We Walk the Line: Turning loss into a lifeline
LANSING, Mich. (InvestigateTV) - A growing number of veterans and first responders are dying by suicide, struggling with the invisible wounds of service.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates an average of 22 veterans take their own lives each day, and hundreds of first responders die by suicide annually.
For Tonya and Scott Shea, the mission is personal. Their son, Army Specialist Connor Shea, was a quiet, old soul with a passion for fishing and Johnny Cash.
“His peaceful part of him was fishing. And he would just go on the lakes with his buddies or by himself, put in some headphones, listen to some Johnny Cash, cast some reel, and he was just simple.” Tonya Shea said.
Weeks before shipping out to basic training, Connor saved two children from drowning during a family trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Connor, who had eyes of a hawk always, he screams, ‘Dad we got to go, somebody’s drowning.’” Tonya Shea recalled.
“I can honestly say like if it wasn’t for him, two kids would have died that day.” Scott Shea said.
Connor went on to serve two years at the National Training Center in the Mojave Desert.
The isolation, dangerous exercises and COVID-19 lockdowns took a toll. Shortly after spending the holidays with his family, he died by suicide at 21.
“I think everything was a fog from that point,” Scott said.
Months later, the family’s bulldog inspired them to create their nonprofit, We Walk the Line, raising funds for Blue Star Service Dogs.
“This big lug of a bulldog would just curl up next to you and put his head in your lap, and just look at you like you’re going to be okay. And I got you. And so we were like service dogs, like service dogs are expensive.” Tonya Shea said.
Blue Star, based in Michigan, provides service dogs to veterans and first responders with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries.
“A lot of our veterans and first responders are broken. We’re almost their last hope. They find us, they come in, they’ve tried the medicine, they’ve tried the therapy, nothing’s worked,” said Executive Director Trish Barnes.
“The dog will watch the person’s back, will block somebody if they’re in their personal space, pick up dropped items, make them feel like they have a purpose again. They’re able to go to their kids’ sports events, the grocery store by themselves,” she said.
Blue Star adopts shelter dogs and trains them in prisons before pairing them with veterans and first responders.
Marine veteran Laszlo Szalay said his service dog saved him after a head injury triggered a mental health crisis.
“I put a gun in my mouth and I pulled a trigger and it didn’t fire. Then I tossed it on the bed and said, ‘You’re such a loser that you can’t even do this right.’” Szalay said.
“Once I got my dog, then I had a reason to get up in the morning. I had to take care of him. And it gave me purpose,” he said.
Szalay said the dog also helped him reconnect with people.
“People started coming up to me and they said, ‘Well your dog, can I pet your dog? Can I talk to you about your dog?’”
His first service dog, Emperor, died five years ago. His current dog, Winston, was trained in a Michigan prison.
“We teach our dogs deep pressure therapy, waking up from night terrors, find my medication, so many different obstacles,” said trainer Glenn Dennard, who served more than 17 years in prison for second-degree murder.
“I initially joined it because I just love dogs. There was days in there where I was frustrated or whatever case may be going on. Wanted to be home, missing my family. I wasn’t doing too well and upon me training these dogs for a veteran first responder, the dogs was helping me out as well.” Dennard said.
He earned an associate’s degree in business management in prison to prove his commitment to Blue Star.
“I went to school and I got my Associate’s Degree in business management. Just to show them that I was serious,” he said.
Now free for more than a year, Dennard trains service dogs full-time.
“The trajectory of where I was going, everything has been a complete blessing.” he said.
The Sheas have sponsored several service dogs through their nonprofit.
“They have sponsored three or four dogs now, and each dog has saved a veteran or first responder’s life, and it’s absolutely amazing.” Barnes said.
“If we can prevent another family from going through what we have gone through. I think he’d be proud of that, for sure.” Scott Shea said.
For more information on We Walk the Line: https://www.wewalktheline3.org/
For more information on Blue Star Service Dogs: https://www.bluestarservicedogs.org/
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