VETERAN TESTIMONIALS

Bob and SSD TieRod

SGM. (R) Robert (Bob) Lighty served honorably in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army with multiple overseas tours. He served as the operations Sergeant Major for the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Afghanistan. Only months after this assignment, Bob was redeployed as an embedded trainer for the Afghan National Army. An incident occurred, resulting in Bob being medevacked out of Afghanistan for emergency medical treatment. But soon, Bob returned to Afghanistan to continue his mission.

Paula and Dollie

”Paula Crawford-Gamble has spearheaded a partnership at Penn Medicine with Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection where Veterans get to interact with dogs from birth through adulthood, training them to act as service dogs for fellow service men and women through a program called “Mission-based trauma recovery”. She now has a service dog of her own, Dollie, who helps her navigate the aftereffects of a TBI. Crawford-Gamble has limited vision in her left eye due to a helicopter mishap, so Dollie guides her around objects she can’t see in her peripheral vision. Dollie also helps with the painful headaches her owner is prone to — sometimes placing her paws under Crawford-Gamble’s neck during an episode to provide comforting pressure. the first time Dollie performed the acupressure-like treatment — it is not a skill the veteran was aware the dog was capable of. “She did that on her own,” Crawford-Gamble said. “She’s an innovative provider."

Paula Crawford-Gamble - Conshohocken, PA - Team Foster

Mike and WCC Cookie Dough

SGT. Mike Geib is a Gulf War Veteran who was medically discharged from the United States Army in 1994. After years of experiencing a multitude of medically unexplained symptoms, including numbness in his legs and feet, Mike participated in a “Gulf War Study,” where it was confirmed that he had been exposed to Sarin Gas during the war.

BRANDI AND CLARA

As an Airman in the military, Brandi had the honor of being a combat medic during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning home, she developed PTSD, dealing with panic and anxiety attacks, flashbacks, self-isolation, and severe depression. She almost took her life on more than one occasion. Guardian Angel's paired Brandi with an amazing service dog named Clara. Since having Clara, her symptoms have decreased, she has gone back to work, and feeling positive again for the first time in a long time about her future. Clara has literally saved her life.

Craig and Foxy

Craig spent 21 years in the Marine Corps obtaining the rank of Master Sergeant. During his time in the Corps, Craig was able to train with some of the Marine Corps elite units including 2nd ANGLICO, 2nd Recon BN, 2nd Force Recon Co, and 3rd Recon BN. Craig was a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) Instructor and taught these techniques to members of the 3rd Recon Bn. While stationed in Okinawa Craig taught Sentry Stalking and Silent Kill Techniques along with Close Combat Instruction to many Marines.

Craig and Foxy - Conshohocken, PA - Team Foster

Curtis and Spence

I was 88M Heavy Equipment Transport and have served in Iraq three times. Spence completes several tasks for me, like retrieving medicine and my phone. He helps with my nightmares at night. He wakes me up if I am going through an episode in my sleep. In public, he is excellent. It is because of him that I can venture out into the world.

Curtis and Spence - Conshohocken, PA - Team Foster

Do you care to share your story with our team or wish to learn more about how Team Foster can help make a difference in a veteran's life? Message our team at us@TeamFoster.org.

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