To Whom It May Concern,
I’m a Marine Veteran, an Alcoholic in Grateful Recovery for over 6 years and a PTSD survivor. I’m able to write this letter and share my story thanks to a man with a Heart of Gold, a vision and a plan. I am living testament to the success of his program.
I was a married father raising4 children, working a Good Union job, Coaching youth Sports and involved in my Masonic Lodge. Life was good. I was busy, so busy I didn’t have time for the PTSD. What I saw as energy was mania, what I saw as success was compulsion, what I saw as drive was obsession. My multi-tasking had given no room for my memories of past trauma, pain and panic to break through the wall I had built around my mind’s lockbox. Unfortunately, the wall was only temporary. I didn’t realize it at first but as my activities declined, my anxiety grew. It was gradual but then began to pick up momentum.
My first bout with the horrors of PTSD was when I was just 9 years old and my home was destroyed by fire. I was at home at the time and it was beyond traumatic. It got locked away. After joining the Marines I was sent on a deployment that caused further trauma, I respectfully decline to share details, but please know it was a life-changing event. It got locked away.
The growing anxiety and depression I felt as my children left the nest one by one, my coaching career was winding down, the wall began to crumble, and l needed something to distract myself. I chose alcohol and as dedicated I had been to being of service I now turned that energy to being numb. I had lost myself completely. I needed a friend. I needed a buddy to watch my 6. If I had betrayed myself why would somebody else not be waiting to pounce? I went to rehab, where I learned about my conditions, guilt and loss, but wasn’t even close to being myself, just dry and sober, but that changed when I met with my friend Mark Eberle.
Mark and I had known each other and even worked together in the entertainment business, yes, another hat, but that’s another story for another time. My friend began placing Service Dogs with veterans suffering with PTSD, he was awarded one but saw a vet he felt needed the animal more so gave him his dog. A selfless, sincere man with a huge smile and booming laugh that commands the room because of his presence thanks to his personal Service dog Batman and now Bear. He introduced me to a 9-month-old Malinois with more energy than a class of kindergarteners. He had awarded me Cooper, my Service Dog, my Savior, my Doctor, my Clergy, my Counselor, my very best medicine. Mark and his organization also paid to have a trainer come to my home several times a week to train us both, a very healing experience that made a bond between Cooper and I that is so strong it held my addiction at bay.
That was a decade ago, I did relapse, but that was over 6 years ago and as I’m told part of recovery. I’m just extremely grateful, indebted and frankly breathing because of Mark’s gift of my 4-legged son. It’s been quite some time since I’ve had a panic or vigilance episode. My progress, recovery and life are mine again because of Paws Healing Heroes. I’m not special, better folks than I deserve what I received and more. All awards would go to excellent use helping those that serve our country and pay a dire price during and long after their duty through the conduit of this Organization and its Leader Mark Eberle.
