Wounded soldier's home addition almost finished
PFC Corey Kent will be able to move in soon
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Wounded soldier will be able to move in soon Video by fox4now.com
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Cape Coral, Fla. - A wounded warrior from Southwest Florida is getting a very generous gift from people like you. And it's been a long time coming! Private First Class Corey Kent lost his legs to a bomb explosion in Afghanistan in July of last year.
A few months later, FOX 4 began investigating after his famly told us conditions were not acceptable at the Tampa VA where he was being treated. Their interviews with us got the attention of Senator Bill Nelson and hospital officials who vowed to change things.
Kent went on to make amazing progress, learning to use a set of prosthetic legs and for the first time since the explosion, he took his first steps.
Four In Your Corner's Colleen Hogan showing you the next step at his parents' home in Cape Coral.
"I never expected anything like this," Corey Kent said, in his new addition.
From the beautiful tile floors, to the flat-screen TV, one thing's for sure. Corey Kent's new digs are pretty sweet.
Gates Construction, the U.S. Forces Fund and community donations made the addition possible.
"I can't wipe the smile off my face because I'm so happy to see this come together," Trey Radel, with the U.S. Forces Fund, said.
"I don't think we could get him a better christmas present that this," Corey's step-dad Dan Ashby said.
It's a present months in the making, and now that it's just about done, Corey has his own bachelor pad. It will give him some independence but it's still close enough that his family can help, if he needs it.
"I'm excited to have my own space that I can do whatever I want with," Kent said.
He still needs to get some furniture for the TV area and add some finishing touches.
"I have a lot of (Green Bay) Packers memorabilia, some signed stuff," he said. "I don't want to go too crazy. Make it too cheesy or anything."
He also plans to stock the fridge with some beverages.
"We'll fill up the fridge," Ashby laughed.
But first things first.
"All we can say is thank you very much and we appreciate it," Ashby said.
"I can't say thank you enough," Kent said. "This is just awesome."
Corey and his mom still travel back and forth to the Washington D.C. area for medical treatment and rehab. Corey hopes to be back in Southwest Florida full time, within the year.
-Colleen Hogan, reporter
chogan@fox4now.com
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