I want to thank Light Up to Live Foundation for the led light therapy system that was donated to me. Because of the poor circulation and neuropathy the LED light therapy system has been a tremendous help. The system has allowed me to do things with a lot less pain. Again, thank you very much.

I wanted to express my appreciation again to say I am grateful to be a recipient of a light system. My highly active lifestyle is a vital component to my approach toward holistic health. The light system directly enhances my rest, recovery, relaxation, and restoration following intense training sessions, and it allows me to continue training without interruption from injury. The benefits of this light system touch all aspects of my health and active lifestyle from full-body recovery, enhanced sleep quality, and overall stress management. Thank you, Light Up to Live, for your healing touch!

With my utmost, heartfelt gratitude,

Statistics show that twenty-two U.S. military veterans commit suicide per day. After serving in the Air Force, I fell victim to PTSD and the constant anguish it caused in my life. Struggling every day to find the hope to continue on put me in one of the darkest places of my life. The depression, the non-stop anxiety, the terrifying nightmares, and the fear that consumed my every day started to negatively impact my relationships with others. I turned to therapists a few different times, but still could not move forward. After a little over seven years of feeling defeated, I took the advice of another fellow veteran and looked into getting a service dog. I was a bit skeptical at first, and just couldn’t imagine a dog being able to help me out of the deep hole I was in.

In October 2020, I hopped on a plane and flew to Murrieta, California. The Patriotic Service Dog Foundation welcomed me with open arms to their ranch. After just a short time there on the ranch, I was introduced to a beautiful Labrador Retriever named Lincoln. From the moment Lincoln ran up to me with so much excitement and enthusiasm I felt a strong connection. It was almost as if there was this instant bond between him and I, and I just knew he was the one. Lincoln has become my best friend and my “shadow”. His hard work, dedication, love, and loyalty means everything to me. His display of intelligence while performing critical tasks helps ease my mind and stress throughout each day. He “blocks” for me, creating a comfort-zone between me and anyone I might be uncomfortable with. He recognizes when my anxiety level is rising, and becomes playful, demanding my attention until I am refocused on him. He helps keep me grounded in times of high anxiety using pressure therapy, with the weight of his body either laying across my feet or pressing up against my legs. Lincoln loves to go everywhere with me, and going out has become more enjoyable and manageable. His alertness to everyday life and the assurance he offers lets me know if I have a reason to be concerned in any given situation.

Lincoln is my everything and I cannot imagine life without him! I am forever grateful for the Light Up To Live Foundation for sponsoring Lincoln and providing support for his training at the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation. Both foundations are near and dear to my heart, and have become a huge part of my family now. With their support and service to veterans, individuals like myself have another chance at living a happier, more fulfilling life.

Within the first two weeks of having the chair and light system my pain level went from 8’s on a daily basis down to 4’s sometimes 3’s, I’m amazed at the light system because it’s hard for me to wrap my head around the science of light; I just know that it works and I am using it about 4-5 times a week depending on my pain.
The chair is all that they say it is and more, I work 50-60 hours a week as a Truck Driver hauling construction equipment and it has proven itself on construction sites, football fields, parks, out in the yard and everywhere I want to go, both of these most precious gifts are beyond words in expressing how much they have enriched my Life, such a great asset to assist me with comfort and rest as I continue my journey.

My name is James Marttila and I would first like to say thank you for sponsoring Doc. I am a Veteran of the United States Navy, which I served in for 6 years. Sorry if this letter sounds weird but I do not usually talk about myself. Serving in the Navy was one of the greatest times in my life. It gave me purpose and honor in serving the greatest nation. I was deployed in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and parts of Africa. 

Since being out of the Navy, I always believed that I was okay and handling life great, but when my wife, daughter, and friends suggested that I needed to get help, I decided to see what my options were. It was hard for me to search for help since I always feel that there is always another Veteran out there that needs help more than I do. Especially when you hear what limited funds there are and Vets that are homeless or need medical help that cannot get it. I feel that my Brothers in Arms need it more. 

My friends Chris and Jen Thomas suggested I talk to Tom and Terri and look into getting a service dog. I was paired up with Doc and there are no words that I could say on how grateful and honored I am to have Doc in my life. I needed Doc even more recently. I have been going through an even tougher time lately. I have been seeing a neurologist because I just started to have seizures. I was told by my doctor that due to my past head trauma I now have epilepsy and will have seizures for the rest of my life. My whole life I have always tried to do everything on my own and now having to rely on others is just so hard for me to come to grips with. 

When Doc is near me, he gives the feeling of having my brothers that I served with by my side again. All he wants to do is help me without judgement or sympathy. I thank you all for sponsoring such a wonderful FRIEND.  Y’all have to have a great heart to sponsor a service dog for someone that you don’t know. I will never be able to repay the kindness that your organization and Patriotic Service Dog Foundation has done for all the Veterans and myself. 

My name is Edward Jones; since my amputation in March of 21, I never went a day without intense phantom pain. I was gifted a LED light system from the Light Up To Live Foundation in Dallas, Texas. I use the system every day, reducing my phantom pain from an 8 to a 2. I am an amputee above the knee, and the light system has allowed me to continue my progress. Thank you, Ms. Ellis, and the Light Up To Live Foundation. You have helped me tremendously.

First and foremost, I want to personally thank Light Up To Live Foundation not only for the services they provide to wounded service members like me, but I want to thank them for providing me with the Light Therapy System that has changed my life. 

I knew nothing about polychromatic light therapy, but after learning about it and now using it for over three months – it has changed my life, physically and mentally.  After being wounded in combat from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) I’ve lived with a Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI) along with many other physical ailments for years.  In just over three months after using the Light Therapy System, I can do things I wasn’t fully able to do before the use of the Light Therapy System from my cognitive behavior to my mobility which was limited.  I’m now a believer in polychromatic light therapy and I will forever use my Light Therapy System. 

I want to thank the Light Up To Live Foundation for the donation of the polychromatic light therapy system. I am amazed how it has helped relieve the pain I have been dealing with for many years. Having a light system at home is beneficial as I can instantly get therapy when needed. My wife and adult children are also able to use it, which is amazing. Thank you for your support and your donation.