Adjusting back to everyday life after serving in the military proves difficult for many of our American Heroes. And Nick, an Army Veteran who served in Iraq, was no different — he was using medication and alcohol to cope.
But then, he found out about Northwest Battle Buddies (NWBB), and his entire life changed for the better. Here’s how Nick’s professionally trained PTSD service dog, Jazz, helped him reclaim his life and find purpose again.
After serving in the Army for nearly 12 years, including a tour in Iraq from April 2006 to July 2007, he returned home thinking everything was fine. But things quickly changed.
"After about a month, I felt like I was having trouble breathing while I was at work. My body got real tingly, my vision started blurring, and I was hyperventilating, and that's when all my symptoms of PTSD started hitting me pretty good," Nick recalls.
For years, Nick struggled with these symptoms, turning to medication and alcohol to cope. The cost of PTSD was high - he lost his job, his apartment, and nearly his will to live.
It was during this dark time that Nick discovered the profound impact a dog could have on his life. His first dog, Ranger, came into his life through an unexpected trade – a couch for a puppy.
"I probably wouldn't be sitting here talking to you or anybody else today if I hadn't gotten that dog," Nick shares. "So that's when I first realized the power of having a dog, and what they could do for you."
When Ranger passed away after 12 years, Nick found himself spiraling again. It was then that a VA counselor introduced him to the concept of service dogs for Veterans with PTSD, leading him to Northwest Battle Buddies.
Entering the Northwest Battle Buddies program marked the beginning of a new chapter for Nick. With Jazz by his side, he began to rediscover parts of himself long buried under the weight of PTSD.
"My life has changed a lot, and it's not even just changes that I've noticed, but friends have noticed, too," Nick explains. "There's laughter in my home again. There's a sense of purpose every day that I've woken up, which is something I lacked for a long time."
The impact of having Jazz goes beyond emotional support. Nick finds himself more engaged with life, more willing to venture out into public spaces, and better equipped to handle the symptoms of PTSD when they arise.
“I don't need a lap dog that's sitting on me all the time. I need something that's going to pull me out of where my mind wanders to. She's extremely good at that. She pulls me out of my apartment. I can get in moods where I'm okay with staying home for days at a time. She won't let me do that. And that's great.”
"It's better than any medication I've ever been on, better than any amount of alcohol I ever drank," Nick states. "It's not just masking symptoms like medication sometimes does, it's actually making you open up and be vulnerable."
Once, Nick had a rough experience at his best friend’s young daughter’s birthday party. Fortunately, Jazz was with him.
“I start getting super quiet around people that I care about, like family. Which isn’t normal,” he says. “Jazz was there next to me and I was petting her, and it was helping keep me calm, but I could tell it was keeping me just below the threshold of breaking.”
Nick stayed at the bowling alley as long as he could, but once he got home, he broke down. “Everything came tumbling out, and Jazz came up to me. I was sitting on the floor, doing my thing I guess, and she came up and sat in between my legs and just put her head on my thigh and just sat there.”
Nick sat with Jazz for about an hour. He was grateful he wasn’t alone – he’d been alone during these episodes many nights before, and it wasn’t pleasant.
“Having her there while I was going through that probably helped end it a lot sooner than it would’ve if I hadn’t had her,” he continued.
But the journey with Jazz hasn't always been easy. Nick had to adjust his expectations and commit to ongoing training. "It's almost like a little part-time job, but it's 100% worth it," he says.
This commitment has paid off in ways Nick never expected. Not only has Jazz helped him manage his PTSD symptoms, but she's also opened doors to healing and connection that had long been closed.
"I've opened up a lot more about my experiences. And I've found a lot of healing in that too," Nick shares. "I've almost found a bit of a purpose in opening up and sharing my story. I hope it will help somebody else who's struggling like I am, or was, to get them to take that step."
For other Veterans considering a service dog, Nick's message is clear: "If you're ready to start living and stop just trying to survive, do it."
He emphasizes the importance of being ready for the responsibility, but also the immeasurable rewards.
And as Nick so beautifully puts it, "I firmly believe that we don't deserve dogs, but I'm glad that they're here for us." And for countless American Heroes like Nick, these four-legged animals aren’t just here - they're leading the way home.
We rely on your help to continue providing support to those who need it. You can make a difference in a Veteran’s life by joining Operation Never Quit or Pledge-A-Pup—or by simply making a donation.