"If it was not for Embrace A Vet, I don't know how much my sweet Carol and kids could have taken.  Joy and all of the Embrace A Vet staff  have a way to deal with PTS(d)  Dr. Fred helped me a lot and I now have a service dog.  They may have saved my life"  This was written by a veteran who has made multiple suicide attempts.   And from his daughters:   I wanted to thank you for all the work that you as an organization do.  Since my father attended your retreat recently, I have seen so many positive changes in him.  Not only in him but in the relationship my parents share.  I can not thank you enough and am excited for the relationship he will continue to build with all of you.  And now we have welcomed Sammie into the family as my dad's service dog!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!"   "am loving all that Embrace A Vet has done for my dad...He is a changed man.  I don't see him often but all the pictures I am seeing the post he has been making on facebook are great...So glad that Embrace A Vet cares about our Veterans and works with helping them as they struggle from results of serving our country..."

  “I was not going to have anything to do with this program. However, after coming I feel like a new person. I would recommend to any person who served their country., You will never regret it.”

“I have needed a service dog for several years, but would never violate the bond Roco and I have built by bringing an outsider(a trainer) into our relationship. EAV made it possible for us to work together, raising the quality of life for us both

After our recent retreat, a Vietnam era veteran spouse remarked: "it's like we are on our second honeymoon! Thanks Joy for bringing Joy back into our lives."

"Thank you for supporting us and providing such life changing activities."

“The caregivers group gave me the tools I need to begin to see I am worthy of something and can stand up and say what I feel. I am going home with these tools and work very hard so my husband and I can begin to communicate. Thank you all!”    

“I think that every vet should come to one of these retreats. It helped me and my wife reconnect for the first time since 2011. She says 'I have the old you back, the man I married.' Thank you for everything.”

After our most recent retreat, a spouse says of his spouse: "I finally have a battle buddy!"

One veteran, in talking about the recent retreat said: It's nice to leave without WHAT we came in with!"

“I felt that no body understood what I was coping with. This retreat gave me support, practice tools and contact persons to assist in healing.”

“This retreat helped save my relationship. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for the opportunity to have come here and experience this retreat. It is something that can not be explained or described. This retreat changes lives and you have to experience it to understand. God bless Joy and her staff, without them none of this would be possible” Moving forward I will be seeking out an acupuncturist and revisiting Dr. Shotz”

“I can not describe this experience. I truly came here desperate. I am leaving her refreshed, rejuvenated and excited to move forward. “Thank you” is not enough to say. The techniques Dr. Fred taught are priceless. I don’t know why the world doesn’t know this. Sitting down with Judy opened my eyes. She really made everything about me positive when I had only viewed it negatively. She said part of my healing need to be that I have a purpose and I am giving the world something. She is completely right!!!”