An amazing story, you have to hear this

[Axtech]

I'd been following this story since it first started. Read this. Trust me.

Last week, a man named Christopher Taylor left a disturbing message in the comments on Matt Good's blog, saying that he had gotten home from serving in Iraq, and was planning to kill himself. He couldn't stand that he had killed people, and to top it off he got home to find out his wife had been cheating on him.

You can see his post, and the many replies, here:

http://www.matthewgood.org/mblog/?p=579 (second comment down)

As you can see in the comments that followed, Matt and some of the commenters on his blog banded together to try to find this man and hopefully help him. By tracking his IP and contacting the army directly, they were able to track him down.

Matt posted about their success here:

http://www.matthewgood.org/mblog/?p=587

Turns out the story was more complex. There were actually two "Mr Taylors", both from the same division of the army, both living in the same area, and both suffering from PTSD and considering suicide. The army had found a Glen Taylor, who had actually also written a suicide note, and got him in for evaluation and observation before he did anything.

You can read about the full story and the outcome here:

http://www.matthewgood.org/mblog/?p=592

These events have now sent into motion a new study which will hopefully lead to a whole new program for the US army to offer assistance for all soldiers returning from duty. It turns out that the affects of PTSD are more widespread than the army perhaps thought, and now something is being done about it.

Were it not for Matt's Blog, and the compassion and determination of himself and his community, this would not have happened. Two lives would have been lost, and we can't even begin to imagine the number that may be saved with the implementation of this study and, hopefully, a much better treatment program within the army itself.

I'm personally absolutely amazed about this whole story. It seems surreal... I can't even put to words how amazing it is that Matt and his blog community came together like this to help him. It really says something about the power of human compassion, not to mention Matt's connection to his fans.

In the end, I'm really touched by this tangible message of hope in the face of something more dire than any of us could imagine. It really puts things into perspective.

[afealicious]

...that's incredible!

it's reading things like these that make me think people in general aren't selfish and mindless jerks all the time.

[mulch]

OHMIGOSH! That has got to be one of the coolest things ever. I love Matt Good that much more. Wow. WOW.

[Axtech]

...that's incredible!

it's reading things like these that make me think people in general aren't selfish and mindless jerks all the time.

Exactly.

[quietorloud]

Matt good rocks indeed.

On a somewhat related note.. one time, on a message board at www.gamefaqs.com, someone created a topic that said "I just swallowed a battery - Ask me anything.". He didn't know the harmful side affects of swallowing a battery, but then some other posters pointed it out to him, and he called the ambulance immediately, and thus his life was saved from the harmful stomach-eating-battery-acid!

Well, it doesn't sound so spectacular now, but.. it was!

[quietorloud]

Also, i think this deserves to be on the news, or atleast Muchnews.

[Soozy]

I'm so glad the guy's ok (well, both of them).

[_old_lady_peace]

AWW! That's so nice! I'm glad they're okay.

[thirdhour]

Also, i think this deserves to be on the news, or atleast Muchnews.

I don't really think so. I mean, the topic of mental health of returning soldiers definatly should be, but this one incident was something private that these two men had to deal with. Matt, and a few others, as people, not rock stars, responded to the need.

Really, why should this be all over the news any more than you talking a friend out of a stupid decision? It should be assumed that human beings are able to show this kind of compassion rather than it being news-worthy when it happens.

[Kathy]

I'd been following this story since it first started. Read this. Trust me.

Last week, a man named Christopher Taylor left a disturbing message in the comments on Matt Good's blog, saying that he had gotten home from serving in Iraq, and was planning to kill himself. He couldn't stand that he had killed people, and to top it off he got home to find out his wife had been cheating on him.

You can see his post, and the many replies, here:

http://www.matthewgood.org/mblog/?p=579 (second comment down)

As you can see in the comments that followed, Matt and some of the commenters on his blog banded together to try to find this man and hopefully help him. By tracking his IP and contacting the army directly, they were able to track him down.

Matt posted about their success here:

http://www.matthewgood.org/mblog/?p=587

Turns out the story was more complex. There were actually two "Mr Taylors", both from the same division of the army, both living in the same area, and both suffering from PTSD and considering suicide. The army had found a Glen Taylor, who had actually also written a suicide note, and got him in for evaluation and observation before he did anything.

You can read about the full story and the outcome here:

http://www.matthewgood.org/mblog/?p=592

These events have now sent into motion a new study which will hopefully lead to a whole new program for the US army to offer assistance for all soldiers returning from duty. It turns out that the affects of PTSD are more widespread than the army perhaps thought, and now something is being done about it.

Were it not for Matt's Blog, and the compassion and determination of himself and his community, this would not have happened. Two lives would have been lost, and we can't even begin to imagine the number that may be saved with the implementation of this study and, hopefully, a much better treatment program within the army itself.

I'm personally absolutely amazed about this whole story. It seems surreal... I can't even put to words how amazing it is that Matt and his blog community came together like this to help him. It really says something about the power of human compassion, not to mention Matt's connection to his fans.

In the end, I'm really touched by this tangible message of hope in the face of something more dire than any of us could imagine. It really puts things into perspective.

Thanks for sharing this story! I really needed to hear this today. I've heard 2 stories this weekend about people taking advantage of other people through their blogs and myspace groups and I was getting a little down.

~K

[nikki4982]

I don't really think so. I mean, the topic of mental health of returning soldiers definatly should be, but this one incident was something private that these two men had to deal with. Matt, and a few others, as people, not rock stars, responded to the need.

Really, why should this be all over the news any more than you talking a friend out of a stupid decision? It should be assumed that human beings are able to show this kind of compassion rather than it being news-worthy when it happens.

I agree completely.

[Tattooed Angels]

These events have now sent into motion a new study which will hopefully lead to a whole new program for the US army to offer assistance for all soldiers returning from duty. It turns out that the affects of PTSD are more widespread than the army perhaps thought, and now something is being done about it..

The Army should of done something like this many years ago.. So many of our troops come back different then they left. We are sending kids over. My brother fought in Vietnam. He was only a teenager when he went over.. He is lucky he came back at all. I know alot of people like that.. One of my friends told me she had 8 friends( including her husband) go over to Vietnam. 4 came back in body bags and one came back with emotional mental problems. Luckily so her husband came back in one piece.Even so the effect wars have on you emotionally ..

I think it is great that someone like Matt cared enough about another human to get him help. It seems this man needed help and went to someone he trusted. Lucky for him he got the help he needed. Alot of you may not realize the effects you have on someone on line whether good or bad.

If any one of us were faced with this, you would do everything in your power to keep that person alive.. Nobody( except a terrorist or pure evil person) wants to see another person take thier own life..

unfortunately you don't always see the signs..