After War, Home Makeover Opens Door's To Healing

BEULAVILLE, N.C. – This many people don't show up everyday to welcome the Cottrell family home, but days like this don’t come too often.

“Just a small change showed me that i can go the rest of the way, that i can fix something thats broken,” said Warren Cottrell. Coming home from his third deployment, one in Iraq, two in Afghanistan, Warren was broken, suffering from a traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

“I didn’t really like to be around a lot of people and its sad to say but when you get to a certain point that includes your family members,” Cottrell.

He was distant, his memory fading, his headaches painful, “Its a lonely place to be,” he said.

“It’s kinda, it’s kinda hard,” Warrens wife Maria cried, she knew their house was falling apart. She worried their family would too. Warren's illness kept him from doing anything about it.

“I had a lot of problems in here that needed to be fixed,” he said.

For them, Mike Dorman came along just in the nick of time.

“You see what they're giving to us, and what little we're giving back to them,” said Dorman.

His organization helps veterans in their time of need. It took 900 man hours, 30 days, and more than 20-thousand dollars.

But the Cottrell’s got their new home, and they got something else too, something money couldn’t buy, their family back.

“A home can do those things,” Mariah Cottrell said.

It’s the fresh start they needed.

“I feel like I just got back,” said Warren Cottrell.

As they dedicated the house to the family.

Warren is honored with a rock, engraved with the marine corps logo, this family's rock.

“It’s where my race begins,” he said. 

It’s not just one thing that makes a house, a home, but for the Cotrell’s having Warren back is a step in the right direction.

--- Previous Story ---

A Marine who comes home on Friday will return to a home suited to fit his needs as a wounded warrior.

     The repairs made to Marine Warren Cottrell’s home would not have been possible without help from the non-profit organization “Military Missions in Action.” The group helps disabled veterans live on their own.

     On Morning Edition, Founder and Executive Director of MMiA Mike Dorman called in and talked about what they do, how they find veterans to help and how you can help give back.

     And to learn more about “Military Missions in Action” go to www.militarymissionsinaction.org.