In 2010, Army Staff Sergeant Blake Deloach was serving on a mission in Afghanistan when an RPG struck his vehicle, resulting in traumatic vision loss and spinal fractures. During his recovery, he met his wife, Lauren, at the VA Blind Rehabilitation Center in Augusta, where she worked. After years of rehabilitation focused on reclaiming his strength and stability, Blake received his specially adapted custom HFOT home on August 6, 2022, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Since moving into their HFOT home, Blake and Lauren have embraced new opportunities to grow personally and professionally. In 2023, Lauren began working for Lifetime Memoirs, a company that creates private autobiographies that become cherished family heirlooms. Blake earned his certification in massage therapy, trains at an Olympic level in powerlifting, and is self-taught on the guitar. He continues to pursue new skills each day, undeterred by his injuries or blindness.
Passion for Woodworking
Most recently, Blake and Lauren combined their talents to launch a handcrafted woodworking business, Built Blind.
Blake’s passion for woodworking began after building patio furniture for their home, and he found the sanding and creative process both therapeutic and rewarding. In December 2024, Blake sold his first handcrafted American flag wooden bench. Impressed by the quality and craftsmanship, the customer subsequently commissioned the couple to create three twin-size bed frames.
Through this venture, Blake and Lauren discovered how seamlessly they work together as a team. Blake is responsible for the cutting, building, and sanding, while Lauren “brings each piece to life” through torch work, painting, staining, and engraving. They credit their HFOT home with giving them a safe and accessible living environment and for providing the space and functionality needed to support their work. The expansive garage, wider doorways, and 360-degree walkway allow them to move materials and finished pieces efficiently throughout the home.
Blake’s journey is a powerful reminder that while injuries may change the course of a life, they do not define it. With the support of HFOT, Blake and Lauren continue to build a future filled with purpose, creativity, and service to others. Because when Veterans receive the homes they need, they gain more than accessibility — they gain the freedom to focus on family, pursue passions, and strengthen their communities.
At Homes For Our Troops, rebuilding lives is at the heart of everything we do — and Veterans like Blake are the reason why.
Learn how you can make an impact by helping restore freedom and independence for our nation’s most severely injured Veterans through the life-changing gift of a specially adapted custom HFOT home.