The stray cat ran the guy down and saved him from suicide

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), unfortunately, common among many soldiers who were witness to military conflicts. It is an invisible wound that continues to cause incredible suffering for a long time after the guns are silent. "Many of us come home, not realizing that waging a war for themselves," says Josh Marino, a veteran of the Iraq war that PTSD was nearly driven to suicide.

Sergeant Josh Marino was returning from a mission, when near him was a powerful explosion. Marino did not have time to escape, and he was hurt by shrapnel. Josh was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and sent him home to be treated. Marino complained of memory loss, difficulty concentrating, headaches. He had a panic attack, and he saw no reason to live.

Exhausted by the struggle against the "invisible wounds" of PTSD, he decided to commit suicide. Josh wrote a note, took a knife and went outside to smoke last cigarette. It was at that moment when he stood in the courtyard of the depths of despair came hope.

From the bushes near ran that little black and white kitten. "He just came over and started rubbing up against my legs, allowing me to pet him," said Josh. At the sight of the kitten inside the young man broke down, he cried. This unexpected meeting changed everything. Then he removed the suicide note that you left on the computer.

Day after day, Marino left the house with food to meet a new friend, which he named Scout. "It was like a ritual, says Josh. — He restored something in me. That which was lost."

One day Josh, as usual, left the house with a jar of tuna for a Scout, but he did not come. Marino couldn't find him, he was very sad to lose a friend. But by the time the Scout helped Josh overcome depression. At Marino already had a relationship with Becky, which he knew from school. Soon they were married.

"If not for the Scout, I would not have. If not for him, I wouldn't even speak to my wife," said Josh.

But Providence again interfered in the life of Josh. One day he was walking with his wife. They walked past the animal shelter, and Becky convinced him to go inside. They walked past cages with animals and looked around. "When we walked along the cages with the cats, one suddenly stuck his paw and hit me in the left hand. I looked inside — it was the same black-and-white cat who saved my life! I grabbed him up and was afraid to let go," recalls Josh. Scout found his way back into his life. Josh saw this as a sign and hurried to take the cat home.When the contract is Marino ended, he decided to help other veterans of the military actions. He received education and got a job in a rehabilitation center, to support those who also suffered from PTSD. All the while the Scout was there.

That all changed in August 2011. Josh is back home, and Scout, as usual, met him at the door, but was somehow sluggish. Josh had a sneaking suspicion that something with a cat is not fine. The vet confirmed this, placing the diagnosis "leukemia". The doctor said that the cat left to live for ten days. Marino decided not to put down a Scout. "I couldn't bear the thought of him, to put him to sleep, I didn't mean to kill him," said Josh. He decided to do everything possible to the last days Scout was happy. Josh allowed the cat to do whatever he liked. But night came, when the time came to say goodbye. The cat began to gasp and just lay on the floor. Marino took it in his hands, and the Scout died.