A Niagara Regional Police member is inspiring others by candidly discussing his challenges with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Constable Phil Sheldon's life was changed in 2015 as he responded to a call.
A disturbed man was determined to kill his parents. He had doused his mother and her home in gasoline and waited for cops to arrive before lighting the house on fire.
Sheldon suffered 3rd and 4th degree burns to 50% of his body, received numerous skin graphs, and was in an induced coma for a month and a half.
He and his wife Tanya are now sharing their struggles with Complex PTSD and Vicarious PTSD through their not for profit organization 'Refuse To Lose to PTSD.'
"There are many, many first responders and veterans who go through the same thing." Sheldon says. "Even though our trauma is different, the feelings, the thoughts are all the same. They're just different stages."
Sheldon now gives seminars about his experience.
"I quickly learned that we were just feeding the stigma by not talking about it. And the only way that we are going to get better is by talking. That's the key."