Carla Best

After serving as a Sergeant (E5) in the United States Army, Carla Best carries the weight of sacrifice with remarkable grace. She lost her left leg above the knee during a convoy in Iraq after an IED attack, and her right leg sustained significant muscle damage. The injury changed her life in every imaginable way, but her determination never faded. Even with the physical challenges she faces daily, she continues to seek out movement, community, and purpose through adaptive sports and an active lifestyle.

Before receiving her Subaru and Bruno lift through the Freedom Mobility Foundation and Subaru, Carla often felt boxed in by her previous vehicle. Her small RAV4 struggled with Colorado terrain, especially in the winter, and it couldn’t reliably transport her adaptive sports equipment which includes multiple wheelchairs, her sled hockey gear, and training bags.

“I never wanted to drive in the snow or the mountains,” she shared, explaining that if she ever got stuck, she wouldn’t be able to help herself. The fear of being stranded left her feeling isolated, and the lack of accessibility made participating in the activities she loved extremely difficult. “Before I got the car, my mental health wasn’t good because I wasn’t getting out and being active in anything,” she explained. Without reliable transportation, even leaving her neighborhood felt intimidating.

Everything changed when Carla was provided with a full-size 2023 Subaru equipped with all-wheel drive and a Bruno lift. Not only could she finally travel confidently through mountain passes, icy roads, and rough terrain, but she had a way to independently load her equipment which was something that had previously required help from others. The lift became one of the most life-changing additions to her daily life. Whether it’s her wheelchairs, her sled hockey gear, or her monoski equipment, the Subaru makes it possible for Carla and those around her to load everything safely and easily. “It made me feel more independent than you can imagine,” she said, recalling a moment in an icy parking lot when her friends were able to use the lift to load her equipment without her even guiding them.

That independence opened the door to more than transportation, it opened the door back to life. Carla plays sled hockey for Colorado Sled Hockey, the adaptive team connected to the Colorado Avalanche, and has expanded into monoskiing, pickleball, and competitive wheelchair sports. The Subaru allows her to reach mountains, clinics, practices, and public speaking events through the Wounded Warrior Project. “It’s night and day what I could do before,” she explained. “Now I’m willing to try a little bit of everything.” The confidence to travel, explore, and stay active has deeply strengthened her mental wellness. She’s back in her community, back in motion, and back to feeling like herself again.

Her Subaru has also been a gift for her family. Carla’s wife uses the lift just as often, helping load heavier items and making daily routines easier for both of them. And for the first time in years, Carla can drive the family to dinner, events, and outings with her wheelchair safely with her. The emotional shift has been profound.“When you feel like a burden, you don’t want to be part of things,” she said. “Now I have my independence back again. I can get out there on my own, and I feel like a participant, not just a passenger.” The vehicle didn’t just restore mobility; it restored dignity.

When asked what Freedom Mobility has given her, Carla said the answer is in the name itself. “They provide freedom with the mobility equipment they give you,” she explained. “It means accessibility, adaptability, and the freedom to be part of my community again.” And for anyone considering supporting the organization, Carla speaks from the heart: “This is one of those few organizations that is truly 100% for the veterans. What they do might seem small to them, but it’s life-changing for us. If anyone is even thinking about donating, just know your money is going to people you can trust.”

Carla’s story is one of resilience, rediscovered independence, and renewed confidence. Because of Freedom Mobility, she is no longer limited by terrain, weather, or transportation. She defines where she goes and what she does. She uses the Subaru every single day, from sports practices to gym sessions to everyday errands, and it continues to open doors she once thought were closed. In one word, she describes its impact as “adaptability,” because the vehicle has helped her adapt not just to her surroundings, but back into the life she wants to live.