SGT Ryan Long

Gloucester, VA

Motivated by his family’s long tradition of military service, Ryan Long enlisted in the Army in 2008.

On March 11, 2012, Sergeant Long was serving as a construction engineer with the 365th Engineer Battalion in Afghanistan when his vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device (IED). He sustained a traumatic amputation of his right leg below the knee, left leg injuries, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

He was medically evacuated to Kandahar Airfield for immediate treatment before transferring to Landstuhl, Germany. Stateside, he spent more than three and a half years at Walter Reed Medical Center undergoing treatment and multiple surgeries.

Ryan and his wife, Vanessa, are parents to Mariah, Jaiden, and Angelina. Ryan participates in handcycling with the Achilles Freedom Team and Semper Fi & America’s Fund, and enjoys snowboarding, golfing, fishing, ATV riding, and traveling. He is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science and behavior through Unity Environmental University’s online program. His goal is to train and work with service and companion animals for Veterans and first responders.

In his current two-level home, Ryan’s primary bedroom is on the second floor, so he often sleeps on the sofa to avoid navigating the stairs. The home also does not provide enough space for him to comfortably use his wheelchair, making it difficult to navigate from room to room.

A specially adapted custom HFOT home will allow him to move throughout the home in his wheelchair when he needs to take pressure off his legs. With less physical strain and a home designed around his needs, Ryan would have more time and energy to focus on finishing his degree, spending time with his family, and pursuing his goal of working with service and companion animals. “With a barrier-free home, I could focus on my goals of finishing school and working with dogs, knowing I could come home to less stress and decompress,” he says.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ryan is choosing to build his home in Virginia, where he currently resides.

Ryan is grateful to HFOT donors and supporters for their commitment to helping Veterans and their families. “Thank you for serving those who’ve served and for improving the quality of life for post-9/11 combat injured service members,” he says.

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