Adapted Home Being Built for Perham Man who Lost Leg in Iraq

PERHAM (KDLM) – Money is being raised to help build an adapted home for a Perham man who lost his leg while on patrol in Iraq with the Minnesota Army National Guard.

On July 25, 2006, Lucas Schmitz was on a patrol in Iraq when he stepped on a secondary improvised explosive device (IED) after his vehicle was struck by an initial explosion. Schmitz lost his right leg and sustained damage to his right hand in the blast.

Homes For Our Troops, an organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured Veterans plan to build a home for Lucas and his wife Tina.

The financial stability of a specially adapted custom Homes For Our Troops home will allow Lucas to provide for his family. “My lesson in mortality has changed how I value life, and what is a priority for my family and me. My happiness is intertwined with my family. Securing a positive future for them makes me beyond happy,” he says.

Schmitz’ current home is not adapted to his injuries, which makes relaxing and spending time with his family difficult. Simple maneuvers, like turning around in his wheelchair, are difficult in his home since there is not enough space. In an HFOT home with an open floor plan and wide doorways and hallways, Lucas will be able to access every room easily, giving him more quality time for his family and other activities.

Donations can be made at https://www.hfotusa.org/building-homes/veterans/schmitz/