Jason And Eden

Jason Blondin enlisted in the Marine Corps in June of 1993 and served honorably until June of 1997. In February of 2005 he reentered active duty and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. In November of 2006, while in the turret of a mine resistant, ambush-protected vehicle, the MRAP hit a large crater in the roadway, causing Jason to hit the front of his head, the back of his head, and the front of his head again on parts of the vehicle. 

Since this incident, he has experienced post-concussive syndrome, which affects his balance and cognitive functions. He was transferred to Wounded Warrior Battalion East and was subsequently medically retired from the Marine Corps. Just a few weeks after receiving Service Dog Eden, Jason is finding himself going shopping, smiling and laughing more. The one thing he did not expect was that Eden would make him laugh so much. Jason works with Eden everyday to keep up their skills and has even begun to enjoy some beach time with his new friend. He is learning to be more at ease when out in public and he gives all the credit to Eden. “She is a huge help when I am waiting for something at the doctors or in line at the store. Talking to her is a relief for me and petting her. It helps a lot with anxiety issues,” says Jason about having Eden by his side.

—

Guest post by Canines for Service