My name is "Anonymous", and I am a United States Marine. I was medically retired from Wounded Warrior Battalion East on XX XX, 20XX, after just under seven years of service.  The reason for this acknowledgment is simple, yet it is of the utmost urgency for many veterans; a true matter of life and death. Twenty-two veterans a day commit suicide due to the long-suffering battle with post-traumatic stress. For every one serviceman killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are three mortally wounded: loss of limb, permanent function of appendages, eyesight, and so forth. As a whole, many of the veteran community feel lost or forgotten, definitely alone. Many veterans are turning to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with the trauma they endured.

 

I speak now on behalf of an organization that literally changed my life personally. When I met Elijah Sacra, the founder of Warrior Wellness Solutions, he offered a hand into my darkness, the battle I could not leave behind, and said that he would be there and I would not be alone. Since that time, he has become like a brother to me. This friendship had brought to my heart an epiphany that I could start to recover, I could heal, and, though my life would never be the same again, I could find some semblance of

peace.

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Clarissa Kussin, the Director of Operations for Warrior Wellness Solutions, taught me that what I eat would have a profound impact on my recovery process. They took time away from their families and own lives to give me months of personal one-on-one time. Elijah used to work with me by Skype, because I rarely left home. With the help of Elijah, Clarissa, Alvaro Matta, and Clay Burwell, I can say I changed my recovery and my life.

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No other non-profit would drive three hours and sit with a Marine at his house to help him understand how to train his body slowly in order to heal like Elijah did. When I first came to get help from Warrior Wellness Solutions I could barely stand on one leg. Today I’m a registered yoga teacher, and have lost 30 pounds. When I was in the Marines, I was on upwards of 16 different medications. Today, with proper guidance from Clarissa on detoxification and nutrition and good communication with my medical support, I can say I’m on a fraction of what I was. My blood pressure is down tremendously, and my cholesterol is nearly perfect. Most importantly, through my diet and ability to train my body in a way I never imagined, I can handle the rigors of school again.

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I started with one class, and had to start with developmental classes in nearly every subject. While I did use disability accommodations in some cases, gradually I was able to return to class full time and earned my associate of science degree with a 4.0 GPA.  Following that I was accepted to both North Carolina State and Campbell University. I am currently attending Campbell, earning my bachelor’s in Kinesiology with a focus of Pre-Physical Therapy. I plan on applying to a graduate program for PT in the next two years. All of this is directly related to what started with Warrior Wellness Solutions.

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I went from being a Marine who was emotionally and physically bankrupt, waiting to be released from the Marines, with no real plans, to potentially being a Doctor of Physical Therapy, so that one day I canreturn to my community of veterans and help them as Warrior Wellness Solutions helped me.

Sgt.  Anonymous, USMC-Ret.