Army Veteran Finds Peace in Embrace of Rescued Spider Monkey

In the rural town of Perkinston, Mississippi, an Army veteran named John Richard has discovered an unlikely source of solace and healing for his decades-long battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the embrace of a cheerfully chattering spider monkey named Louie, Richard says he has finally found a sense of peace and faith that had long eluded him.

The bond between Richard and Louie began last fall when Richard was volunteering to help set up the Gulf Coast Primate Sanctuary, founded by Air Force veteran April Stewart. Like Richard, Stewart had also developed PTSD, which she describes as "destroying my life" before finding comfort in caring for rescued animals. Now, the sanctuary has become a place of healing for both Stewart and the veteran volunteers who help care for the primates, including three spider monkeys, two squirrel monkeys, and two kinkajous.

For Richard, the connection with Louie has been more therapeutic than any other PTSD treatment he has received since his diagnosis over 20 years ago. As Louie scampers up his body and wraps his arms and tail around him, Richard says the primate's sweet sounds and affectionate gestures convey a message of love and reassurance that he is safe. The sanctuary's mission to provide a natural habitat for these rescued animals has also given Richard and other veterans a sense of purpose and community.