011. Nineteen more are underway.

But the foundation notes that the need is far greater than it can cover -- 50,000 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from multiple traumatic injuries such as a head injury, amputation or serious burns.

There are 3.8 million veterans living in the U.S. with a disability from a disease or injury sustained during active military service, according to a 2014 United States Census Bureau report.

Judy Otter, executive director of the foundation, said it is often difficult for veterans with severe injuries to find the financial means to build or reconstruct homes that suit their needs in the communities of their choice.

While the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides housing grants for veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities to help purchase, build or modify an accommodating home, Otter said there are almost 2,000 veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001 eligible for such grants.

To qualify, veterans must have life-changing disabilities such as the loss of multiple limbs, blindness in both eyes and severe burns. The foundation bases its selections on grant program eligibility.

"We really look at these homes as the foundation for [veterans] to be able to start to transition into the rest of their lives,"  she said. "They get that independence back and have the financial stability," without having to exhaust their savings to pay for it.

Under the R.I.S.E. program the foundation also modifies already-built homes and provides adapted vehicles and mobility devices for wounded warriors. Walker's motorized Segway, however, was donated by the Segs4Vets organization.

Scott Schaeperkoetter, director of operations for the R.I.S.E. program, said the homes are custom-made because every veteran suffers from different injuries and challenges. Walker—the only triple amputee in the program—asked for a home that would allow him to easily maneuver a wheelchair. He will also be able to control features such as the lighting, security and air conditioning with his iPhone or iPad.

"Today is the start of a new beginning for Chris so he can hopefully regain a lot of the independence that he lost back in the battlefield in 2012," Shaepoerkoetter told USA TODAY. "His ability to function in his home like you and I is going to be pretty special for him, and this is the start of that."

Walker, who grew up in Virginia and wanted to return after his service, lead a team during his second deployment that was responsible for finding and disposing of IEDs in Khost Province, Afghanistan— one of the rare military jobs so tough that service members can release themselves at any time. In April 2012 he was struck by an IED and thrown 30 feet. The explosion shattered Walker's facial bones, burst his ear drum and detached the muscles in both his eyes, in addition to taking his limbs.

To adapt to his specific needs, all of the counters in the new home will be at a level he can reach and all of the appliances will be designed for him to easily use, Walker said.

"Today might be great, tomorrow might be horrible, but every day things get better," Walker said. "You just have to keep trying and keep going because it gets better."