A local army soldier celebrated his inspirational story of survival at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. Specialist Geoffrey Quevedo was joined by family and friends on what was the one year anniversary of his accident in Afghanistan. He nearly died last November after being struck by a roadside bomb. Quevedo attributes his story of survival to two things.
“Pride and support,” said Spc. Geoffrey Quevedo of Reedley.
His fight in Afghanistan last year cost him an arm, a foot, and scarred up his face, but it has not destroyed his drive to succeed.
“I just try to go about my everyday life as a normal person. When people ask me what my limitations are I say I don’t have any yet,” said Spc. Quevedo.
When asked about that bomb blast, he says it knocked him into a dream.
“The only thing I was dreaming about was Faith, my daughter,” said Spc. Quevedo.
Thankfully, his three-year old now has a dad to grow up with.
“I think this happened because god has good things for him,” said Anna Quevedo, Geoffrey’s mother.
Geoffrey’s mother, Anna, says his desire to never give up runs in the family.
“He’s very stubborn like his dad and mom,” said Anna Quevedo.
Although there are struggles, this 21-year old continues to make a miraculous recovery.
He just got a prosthetic running leg last week and as he moves forward on it, Geoffrey faces a host of options. He we love to become a U.S. Marshal or Border patrol agent. However, many people want him to stay in the military.
“As an advisor, counselor or mentor to other people that don’t have the uplifted spirit that I have. A lot of people call it a gift,” said Spc. Quevedo.
Geoffrey says counseling is a strong possibility because it does feel good to make people look at their situation in a positive light.