When Rebekah's teenage daughter held her face and said, "Mom, you need to get help," everything changed. Eight years had passed since Rebekah's combat tour in Iraq, and she had not realized how much the experience had altered her.
"I didn't realize I was surviving day to day, was struggling with depression and anxiety, and I would not go out in public places without the aid of one of my kids," Rebekah recalled.
Rebekah joined the Navy in October 2001, right after 9/11. She served for 20 years, completed a combat tour in Iraq with the Army in 2011, and retired as Command Chief at the Navy Operational Support Center in Portland, Oregon.
One moment at a shopping mall brought clarity to Rebekah’s situation. Surrounded by crowds, noise, and chaos, Rebekah thought she was hiding her panic well. She was wrong.
"I remember my daughter touching me, which helped bring me back to the present moment, and telling me, 'Mom, you need to get help. You are not ok,'" Rebekah said. "It was that day I realized that I was failing as a mother and I was failing myself."
Her teenage daughter had become what Rebekah calls her "service kid," watching for signs of distress and sacrificing her own normal teenage life to keep her mother grounded. It was a role neither of them was equipped for.
A fellow Navy Sailor who had a service dog told Rebekah about Northwest Battle Buddies (NWBB). After discussing the possibility with her counselor, Rebekah knew a service dog could help her navigate daily life with PTSD and give her daughter the freedom to be a teenager again.
When NWBB founder Shannon Walker paired Rebekah with a Boxer mix rescue named Trigger,, Rebekah had doubts at first. She had envisioned a large German Shepherd she could hide behind.
"Let’s just say that Shannon and the NWBB team know exactly what they are doing. When Trigger came into the room and jumped in my lap and licked my face, I knew that this dog was going to forever change my life," Rebekah recalled. "We had a connection immediately."
Trigger's rescue background made their bond even more meaningful. "I always tell people that Trigger and I saved each other," she said. "Him coming from a shelter and me coming from a place of pain, darkness, and anxiety."
The six weeks of training with NWBB had an immediate impact. Rebekah found herself surrounded by other Veterans on similar journeys, and she formed lifelong friendships with them.
"Learning how to use my battle buddy in public and not having to rely on my kids felt like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders," she explained.
Admitting she needed help as an active-duty senior leader was not easy. Many Veterans struggle with the stigma surrounding mental health, and Rebekah worried about how her peers might react.
"Trigger gave me the courage to proudly admit that I was not perfect and that I had a diagnosis of PTSD and that was ok," Rebekah said. "It was nothing to be ashamed of."
Her openness created a ripple effect. Many staff members at her command started seeking counseling for their own struggles.
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Organizations like NWBB depend on supporters who want to create similar ripple effects. You can help by joining Operation Never Quit (ONQ), which provides ongoing funding to train PTSD service dogs for American Heroes. |
Today, Rebekah's daughter is 22, married, and a mother herself. She is pursuing a degree in psychology, inspired by watching her mother's journey with mental health.
"In the times when loved ones can't be present, Trigger can, and that is the difference a service dog makes in a moment of anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or a flashback," Rebekah said.
Like many Veterans with PTSD service dogs, Rebekah has found that her battle buddy offers understanding without judgment. "In a world of fight or flight, you start to choose to fight for yourself and try to start living a life again instead of just surviving day by day," she said.
Inspired by her own healing, Rebekah founded Triggered 22, a clothing company based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, dedicated to raising awareness about PTSD and Veteran suicide. The name honors both her service dog and the more than 22 Veterans who die by suicide every day.
"It was time to stop hiding behind my invisible wounds and start embracing my PTSD," Rebekah explained. "I was tired of surviving. I wanted to live."
A portion of Triggered 22's proceeds goes directly to organizations like NWBB, while also providing support to Veterans in the local community. Through the company, Rebekah shares resources, connects Veterans to treatment options, and spreads a message of hope. Her mission: Stop surviving. Start living. Never quit until 22 is zero.
"I want to be the voice of change, and I want to change the mentality of mental health, especially in the Veteran and military community," Rebekah said.
For Veterans who are struggling or hesitant to seek support, Rebekah's message is clear: "Do not wait to get help. You matter. You are valued. And your PTSD does not define you. Please don't just survive through your day-to-day life. Live your life to the fullest. There is always some light in the darkness."
If you have been moved by Rebekah’s journey and want to help other American Heroes reclaim their independence, consider supporting NWBB through Operation Never Quit (ONQ).
For as low as $22 a month, you can help provide professionally trained PTSD service dogs to Veterans like Rebekah for free, ensuring they never have to fight their battles alone.
Join Operation Never Quit today and start making a difference!