Injured Veterans Get Tailored-Made Houses and a Chance to Start Anew

A nonprofit provides safe and functional homes for disabled veterans. The opportunity also brings unexpected changes to their lives.

Tyson Cole, an injured veteran, and his family, pictured with David Belman (R), who helped build an adaptive home to accommodate the veteran's needs. Courtesy of Operation Finally Home

In 2012, Tyson Cole, a retired Army veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient, had no choice but to leave the military on medical disability. A few years prior, a mortar attack in Baghdad threw his body head-first into a cement bunker. What doctors first thought was a minor head injury became a debilitating problem that eventually ended his career. Severe panic attacks, memory loss, migraines, and reading comprehension issues led to a diagnosis of PTSD and traumatic brain injury. “My dream job was serving in the Army. I had no plans to leave the military because I was doing what I loved,” Cole said.