A new home for a local wounded warrior

The national nonprofit organization, Homes For Our Troops donated a home in the Wimberley Valley to Army Sergeant David Guzman on Saturday, July 18, 2020. SGT Guzman was severely injured while serving in Iraq.

On Sept. 17, 2004, SGT Guzman was on his first deployment when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Taji, Iraq. SGT Guzman sustained shrapnel injuries, hearing loss in his right ear, loss of use of his right foot, and other injuries.

During his recovery, David developed a passion for cooking and obtained degrees in culinary arts and agricultural science. Now a professional chef, David pays it forward by preparing dishes and meals for fellow Purple Heart recipients and his family. Helping others and cooking, he says, is therapeutic and gives him a purpose. However, as a seasoned and skilled cook, David found it especially discouraging that the kitchen in his previous home was not accessible. He prefers to use his leg rest bench that he kneels on while preparing meals, but he did not have enough space to use it in his former home.

Having a specially adapted custom home not only helps David in the kitchen, it also provides comfort for his wife Maribel and their three children. Maribel used to constantly fear her husband would fall and injure himself further in the shower, as he has done in the past. The financial freedom of a donated home will also help him achieve his goal of helping his sons open their own catering or smokehouse business.

Sgt. Guzman’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.

HFOT donated the home to Sgt. Guzman, thanks to contributions from donors, supporters, and corporate partners.

Currently, there are over 70 active projects in need of funding to complete. To find out more on how to get involved or make a donation visit www.hfotusa.org.