Tampa Bay Navy veteran receives wheelchair upgrade

Tampa Bay veteran gifted all-terrain wheelchair

A veteran's service to America has landed him a brand-new wheelchair thanks to a local military organization. FOX 13's Heather Healy reports.

LUTZ, Fla. - It is a very special day for a Tampa Bay veteran as he received a brand-new wheelchair on Wednesday morning courtesy of Freedom Alliance.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Jerry Wayne Padgett II now has a new all-terrain wheelchair.

The backstory:

He enlisted in the Navy in 2001, deploying five times and contributing as a command community relations photographer and rescue swimmer.

In 2006, while he was on patrol in Afghanistan, he was seriously injured by an explosive device with a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, audio and visual impairments. 

Jerry has overcome so much. He tries to stay active with his son and volunteers quite a bit. This brand-new wheelchair will help him continue to enjoy the things he loves to do.

With the organization Freedom Alliance, they have awarded more than $30 million in college scholarships to children of heroes killed or disabled in military service. They have spent millions more helping injured veterans and their families.

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For more information on Freedom Alliance, click here.