April 21, 2024 –Army Private First Class Aaron Tieffel of Shelbyville, who was severely injured while serving in Iraq in 2007, received a specially adapted home from 2024 Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) this weekend.
“This gift will give me freedom. Thank you for being the most caring and compassionate people,” Tieffel said.
Homes For Our Troops is a national nonprofit that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans thanks to contributions from donors, supporters, and corporate partners.
PFC Tieffel sustained severe injuries, including a right below-knee amputation, left leg limb salvage, spinal cord injury, open book pelvic fracture, and other internal injuries, from an IED blast in 2007. Now medically retired, Aaron works as a postal clerk and is a member of the Warrior Brotherhood Motorcycle Club.
In Tieffel’s previous home, he was not able to use a wheelchair and relied on crutches to get into his home. Aaron’s new home features more than 40 major special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops. The home will also alleviate the mobility and safety issues associated with a traditional home, including navigating a wheelchair through narrow hallways or over thresholds, riding on carpets, or reaching for cabinets that are too high.
To find out more about Homes for our Troops, click HERE.
By: Isaiah Bradford
