Local

Community welcomes injured vet into new smart home

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — In honor of July 4, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is donating five homes to veterans who have been injured during their time of service.

One of those veterans received his new home Monday in Douglas County.

“It’s by no means a measurement for how much a hero I am, or this or that. All the guys I was with, they’re truly heroes of the day when I got hurt,” Cpl. Todd Love said as he toured his new home Monday.

Love was injured while on patrol one morning during a tour in Afghanistan when he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). He lost one arm and both his legs.

Yet, despite his everyday struggles, he has maintained a positive outlook on life, and continues doing things he enjoys.

He said his focus is on the future, as the foundation dedicated to donating houses to vets who've lost at least two limbs, unveiled a brand new house built just for him.

“I have lost a hand and I've lost two of my legs but in the last four years, I've found that there’s actually a lot more that I have that I didn’t realize,” said Love.

Since the injury, Love has taken on sky diving, scuba diving and a ropes course. He’s even played the piano. He told Channel 2’s Diana Davis that whenever he thinks he can’t do something, he learns that he can.

“I've lived a beautiful life since then and it's only just begun,” he said.

Love’s new house is wheelchair-friendly. There are no rugs for the wheels to get stuck on. There’s a big wheel-in shower and bath. The appliances, cabinets and counters can even be raised and lowered with an iPad or smartphone. Love helped plan the design.

“When I first started, they were like, 'What kind of home do you want? What style?' I didn’t even know what a style was. I just was thinking, four walls would be great,” Love said.

This Fourth of July week, the foundation will reveal the other homes for vets like Love. He’s traveled the country raising awareness and money from private citizens and corporations.

The building for America’s bravest team is part of the mission of the Stephen Siller “Tunnel to Towers” charitable foundation. It was founded after 9/11 in memory of a New York City firefighter who lost his life at the World Trade Center. It was also founded to help military heroes regain their independence.

The “smart home” aims to do so with motorized doors, automatic toilets and full control of the front door from any room in the house, along with many other features.

If you'd like to help or learn more, you can click on this link tunnels2towers.org.