SGT ERIC EDMUNDSON

New Bern, NC

Mission Accomplished on Oct. 6, 2007

Honoring his family’s military service lineage, Eric Edmundson joined the Army with a desire to serve his country. He became a Cavalry Scout with the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry, 172nd Stryker Brigade, stationed out of Fort Wainwright, AK.

On Oct. 2, 2005, the Stryker vehicle Sergeant Edmundson was driving hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq. Eric sustained serious injuries and was eventually airlifted to Germany. A few days later, he arrived back home in the United States to receive care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C.

Eric’s injuries included shrapnel wounds to his abdomen (which required the removal of his spleen), and right leg, and fractures of the T4 and T5 vertebrae. While awaiting transport to Germany, Eric went into cardiac arrest and was able to be revived. Because of the time taken to revive Eric, he sustained an anoxic brain injury and initially he could not walk, talk, eat or drink. He was able to regain his ability to do some of these things with medical technology, therapy, and time.

In his previous home, Eric often found himself frustrated he could not access most rooms in his wheelchair. Daily tasks such as going to the bathroom and moving around were a burden.

A specially adapted custom Homes For Our Troops home has helped Eric make significant progress in recovery. Regaining his independence within the home gives Eric a new energy on life. Cooking meals, tucking in his children, Gracie and Hunter, at night, and accessing the backyard are no longer a challenge. The stress-free environment also enables Eric to spend time doing the things he loves. In his free time, Eric enjoys going to the gym regularly to work out, yoga, painting, and spending quality time with his wife, Stephanie, and their children.

Eric wants to say thank you to HFOT’s donors and supporters for giving him a new normal beyond his imagination. “My wife and I are enjoying watching our children thrive. Our house is not just a house, it is our home. We are eternally grateful for your support.”