Hello everyone. My name is Scott Larkin. First off I would like to thank you for taking the time to look at my LFEBridge account.I am a Marine Infantry Combat veteran with 9 years of honorable service beginning in 2003. I spent all my service time in California and deployed 4 times over seas. In March 2004 I deployed to Fallujah Iraq. Then in April I was apart of the main assualt force ordered to clear the city in response to insurgents hanging the American Blackwater contractors from the bridge. On April 14th an enemy mortor exploded 6 feet behind me resulting in being knocked unconcious temporarly, receiving a Tramatic Brain Injury and shrapnel being lodged in my head for three weeks. Since that day I haven't been the same. The entire deployment consisted of night terrors and only a few hours of sleep each night. The tragic loss of close friends and fellow Marines has been a constant thought. In October 2005, just 12 months later, I returned to Iraq again, apart of a main assualt force clearing cities and villages of enemy insurgents. Again we lost great Marines that paid the ultimate sacrifce. Upon returning I married. June 2006 I was in a training accident when my humvee rolled over and again I was knocked unconcious, suffering a back injury and TBI. Deployed to Okinawa Japan in 2007. When I returned I was blessed with a beautiful daughter that is my world. Lastly in 2010 I deployed to Helman Valley Afghanistan for 7 months. The psychological and emotional toll it took on me was devastating. I saw horrific atrocities that I can not speak of. The IED threat was as high as ever in Afghanistan at that time. I was in a position with 13 Marines and a Navy Corpsman under my command. Upon returning to the United States I received a Dear John email just 18 hours before coming back. My wife had filed for a divorce. I didn't get to see my daughter the day I returned and I felt as if a piece of my heart had been ripped out. Shortly after returning I was diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, and Major Depressive Disorder. My back was also in great pain from all the deployments, training and I was diagnosed with Degenrative Disc Decease. My body had taken enough. I started seeing a chiropractor and psychotherapist twice a week until I seperated in January of 2012. Since then I have struggled to keep employment due to my sypmtoms of PTSD and my back injury. Everyday is painful and emotional. I became suicidal in the past few years and have had multiple suicidal ideations. I have been homeless for the past 18 months. It came to a point that I admitted myself to the psych ward at the VA hospital in San Diego and began my long road to recovery. I spent 2 weeks there. On August 10th I finally got into a treatment facility. Im currently at the ASPIRE center in San Diego. It is a VA inpatient treatment facility for PTSD and TBI, housing 36 other combat veterans. Even though my daughter is here in San Diego, I dont get ample time to spend with her while in treatment due to the strict program requirments. I have a tenative discharge date of Febuary 2016. The disability compensation that I receive from the VA is barely enough to get by each month. It is my hope to move back to my home state of Washington to be closer to my family and friends. That is my support group. My car is in dire need of repair and maintenance. With christmas coming also, I would like to provide gifts for my daughter and my family for the holidays. Your donations would help me acheive my goals of recovery and reconnecting with my family and friends. If you can not make a donation, sharing would be greatly appriciated.
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