"Our garden of hope helps veterans heal and grow"

Battling PTSD, Anne Marie Mucci's Marine veteran son had retreated from the world. But when he helped her plant a vegetable garden, hope sprouted in his heart-and grew into a mission to help others too

- Bill Holton

Sun beamed down as Anne Marie Mucci dug her shovel into a patch of earth in her West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, yard. Anne Marie usually planted flowers, but this time, the then-54-year-old was going to try a vegetable garden. As she turned the soil, suddenly, her son, Jason Landry, came up behind her. "Let me do that," he offered-and Anne Marie couldn't have been more shocked or grateful.

When, after four years of Marine service in Iraq, Jason had come home, he was a changed man. Struggling with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, he barely spoke. His depression deepened when a Marine buddy of his died by suicide. Jason had a warehouse job, but spent most of his time in his room, sleeping, watching TV and playing video games.

But that spring day in 2016, as he gazed out of his window, he couldn't just stand by, watching, while his mom was working so hard.

Taking over the digging, Jason was surprised by how calm and relaxed he felt. The next morning, he cranked up the mower and cut the lawn. And the day after that, he trimmed bushes and weeded flower beds.

Anne Marie sent up a silent prayer of thanks. And she got an idea: If gardening could help her son, maybe it could help other veterans too.

"If I found a good spot, what do you think of planting a bigger garden-one where other vets could come and grow with us?" she asked Jason.

Jason thought for a moment, then smiled at her, "I think it might work."

Garden of joy