In 2008, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rebecca Mann joined the military and began her first tour of Afghanistan. Then, during her second deployment in March 2014, she sustained an injury to her right foot – an incident which led to multiple surgeries and, ultimately, the double amputation of both her legs.
For Rebecca, recovering from and adjusting to this procedure was not without its challenges. She was living in a multi-story home at the time, and after being equipped with prosthetics, she found that navigating her living space was difficult. Things that had previously been simple or fun – going up and down the stairs, going outside to her yard, playing with her dogs – all became more difficult for Rebecca due to the space she was living in.
That’s where, in partnership with Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), we were able to step in and make a difference – because at Wayfair, it’s our mission to help everyone, everywhere create their unique feeling of home. Given the difficulties Rebecca was experiencing daily in her home, we were honored to play a role in furnishing and decorating a new home for her in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. This holiday season, we’re celebrating Rebecca – both for her service to our country, and for her new house that she’ll be able to call home this holiday and beyond.
Transitioning to a specially adapted, custom home provided to her by HFOT has given Rebecca the freedom and peace of mind to comfortably move around in her wheelchair and work toward her personal and professional goals. From low pile rugs to an extendable dining table, and even an iRobot vacuum to help keep her house tidy, the addition of accessible furniture throughout Rebecca’s new home was thoughtfully designed to support her active lifestyle – all while creating a coastally-inspired space that brings the peaceful elements of the neighboring beach into her home. “It will be a wonderful place to call home for years to come,” Rebecca shared.
“Wayfair knocked it out of the park… every piece was so thoughtfully chosen,” said Rebecca while reflecting on the curation of products for her home that the Wayfair team picked out for her. “Every piece of furniture for my new home was chosen with such care. The adaptive features that HFOT put in place allows me to live with ease in my new home and the furniture from Wayfair turned my house into a home. I love the holidays, and am so excited to enjoy them this year in a new space that is made just for my needs.”
Through her love for dogs and her work as the Vice President of Mission Working Dogs (MWD), a nonprofit service dog organization, Rebecca is now able to focus on giving back and supporting others in her community by connecting with veterans in need of service dogs.
“MWD has given me the ability to help give others the independence that Sully has given me. It is so rewarding to see a puppy grow into an amazing working dog and be paired with their handler. Watching that relationship form and grow and seeing someone’s world open up for the first time is truly incredible.”
Check out Wayfair’s previous volunteer work with Homes For Our Troops and Rebecca Mann
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