SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — Air Force veteran Gary Jenkins served his country with pride.
Now he is serving in a different way as an amputee. While working for the post office in 2012, he suffered a left leg injury. Over the next 9 years his leg wasn’t getting better so in 2021, doctors recommended he get his lower left leg amputated. In the past 3 years, having the disability hasn’t stopped him as he is helping other disabled kids with the Maple’s Kids program at Roanoke College.
“My wife and I happen to see this on maybe Facebook and I came that first day. I think it was December 9 as maybe a mentor and you know just somebody to hang out and goofball with kids and teenagers and stuff like that but I ended up playing some basketball and I had a great time. It’s been awesome,” said Jenkins.
Helping out with Maple’s Kids has been a win-win. Not only for the organization, but for Jenkins himself.
“If it’s really interesting learning, you know about different disabilities and you know how that affects somebody in and it definitely does affect you it does. I’ve had a couple of dark days here and there, but I’m very thankful praise the Lord everything is going ok. Like I said, you have some dark days but being out here with kids and even adults and everything else and it’s a lot of fun and it really lift you up to be able to if I’m helping anybody I don’t know but I’m having as much fun there,” said Jenkins.