On Veterans Day 2016, only months into Operation Freedom Sentinel, a suicide bomber struck Maggie Bilyeu’s team, leaving her critically injured. Medevaced to safety, she underwent extensive treatment for critical internal injuries: a splenectomy, loss of part of the small and large intestine, colon, left breast repair, diaphragm repair, broken tibia, broken fibula, four compartment fasciotomy, shattered femur, seven broken ribs, and surgery for shrapnel wounds. She later lost her left leg — an above-the-knee amputation and knee disarticulation — and now manages severe TBI, hearing loss, short-term memory loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. First at her hospital bedside, The Fund united her family and helped offset lost income so they could remain present during Maggie’s most critical phase of recovery.
Because of the incredible support of our donors, The Fund then addressed the barriers that threatened Maggie’s stability:
- A vehicle assistance grant that restored reliable, adaptive travel
- Tailored bathroom adaptations to make daily routines safer
- A professional-grade icing system that delivered consistent relief from persistent pain
- Specialized service-dog training
With dependable mobility, a safer home, effective pain control, and a well-trained service dog, Maggie can now prioritize what matters most: healing and family.
To watch Maggie’s story, click here.
