Danielle Mains is outspoken. She speaks plainly on social issues and doesn't pull punches. Yet while her husband, Ryan Mains, was suffering crippling PTSD from his time in the service and 14 years as a firefighter, she tried to keep their home as quiet as possible in order to avoid loud noises triggering him and setting him off.

Danielle stood by Ryan as his cumulative trauma caused the man she fell in love with to withdraw more and more every day leading up to him checking into inpatient treatment in March 2019, and when he started intensive outpatient that fall.

Since then, they've launched a fundraiser called Run for Our Lives that culminates each year with Ryan running an ultramarathon, with as many kilometers as firefighters who took their own lives the year before. Funds raised go to the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Hotline, which was the life line that got Ryan the help he needed.

The fundraiser also raises awareness, of course. But Ryan and Danielle were forced to keep their voices down for nearly a year and a half as his disability pension case played out. Now that he's been unanimously awarded his pension, the gloves are off, and Danielle graciously came on the podcast to speak out against people, pension boards, and other institutions that would rather pay for a funeral than long-term mental health treatment.

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This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

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