Army Sgt. Josh Marino was struggling with the emotional toll of war and his pain was so deep that it even led him to the brink of ending his life.
But then he met Scout, a tiny kitten who offered him comfort and companionship when he needed it most, and thus saved his life.
Here’s their touching story that shows how a simple act of kindness from a small furry friend helped a suffering man rediscover his strength and purpose.
Josh returned home from his service in Iraq with deep emotional scars. This experience had left him with a traumatic brain injury and severe PTSD.
His pain became unbearable, leading him to a dark place where he felt he should end his life. Josh recalled in a heartfelt YouTube video:
“I didn’t want to deal with it anymore. I took out one of my knives… I wrote a letter on my computer and went outside to smoke one last cigarette.”
As he stood outside his barracks at Fort Riley in Kansas, preparing for his last goodbye, Josh heard a soft meow – a tiny black and white kitten emerged from the bushes.
Josh described their first encounter:
“He just walked up and started rubbing up against my leg and let me pet him. I broke down crying, burst into tears… Maybe he knew there was something I couldn’t quite handle.”
The kitten, whom Josh named Scout, became his anchor. Through caring for this little guy, Josh began to shift his focus from his own suffering to the well-being of furry pal, as he shared:
“I stopped thinking about all my problems and started thinking about his problems and what I could do to help him.”
Scout’s arrival marked a turning point in Josh’s life, reminding him that he still had the capacity to care and to be cared for.
Their bond grew stronger each day as Josh made it his mission to ensure Scout was well-fed and happy.
But then, one day, Scout vanished without a trace. Josh searched for him everywhere but Scout was nowhere around. Josh felt devastated without his little buddy, sharing:
“When I found out that he wasn’t around anymore it devastated me. He had a serious effect on me, he helped me realize that I could actually not just care for somebody else but other people could care for me.”
Months later, Josh started a new chapter in his life and began dating someone special.
With his new girlfriend Becky, Josh visited a pet adoption event, inspired by the positive change Scout had brought into his life.
While wandering through the event, a little black and white paw reached out from a crate and tapped Josh on the arm. He couldn’t believe his eyes: it was Scout!
Recounting on their joyful reunion, Josh shared:
“As we were looking around, all of a sudden, a little black and white paw shot out from a crate and started smacking my left arm. I opened up that cage, and I pulled him out, and I held him tight.”
Without hesitation, Josh completed the adoption paperwork for Scout and took him home, determined to give this kitty the best life possible.
Scout became a driving force behind Josh’s transformation. He began to take better care of himself – he adopted healthier habits, quit smoking, and embraced a whole new outlook on life.
Josh then discharged from the Army and got a master’s degree in clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling. He got married and dedicated his career to helping other veterans navigate their own struggles.
One day, Scout began acting differently. He seemed sluggish, so Josh took him to the vet, only to learn that Scout tested positive for feline leukemia.
The news was devastating. They managed to get Scout a blood transfusion and decided to spoil him for whatever time he had left.
Josh cherished these final days with Scout, showering him with all his love and attention.
But one night, Scout’s condition worsened. His breathing became labored, and despite Josh’s best efforts to get him to the vet, Scout passed away in his arms.
The loss was heart-wrenching for Josh, as he explained:
“It hurts so much… He saved my life. He put me on a different path, he gave me the confidence to try to come back from all the adversity that I was feeling.”
Every day, Josh thinks about Scout and the profound impact he had on him. That little kitten who came into his life at a moment of crisis, became more than just a pet. He was a source of hope and healing for Josh, who shared:
“Scout was my pal buddy. He saved me, all I did was the paperwork.”
Josh and Scout’s story is truly inspiring. Even though it didn’t have a happy ending, it holds a powerful message for us all: that just like this kitty saved Josh, we all have the power to make a difference in each other’s lives.
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