CLEVELAND — Rodney Bradley has always been independent. 

He’s never been a fan of having to ask people for help.

But that changed when he lost his legs.

Bradley was 19 years old when he was sent to fight in the Vietnam War.

“Two days after I declined to go into Air Force, I got drafted,” Bradley said.

He became part of the heavy weapons team in the Army. Bradley was never injured during combat.

It wasn’t until four years ago that Bradley lost his legs because of diabetes. As a veteran, he had his legs amputated through the VA Medical Center in Cleveland.

Doctors first amputated his left leg. Less than two years later, they amputated his right leg.

There was one other thing he considered a great loss.

“I knew I wanted to get back out on the street in a car,” Bradley said

As he lay in the hospital after his second surgery, a friend from his amputee support group paid him a visit.

“He told me to take my time, not to give up,” he said.

Bradley said he decided to pay Tony Zakrzewski a visit.

Zakrzewski is a popular guy at the VA Medical Center in Cleveland. He’s a kinesiotherapist who specializes in driver rehabilitation, and he helps people get their freedom back.

“I do have the benefit of being able to put a lot of amputees back on the road,” Zakrzewski said. “Depending on what sort of strengths and weaknesses you have, we have different devices,” he said.

Zakrzewski is able to help those with both physical and cognitive driving issues.

“Dementia. That is probably the consult that I receive the most,” he said.

Despite working at a hospital dedicated to veterans, most of his patients, like Bradley, don’t come to him for combat-related injuries.

Like any new driver, Bradley learned to drive again in empty parking lots. He eventually moved on to windier roads, including the ones at Lake View Cemetery.

“Took the test, and I passed - first time,” Bradley said excitedly.

Bradley said he loves he doesn’t have to be cooped up at home.

“That’s one of the best things. I can come out of the house, get in the car and go,” he said.

His car is equipped with a button that disables the foot pedals and transfers all control to the hand controls.

He joked that he no longer has to rely on his wife to drive him around.

Bradley said he is grateful to the VA for all they have done for him, including building ramp a ramp at his home and installing wider doors for his walker.

“They’ve been real good to me,” he said.