Kaneohe Marine Cpl. Rafael Cervantes suffered a broken back and pelvis and an open leg fracture in April when his truck was blown apart by an improvised explosive device during his second deployment to Afghanistan.He’s still battling a bad infection in his right leg and requires more surgery.
But it’s his invisible wounds that continue to wreak havoc on the 22-year-old Marine. "I have nightmares every night about the accident, about people dying," he said. "I tend to hold everything in and then blow up. I don’t want people to hear my problems."
Cervantes said he has found some solace by working with service dogs in the Canine Companions for Wounded Warriors program. "The dogs keep my mind from everything else and calm my nerves down. It helps me forget about things for a while," he said.
The alternative therapy program is a partnership between Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit agency that provides services to severely injured service members as they make the transition to civilian life, and Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs, which trains dogs to aid the disabled.
During weekly sessions over a six-week period, wounded Marines from Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay play with and help train Hawaii Fi-Do canines.
The service dogs provide emotional and psychological support to the Marines, help decrease stress and anxiety, and boost confidence, according to Susan Luehrs, Hawaii Fi-Do’s executive director.
"Dogs have unconditional love and can help build confidence, bridge social gaps, calm individuals, allow feelings of safety, decrease isolation and pain, and act as a coping strategy to ride out the symptoms," she said.
The skills the Marines are learning can also be used to enhance their personal relationships, she added. "We show them that dogs have feelings and give unconditional love. Some guys have never had a dog, but these dogs are very social and give licks, nuzzlesand interact with them on the first day," Luehrs said.
At least two more six-week sessions will be conducted under the program’s current grant, and Luehrs is hoping additional support will pay for future sessions. U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii recently introduced the K-9 Companion Corps Act, which would provide funding for assistance dogs for military personnel.
MARINE CPL. Daniel Carter says the dog he has been working with, a golden retriever named Finn, continues to improve his outlook on life. Carter was extremely depressed after finding out he would not be allowed to remain in the infantry because of the severe head, back and internal injuries he suffered in Afghanistan last February.
"I felt isolated and unsocial. I couldn’t even have a roommate because of my nightmares," he said.
Finn now lives with Carter, 21, and when the Marine is experiencing a lot of pain, the dog retrieves his medication. "After he gets my meds, he lays on the bed and comforts me," he said.
"Finn gives me a sense of responsibility and belonging. We go to the movies and out to eat together. He always cheers me up. He’s easy to talk to and always listens, sits there and wags his tail."
Also suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Carter says he has difficulty trusting people or connecting with others. But Finn has made a huge difference for him.
"Everyone wants to pet him, so it forces me to have conversations. He definitely helps whenI get really upset and frustrated.He separates me from the crowd, forces me to go on walks and gets my phone when I can’t get up," he said.
"He wakes me up when I’m having a bad dream. I love him to death. He’s my best friend."
TARYN DEAN, a licensed clinical consultant at Wounded Warrior Detachment Hawaii, said the partnership with Hawaii Fi-Do provides another treatment option for service members struggling with the aftereffects of war.
"There is always a need for an array of services to treat all medical conditions. What works for one may not always work for another so it is beneficial to have a variety of choices and options available to treat complex issues such as PTSD," she said.
Marie Selarque, a certified professional dog trainer who works with the program, has witnessed lots of improvement over the past several weeks.
"The guys are interacting with the dogs and with one another more. There is a sense of responsibility and care when a dog comes in the picture, and that draws them out in a gentle fashion," she said.
Dean added, "Marines who lacked motivation or who previously were isolating themselves as a symptom of their combat stress injuries now have furry friends that encourage them to engage with others and consistently give them reason and responsibility to interact with the world."
