Posted on 07/13/2011 9:45:08 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Two years after losing all four limbs in a bomb explosion in Iraq, a Staten Island soldier was finally given the keys to his new, state-of-the-art home yesterday.
And he could not stop smiling.
Brendan Marrocco beamed with pride as he crossed the threshold into his new abode in Prince's Bay, which has been tailor-made to suit his every need.
"It's very overwhelming. The house is amazing," the 24-year-old said.
"I can finally just try to live my life like everybody else. I really appreciate this."
Marrocco was behind the wheel of an armored vehicle on Easter Sunday 2009 when a roadside bomb went off underneath him.
Just 22 years old at the time, he became the first Iraq and Afghanistan veteran to become a quadruple-amputee from combat and survive.
The battle back to health and independence has been long for Marrocco, who has spent the past two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Shortly after he was injured, his brother gave up his high-paying job at Citigroup to move into the rehab facility with him, and his parents rarely left his side.
Marrocco said finally having a home to call his own felt "unreal" yesterday, and his first priority once the crowds of well-wishers subsided was to kick back and relax with a beer.
"Finally, I can leave the hospital institution and go back to life," he said. "It's been a long time since I lived in Staten Island. I'm very grateful."
Marrocco's high-tech 3,000-square-foot digs are worth about $900,000 and took 10months to build.
It was specially crafted using donations from the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Building Homes for Heroes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Brave soldier. A new house from private donations. Great story.
Wait until the IRS pays him a visit.
Thank you for posting.
A quad amputee. God Bless him, it can’t be easy, no matter how much help you receive.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.