New home restores independence to Texas veteran

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (Nexstar) -- It was a regular day for U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Albert Flores when he went on a patrol in Iraq to search for anyone planting improvised explosive devices (IED) in the area.

The patrol was about over with no excitement when Flores pulled his vehicle to a stop at a corner. The gunner at the top of the vehicle told Flores to back up because they were sticking too far out into the road. Flores backed the car up and told the team to be on the look out for any IEDs.

"And soon as I said that, literally, an IED had just blown up underneath us," Flores explained. "Took everything from the windshield forward, was pretty much gone."

Flores got out of the car and immediately collapsed, noticing his right leg was badly mangled from the blast. He was carried to a nearby house and had a tourniquet placed around his leg.

The year was 2005. Just two years prior, Flores realized a dream and joined the Marines. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, Flores said he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself and "do my part." The military also provided job security and the ability to provide for his family.

At 23, Flores was already married to his middle school sweetheart, Elvira, and the two had a son. As he sat in the home following the explosion, looking up at the sky, his mind turned to his family thousands of miles away.

"Is my son gonna remember me? Is this the last spot, you know? Am I not ever gonna get to see him again," Flores asked himself. Thankfully, Flores would see his 6-year-old again and get the chance to raise him.

As Flores recounted this story sitting on his couch at home in Texas, Elvira, sitting next to him, needed a minute to collect herself as the memories of the traumatic experience came rushing back. She recalled seeing him for the first time following the explosion at a hospital in Maryland. Immediately, she knew his leg was in bad shape. Doctors would tell the young family later that day that it needed to be amputated.

Flores eventually learned to walk with his new prosthetic, but he still relies on his wheelchair to get around. His life following the explosion was a new battle as he adjusted to life in a home not ideal for someone in a wheelchair. Halls were too narrow. Mundane tasks like taking a shower became dangerous.

"My crutch would slip on me or something," Flores explained. "I missed the wet spot and straight down, try to catch myself and dislocate my fingers." Elvira's stress levels rose as she balanced work and being a caregiver for her husband.

"I would be at work and things like that would happen," Elvira said, recalling the time her husband fell in the shower and dislocated his fingers. The Flores family shares a similar story to so many wounded veterans who are adjusting to life after losing limbs in battle.

Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts, searches for veterans like Albert Flores to help them. The nonprofit builds and donates specially adapted custom homes to return independence to veterans who are eligible for the U.S. Veterans Affairs' Specially Adapted Housing grant.

What started as a mission to build one home for one veteran in 2004 has grown to 423 homes across 45 different states. Retired Brigadier General Tom Landwermeyer is the current CEO and President of HFOT.

"In essence, what they did for us is sacrifice their freedom and independence because they need assistance on all of those just daily mundane things that we all take for granted," Landwermeyer explained.

All HFOT homes are single-story, 2,800 square foot, four-bed, two-bath homes that have more than 40 special adaptations. The Flores family was the recipient of the 400th home built by HFOT.

Elvira and Albert said it was a very involved process for planning the custom home, selecting the fine details they wanted in their home. To make life easier for Albert, the house has a wide floor plan to allow his wheelchair easy passage throughout the home. It includes accessible appliances, like a lowered stove, a roll-in shower, pull-down shelving in the kitchen and closet, and a paved path that fully surrounds the home.

"It's just such a blessing to have all these adaptations, and it just takes so much of the stress of just everyday living out," Albert explained.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott presented the keys to the Flores family when they moved into their new home in September 2024. The governor toured the home with Albert to see all the adaptations.

"He said, 'I need something like this in my home,'" Flores recalled the governor saying during the tour.

Landwermeyer said the custom homes allow veterans to help around the house, like allowing them to prepare dinner and cook for their family. He said more than 93% of the veterans they help report the entire stress level of the family has gone down.

Elvira can attest to that, saying she no longer constantly worries about her husband while she's at work. "I just feel we're, overall, we're more happier now, like he's more happier, also, like he just has that independence back," she said.