Nothing inspired battle veteran Brad Soden more than his wife’s tears during the years of trial and error it took to create a wheelchair worthy of her.
Liz Soden, who was partially paralyzed in a car accident just three months before their wedding, was frequently upset about missing out on family hikes and camping trips with their five children.
Brad was adamant about doing something about it.
Nothing inspired battle veteran Brad Soden more than his wife’s tears during the years of trial and error it took to create a wheelchair worthy of her.
Liz Soden, who was partially paralyzed in a car accident just three months before their wedding, was frequently upset about missing out on family hikes and camping trips with their five children.
Brad was adamant about doing something about it.
“I’m motivated when you get her to weep,” Brad said Matt Lauer on TODAY on Thursday. “I’m going to make it happen.”
Brad, a plumber without a college diploma or engineering expertise, overcame a number of challenges to build a wheelchair with tank-like treads that are tough enough to work off-road and powerful enough to handle mountain routes.
“We started a few of fires, but we had been on hand, so we were able to put them out quickly,” Brad explained. Take a look at how the ‘Tankchair’ came to be.
The “Tankchair” was the eventual result, which offered Liz the independence she desired and quickly became Brad’s full-time career.
Liz told Lauer, “It made it such that I could go trekking and camping.” “I used to sit in the car when we went to the snow.”
Now I can get out and chase my kids around, as well as accompany them. Just hiking and going out — I’m no longer a prisoner in the car or at home.”
Brad plans to give Tankchairs to wounded veterans for free, but they are not covered by insurance because they are categorized as recreational vehicles.
The chair, which costs between $12,000 and $15,000 and can move up to 30 miles per hour, has become a hit among injured veterans, with a three-month waiting list for a new one.