The Burgess Family
November 20, 2011 is a day Daniel Burgess will never forget. The Army Staff Sergeant had been deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the PSYOP team, carrying out operations "to win hearts and minds." His job-an incredibly dangerous one-was to help the local population identify, avoid, and remove explosive traps left by the Taliban. Daniel was working with Marines in Helmand Province to clear a village of 42 improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Tragedy struck as Daniel worked with a local villager to determine the location of an IED. Suddenly, a terrible explosion ripped through the Afghan desert. Daniel had stepped on a hidden IED. He lost his right leg, sustained severe damage to his left leg, and suffered a traumatic brain injury, burns, fractures, and a multitude of other injuries. The arduous recovery process from his catastrophic injuries is still ongoing. Daniel spent three years recovering at Fort Sam Houston/Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Daniel's wife Genette and his daughters Gracie and Kaylee, who were nine and eight at the time, moved to Texas to be closer and support him. During this period, Genette and the girls lived for ten months in one of the nearby homes supported by the Fisher House Foundation. After spending 11 years in the Army between active duty and the Reserves, Daniel was medically retired in 2014. His Army career had started with a four-year enlistment in 1996, and then after being away from the Army for seven years, he reenlisted in the Army Reserves. Daniel wanted to rekindle the camaraderie and sense of purpose he found in the Army. Coming from a military family, he was also motivated in part by the events of 9/11. In fact, Daniel married Genette on Sept. 15, 2001, just four days after the infamous attacks on America. Ten years later, the Burgess family's world would be forever changed by the explosion half a world away. Daniel wants everybody to know that he views his family as the true heroes. Selflessly, Daniel wants his family to benefit most from the renovations carried out by the makeover team. His family's desire is to make their Cape Coral, Florida home safer and more accommodating for him. At Military Makeover, we feel fortunate to work with our partners to help out a heroic family like the Burgesses.