Double Amputee Army Vet and Family Get New, Adaptive Home in Idaho

A former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. and his family have a new place to call home thanks to the work done by a nonprofit.

Christopher Byers was on his third deployment in Afghanistan when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED), which resulted in the amputation of both of his legs below the knees, as well as a traumatic brain injury and tinnitus, according to Home for Our Troops.

After spending the following months relearning to walk, Christopher — now medically retired — has since been able to live an active lifestyle in Idaho with his five children, but he has had to rely on his prosthetics to accomplish daily tasks, which led to scars and blisters on his limbs.

After hearing about Christopher’s story, Home for Our Troops welcomed the veteran and his family to a brand new and adaptive home in Idaho Falls, complete with an extravagant ceremony and a personal escort from the Idaho Falls Fire Department and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, according to East Idaho News. 

“I made it about two months in, and then my time got cut short. That’s an amputee joke,” Christopher quipped of his time serving in the military during the Sept. 27 ceremony. “I don’t remember much, except that I got on a helicopter about 15 minutes after the explosion, and woke up three days later in Texas at Brooke Army Medical Center.”

“Nobody liked me when I first moved here because we were from Washington during the pandemic,” he continued. “But after about six months, everybody was so welcoming, and we made a lot of new neighbors, new friends, and we loved it from here on out.”

Friends, neighbors and fellow veterans waved American flags in the air while lining the driveway, as they welcomed Christopher into his new home, which features more than 40 accessible adaptations — including two wheelchair accessible bathrooms and an accessible kitchen. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We believe we have a moral obligation to repay a debt to these veterans that can never fully be repaid,” Home for Our Troops’ Chief Financial Officer Cindy Baptiste told the crowd during the welcoming event. “They sacrifice their freedom and independence when they went downrange and served in a dangerous part of the world for our freedom and independence, and we hope to restore some of that with this home.”

Christopher’s father, Mark Byers, also a veteran himself, shared a few words to prove just how much living in an adaptive home could change his son’s life for the better. 

“Living in a traditional house with lots of steps, narrow halls, difficult entryways, and a two-level house … Chris is not one to complain,” he explained. “He had no garage, so during the winter, he had to deal with the snow, the ice, and getting around without his wheelchair. Because it was easier to wear his prosthetics to get things done, I would find him working hours without taking them off … this often led to painful stores sores on his legs, and he often needed some downtime.”

“All of this will afford Chris the opportunity for a higher quality of life both inside and outside his home,” Mark continued. “In working with Homes for Our Troops and their team, I have never met a more driven and supportive group of people who are determined to give every veteran the best help they can give.”