Turk Escalada

When I came home I suffered from nightmares, anger fits, and lack of sleep. Drinking and gambling was my only escape. I was soon after diagnosed with PTSD and a year later I was diagnosed with arthritis in my feet. I couldn’t keep a job, gained a lot of weight and began to neglect myself and those I loved. In December of 2013 my wife and I moved to San Diego for a new start and she convinced me to start the P.O.W. program. I finally agreed and have been participating since May 2014. I’ve lost 30lbs and counting, I’ve learned how to control my anger, my feet and ankles are no longer stiff and painful, I have changed my eating habits, and I have been developing the confidence I needed to start taking better care of myself. I’ve also become more social, and have learned how to communicate without hiding behind my rage. I’ve become more responsible for my mental health and have become more open and accepting of my condition. I am an entirely new person today than I was 6 months ago, and I am eager to stay with the P.O.W. program and progress even further.

Turk Escalada
USMC, 1316 Welder
Deployed to Afghanistan 2009-2010