Home Depot, Abilities Foundation Renovate Home of Disabled Land O' Lakes Veteran

Sgt. José Pequeño is one of the most severely injured servicemen to ever return from Iraq or Afghanistan.

Volunteers Renovate Home of Severely Disabled Veteran

The Home Depot and The Abilities Foundation team up to make life a bit easier for Sgt. José Pequeño and his family, and the GFW Lutz- Land O' Lakes Women's Club feeds them all.

Before a grenade robbed Sgt. José Pequeño of most of his brain mass, he was always doing things for other people, his mother said. On Tuesday, the 38-year-old veteran cried as volunteers from The Abilities Foundation and Home Depot worked together to renovate his family's Land O’ Lakes home. He is showing emotions now that he couldn’t show before, Pequeño’s mother Nellie Bagley said. He understands what's going on here, she said. The tears were shed in gratitude. Pequeño is one of the most severely injured servicemen to ever return from Iraq or Afghanistan, according to Army neurosurgeon Col. Rocco Armonda. He was given three weeks to live after the grenade shattered his skull, taking half of his brain. Dozens of surgeries later, he will …

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Keli Sipperley

7:49 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

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Land O' Lakes Veteran to Receive Home Makeover

José Pequeño is one of the most severely injured servicemen to ever return from Iraq or Afghanistan, an Army neurosurgeon says.

A grenade thrown into José Pequeño’s patrol vehicle while he was stationed in Iraq in 2006 changed life forever for the Army sargeant and his family. The explosion cost Pequeño 50 percent of his brain mass, according to an Abilities Foundation press release. Once New Hampshire’s youngest police chief, Pequeño, 38, now lives in Land O’ Lakes, where he receives around-the-clock care from his mother Nellie Bagley and his sister, Elizabeth. The family’s story of perseverance and hope was shared with the world on a 2009 PBS Memorial Day special, narrated by actor Gary Sinise, with actresses Dianne Wiest and Katie Holmes portraying Pequeño’s mother and sister. See video above  “José’s one of the most severely injured servicemen ever to return …

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Keli Sipperley

11:48 am on Monday, September 17, 2012

Hi Rosie, the foundation would love to have food for the volunteers next Tuesday. I've emailed Cathy, as well. Thanks so much for offering!   more ›