Injured Marine veteran receives specially adapted home in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — A Marine veteran who was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan will receive a specially adapted custom home in Wilmington.

Homes For Our Troops will hold a key ceremony for Marine Cpl. Dominic Davila, where the organization will officially donate the move-in-ready home to him free of charge.

Davila was serving in Afghanistan on July 23, 2009, when his vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device. He lost his right leg below the knee and suffered a fractured left ankle in the blast.

The new home includes about 40 major adaptations designed to improve wheelchair accessibility and help Davila live more independently.

Features include wider hallways and doorways, automatic door openers, roll-under sinks, stovetops and counters, pull-down shelving, a generator and a safe room.

The adaptations will allow Davila to use his wheelchair throughout the home, giving him the ability to recuperate after wearing his prosthetic and providing greater independence as he pursues his future goals and interests.

“This opportunity means so much to us, and words cannot begin to express how life-changing it truly is for our family,” Davila said.

Homes For Our Troops builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.

Davila’s home will be the 446th donated by Homes For Our Troops nationwide and the organization’s 17th home in North Carolina. Three additional homes are currently in progress in the state.

The organization said the ceremony also comes as the nation commemorates America250, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.