Washougal veteran moves into new home

A man who spent six months in a comatose state, after an improvised explosive device was set off near him in Afghanistan, has moved with his wife into a new home in Washougal.

Army Specialist Alex Hussey lost both legs and left hand, and he sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of the blast in August of 2012.

He and his wife, Kim Hussey, are busy unpacking this week after moving from Alex’s mother’s and stepfather’s house in Milwaukie, Oregon, on Saturday, May 26, into a 2,650-square-foot home on 5.5 acres in Washougal.

The Husseys, married since October of 2013, moved in with Alex’s mother and stepfather, Caree and Brian Doll, in May of 2015, after Alex was released from an inpatient traumatic brain injury facility in California.

The Husseys’ new home — provided by Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) — includes several special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access and a roll-in shower that will enable Alex to move about more easily. The kitchen amenities include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops.

Kim Hussey, 27, said residing in a home where Alex, 26, could live without restrictions would be life changing. She described the home’s setting as quiet, peaceful and beautiful.

More than 200 people from around the northwest welcomed the Husseys to their new home on May 12. They included veterans, new neighbors and other residents of Washougal and Camas, as well as Clark County Sheriff’s deputies and members of the Patriot Guard Riders of Southwest Washington State, Northwest Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club and Western Washington Modern Mopars (car club).

Representatives of American Legion Cape Horn Post 122 presented Alex with an honorary life membership.

“The community here is ready to embrace them,” Naomi Raia, with Post 122, said.

Three Boy Scouts — Michael Rosen, Reuben Hunker and Jameson Guido — participated in a flag ceremony in front of the Hussey’s new house. Alex was their swimming instructor more than seven years ago at the North Clackamas Aquatic Park.

“The turnout was beautiful,” Alex said, after the key ceremony.

“There are not enough words for those who helped,” Kim said.

“There is one word to say,” Alex added. “Donate.”

Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit, and its network of donors, supporters, and corporate partners covered the cost of the Husseys’ home valued at $806,000. That includes the purchase of the property, site work and landscaping, as well as approximately $140,000 in special adaptations applied to the home.

HFOT, founded in 2004, builds specially adapted custom homes for service members who were severely injured in Iraq or Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001. It has built and donated more than 250 specially adapted custom homes nationwide, and another 95 homes are on the active projects list.