Dillon Cannon
While guarding a roadside bomb in Iraq, Army Specialist Cannon was shot through the neck, paralyzing him from the waist down.
Dillon and Gary
His Life Changed Forever When a Bullet Ripped Through His Neck
On Dec. 29, 2006, Army Specialist Dillon Cannon was patrolling Baqubah, Iraq, with the 571st Military Police Company when his unit discovered a potential improvised explosive device (IED) at a check point.
Only a week earlier, Dillon had survived an IED that exploded under his vehicle at the same checkpoint. As his unit investigated the IED threat, the then 20-year-old Dillon manned a machine gun on top of the humvee. His life changed forever when a sniper’s bullet ripped through his neck.
“The bullet actually missed my artery,” said Dillon. “But it hit my vertebrae and shattered both of those.” Dillon learned he would be paralyzed from the waist down but retain the use of his arms and upper body.
“I Had to Learn My New Body”
Dillon began his rehabilitation in Houston, TX – about 4 hours from his home in Richardson. “I had a lot to overcome, having no idea all the bodily functions affected by paralysis. I had to learn how to deal with my ‘new’ body. I could not have done so well without my mother, sister and uncle.” Sadly, Dillon’s father had passed away 11 months earlier.
"I Needed to Make a Change"
For 10 years, Dillon didn’t work and tried to find new hobbies to occupy his time. “I didn’t have the confidence that I would fit in anywhere.” Then, after working with a vocational counselor who specialized in helping veterans with spinal cord injuries, Dillon found his calling. A lover of car racing, Dillon interviewed with Motor Speedway Resort (MSR) Houston to work in the shop to order parts and talk to customers. Soon, he was making friends and socializing outside of work. “I’m actually around people that care about me and care about what I’m doing,” he said. “I work in the shop with three other guys. Every night, we play racing games on Xbox and joke around back and forth. We’ve been to four or five concerts together. It’s good.”
Called to Help Others
Dillon has also found joy in helping others with disabilities. “I want them to see that their lives aren’t over because of a catastrophic injury or illness. My best friend and I started a group called Team Defiant where we take veterans and kids out in adaptive chairs to play paintball. The goal is to give a sense of belonging and comradery by playing together in a team environment. We also have a hands-on driving academy where we put people who are paralyzed or amputees in race cars equipped with hand controls. Everyone has so much fun discovering new abilities and making friends.”
"I Crave Independence"
Today, Dillon owns his own home, but it is not wheelchair accessible. “I had a long-time friend and helper who did some general chores I was unable to do, but he recently took a job out of town. I am now on my own and doing pretty well except for cooking, turning lights on and off, getting things out of deep cabinets, and I can’t fit my wheelchair into the laundry room.” Dillon has also discovered that he enjoys cooking, but his kitchen is not handicapped accessible. “I hate to ask my mom for help. I crave independence.”
With your support, we can help provide Dillon with a safer, more accessible home—one that supports his independence, eases daily challenges, and honors the sacrifices he made in service to our country.
