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Hello Dr. Cantrell, I met you yesterday at the work shop you had at Evergreen Chapel. I want you to know it was wonderful!!! My husband and I were actually going through a real rough period, rough enough that a day before you actually had the meetings we were going to call it quits!!! I had had enough of his attitude and the way he was so different. The next morning when you had the work shop with them , he said he was in shock to listen to you. He said he felt you were talking directly towards him. Everything you were briefing on he was going through 85% of it. He then called me and said he was wrong and that he wanted us to get the help we need. I agreed to go listen to you and I was glad I did. It made me understand his point of view and it there were several times I just wanted to cry in front of everyone , but I held up. I was just so emotional that day with everything going on. Now he is fully aware of the situation and he is not in denial. Thank you for taking the time to do this for the families!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again thank you for bringing our family back together, I really believe God sent you that day.

Hello,

I am inquiring about potential counseling services for my boyfriend, John. He recently returned from a tour in Iraq about two months ago, which was his third tour. He has been diagnosed with TBI and PTSD and is struggling with both of them.

I understand that Dr. Cantrell recently spoke at Fort Lewis regarding PTSD for the soldiers and the spouses, but I unfortunately could not be present. John came back from that meeting with the first willingness to express emotions about what it is that he is feeling and is struggling with and last night agreed to see an outside counselor. He currently does not feel as if he is getting the support and direction that he needs from the physiologist and physiatrist (affectionately known as the wizard) that he is being cared for at Fort Lewis.

We would both appreciate any information or support that you may be able to offer regarding this. I am noticing that the PTSD and a resulting depression are having a more noticeable effect each day. Although I am a nurse, this most certainly is not my field of expertise to help him.

We thank you in advance for any assistance or information that you may be able to offer. Thank you so much for the work that you are doing.

Subject: From a SGT Fort Lewis August 2008

Dr. Cantrell,


I wanted to take the time to let you know that your briefing today was very informative and I could relate to much of what was discussed. We have so many re-integration briefings and surveys that all say the same things. But the subjects and situations you touched on, while along the same lines, hit closer to home with me. I use to think that my little stresses about driving on the freeway or sitting facing the door in public places was silly considering that I only went on 21 missions outside the wire. I thought, who am I to feel this way when there are so many soldiers who were out there six days a week or for months at a time and all I do is sit behind a desk all day. I did not know that almost everyone who comes back from deployment feel that way. Do not misunderstand me, I did not believe I was the only one, I just did not think I had a right to feel that way.

I appreciate that you spend so much of your time away from home to help soldiers and their families.

I hope to hear from you soon, you are an amazing person and I thank you again.

Subject: From another Soldier

Dear Dr. Cantrell,

I have a lot I feel I need to talk about and there are not very many people who understand. As far as people saying that they do not want to listen to a civilian who has never been deployed, I believe that your experience with the military is far more involved than some of the people who are actually enlisted. Hope to hear from you soon.

A Soldier

Dear Dr. Cantrell,

I want to tell you that I got your book Down Range To Iraq and Back when I was deployed and I had all sorts of ideas about coming home until I read your book. It scared the "shit" out of me. I was better prepared after reading your book. My wife was going to stock the refrigerator with my favorite beer and all of that. I told her not to have any alcohol in the house, and I also realized I had to give my weapons to someone else for a while. When I got home I was very angry and I knew after reading your book that I could not afford to let my anger get the best of me. My wife and I are in marriage counseling but it was your book that gave us what we needed to make some good decisions for us, from the beginning.

Your workshop was awesome, I can't tell you how much we appreciate what you have done for us, and for all of us in uniform. Please tell Mr. Dean that I also appreciate his contribution as well.

From a SGT and his wife

The time we spent on the course was a real blessing for my wife and I. My father is a Vietnam veteran and I grew up with his aftermath of war. This course has helped my wife and I to resolve issues in our relationship that had been festering for the 15 years since leaving the Air Force. The insight gathered from Dr. Bridget Cantrell's research, and the gut-level experiences of Chuck Dean, was a true eye opener for the both of us.  This is a vital endeavor!

Sincerely,

S and S K.

Thank you Dr. Cantrell,

My husband and I both found the material in your wonderful course of great value and only wish it would have been available when Bill returned from Viet Nam.  So many of the things we have struggled with over the years could have been dealt with then and we would have had a much better understanding of what was going on with him and our family. Many of the pitfalls that we fell into might have been avoided and hopefully many of the returning soldiers in the current war will have the benefit of this wonderful and timely course.

B and H K.

An Awesome Experience

My wife and I were very much impressed by the contents of "Turning Your Heart Toward Home" as it was presented to us by Dr Bridget Cantrell.

"Finding meaning and purpose from your experience" brought me out of a state of uselessness to a hope for future involvement. Lesson one gave my wife a better understanding of how and why PTSD had played a major role in a shaky relationship for many years.

Thank you for your unselfish sacrifice and dedication in helping veterans and their families find peace and purpose for a life beyond hopelessness. May these principles be taught to everyone returning from the horrors of war and their families.

Sgt "Swede", Vietnam Veteran, USMC.