You Were Her Stepping Stone

Letty Chichitonyolotli bravely volunteered to serve our country in the U.S. Navy. But like many women in the military, she suffered abuse and returned to civilian life feeling broken and alone. In despair and without support, Letty planned her own suicide.

Overcoming the Darkness

Consumed by nightmares, anxiety, and paranoia, Letty had a plan to end her life. Getting care at the Department of Veterans Affairs wasn’t an option – she wasn’t healthy enough to track down the missing documents that would prove she qualified for VA benefits.

Without help, things only got worse. “One of my roommates had committed suicide and I found her. It was how I was planning on doing it.” Losing her friend and roommate was a wakeup call for Letty, but it also triggered more nightmares and anxiety. “It was more than I could handle and I didn’t have a whole lot of community to lean on.”

Discovering A Way to Heal

Letty’s life changed directions when she found the Returning Veterans Project. Through free, weekly therapy with a volunteer provider, she took control of her mental health and her life. She let go of her plans for suicide.

Thanks to people like you, Letty received free care that saved her life. She now has new meaning and purpose in her life. Today, she operates her own business – an urban farm that feeds her community and helps serve other veterans.

“Connecting with RVP has been a big, pivotal stepping stone for me,” she says happily. “I have a house now. I have a garden. Those aren’t things I would have been able to do.”
Photo by Letty Chichitonyolotli

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