HOUSTON
--
A volunteer firefighter who lost his legs when he was hit by an out-of-control driver is walking again, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.
Thomas Shuster's life changed in an instant. He was at work helping a customer in the parking lot of O'Reilly Auto Parts and the next thing he remembers is waking up in a hospital room and his legs had been amputated.
But he doesn't dwell on the past.
"No reason to," he said. "Dwelling on it is not going to get anywhere in life."
On June 1, Shuster was hit by an out-of-control driver. Initial reports said the driver, Celio Velasquez, was drunk. But according to court documents, Velasquez was high on marijuana.
Thomas now gets around in a wheelchair, but spends a lot of time getting used to his new prosthetic legs.
"It's kind of like walking on stilts. I was never able to do that before, so it's kind of hard to do that now," said Shuster.
The first place he goes to walk and hang out is to a place where he feels comfortable -- his fire station, Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department's Station 8.
"It's so great to see him. He's doing great, " Capt. Mark Rodriguez said.
Shuster has been volunteering at Station 8 for almost nine years. It is the place Shuster calls home.
"They are the ones who have been here throughout everything. And they are the ones who have been there to support me the most," said Shuster.
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