When Marine Corps soldier Nick Saunders enlisted with his best friend, he never imagined the horrible things he would witness would haunt him for the rest of his life. Saunders had been handling it all fine as he served his country until he got news that his best friend died after stepping on an IED, and later witnessed multiple suicides by those serving with him.
When he finally returned from war, Nick was haunted by the ‘shadows’ of the men that he had witnessed die, and each night he would relive the horror. “There’s been nights where I would just be laying on the couch or in bed with somebody, and I’d see a shadow and I’d reach over and punch them in the chest,” Nick explained. “There’s been times where I woke up and I’ve had my AR-15 pointed at them because I thought they were a shadow.”
When doctors tested Nick for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, he scored a 78 out of a possible 85 points, which meant his PTSD was extremely severe, and after four years struggling to function, Nick decided to put an end to it all one way or another.
Nick was never given the support he desperately needed from the Department of Veteran Affairs, so when it all became too much for him to bear, he showed up to their offices with a loaded gun and threatened to kill himself if they didn’t help him right away.
After a doctor listened to Nick’s story, she paired him up with an incredible Beagle named Winston through the Vets to Vets organization and finally his life was transformed.
“When I get anxious, he’ll jump on my lap and bring me back to reality. When I have nightmares a couple times a night, he’ll push my in the back and wake me up and make sure that I’m ok.”
Watch the entire video below to hear more about how Winston came into this struggling soldier’s life.
Can you believe how completely transformed Nick is since finding Winston? Let us know you reaction in the comments below, and please SHARE this incredible story with friends on Facebook.
[Featured image credit: Youtube/Mackenzie Smith]