PTSD veteran wanted to die but his dog wanted him to live

Dog saves veteran from taking his own life
Global News Wire
RedRover
December 20, 2013

CHICAGO, Dec. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It's a miracle that Sergeant Michael Sorensen is still alive. A veteran of the Iraq war, he was blasted by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) four times during his deployments and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury. He has a cracked T-4 vertebra which needs kyphoplasty surgery to stabilize his spine. For his sacrifices, he was awarded a Purple Heart.

Since his service ended in 2009, Michael has been admitted to VA hospitals on five different occasions to overcome the symptoms of PTSD, but each time the treatments failed. Michael became depressed and angry – even suicidal.

Then Michael met Bane. Bane came from a rescue organization which retrains pit bulls to be companion and therapy dogs for war veterans. The organization saved Bane from a local animal shelter where he was scheduled to be euthanized the next day if no one adopted him.

At first, even with Bane, Michael was still in a bad state of mind. One night, Michael made the decision to end the suffering. Bane sensed that something was wrong and wouldn't leave his side, guarding Michael from the knife that he set out on the bed.

Michael broke down in tears as he realized that this dog cared for him. After that night, Michael and Bane became inseparable. Bane had saved Michael's life. Today, Bane wears a harness so that Michael can lean on him. He brings Michael's shoes to him; he turns on and off the lights.
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