Chad's Story

Listening to people's life stories on www.iamsecond.com always makes me start to cry. There is something really powerful about hearing a person's whole life story in just a few short minutes, with all the ups and downs that comes with living in this broken world. It becomes very clear that we will all face some really tough struggles in this life, nobody will be able to live a life that is always easy and happy. What will matter in the end is how we handle the challenges that come our way in life.


Chad Robichaux went to Afghanistan as a marine after the 9/11 attacks on the US. What felt exciting in the beginning, an opportunity to do something noble, quickly became a traumatic experience. Having to witness the evil of mankind up close and watch what people can do to other human beings for their own selfish gain led to Chad developing PTSD. Chad was forced to quit his job and his family life also suffered from his traumatic experiences in Afghanistan. Chad and his wife Kathy eventually decided to separate and filed for divorce.


Chad became a pro MMA champion and for awhile he felt like he had found a cure for his PTSD, while he was fighting he had a distraction that kept the memories from Afghanistan in the background. As time went on Chad wasn't able to run away from his issues and trauma any longer and he became very suicidal. During this time Kathy was going to church and started praying for her husband. Kathy was asking Chad not to give up on his life or family. Chad listened to Kathy and asked her to find somebody in her church who could help him. Chad got a mentor from church who helped him start to fight for his life and family again and do whatever it takes to find healing in his own emotional life and in his marriage.


As Chad developed a personal relationship with God his PTSD became something that no longer controlled him but something he had control over. Chad and his wife continued to work on their relationship and over time God brought restoration into their marriage and Chad moved back in with Kathy and the kids. After God saved Chad and Kathy's marriage and brought healing to Chad they both felt that they wanted to help others. Chad and Kathy decided to start a foundation that offers help to veterans and their families who are struggling with the effects of combat trauma. Today Chad and Kathy have been married for 21 years.