Until Tuesday

By: Luis Carlos Montalvan

Narrated by: Luis Carlos Montalvan

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

"We aren't just service dog and master; Tuesday and I are also best friends. Kindred souls. Brothers. Whatever you want to call it. We weren't made for each other, but we turned out to be exactly what the other needed."

A highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army, Luis Montalvan never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, the pressures of his physical wounds, traumatic brain injury, and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. Haunted by the war and in constant physical pain, he soon found himself unable to climb a simple flight of stairs or face a bus ride to the VA hospital. He drank; he argued; ultimately, he cut himself off from those he loved. Alienated and alone, unable to sleep or bend over without pain, he began to wonder if he would ever recover.

Then Luis met Tuesday, a beautiful and sensitive golden retriever trained to assist the disabled. Tuesday had lived amongst prisoners and at a home for troubled boys, blessing many lives; he could turn on lights, open doors, and sense the onset of anxiety and flashbacks. But because of a unique training situation and sensitive nature, he found it difficult to trust in or connect with a human being until Luis.

Until Tuesday is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had given so much and suffered the consequences, found salvation in each other. It is a story about war and peace, injury and recovery, psychological wounds and spiritual restoration. But more than that, it is a story about the love between a man and dog, and how together they healed each other's souls.

©2011 Luis Carlos Montalvan (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Luis and Tuesday were one of the original sources of inspiration for my very first piece of legislation. Luis' story of military service, his struggles with visible and invisible wounds of war, and the dog who helped save his life is as compelling on the page as when you hear it in person." (Senator Al Franken)

“Montalvan’s first-person account of their journey together offers rare insight into the issues facing returning veterans and the lifesaving bond between a service dog and human. Listeners hear the despair, fear, frustration, and, ultimately, the love and hope of the pair. Montalvan doesn’t refrain from discussing his most painful and embarrassing experiences. Hearing the story in his own voice adds to its power and vibrancy.” ( AudioFile)

A Beautiful Story of Precious Golden Retriever

This is a beautiful story of a precious golden retriever and how he helped his owner Luis Carlos Montalvan with PTSD. The story was eye opening as to the red tape these service men and women have to go through. It's exhausting and heartbreaking that these warriors are treated this inhumane. More people should read or listen to this book, you get a picture of what our service men and women l go through. Another book I could not stop listening to.

Can totally relate to their strong bond!

Breaks my heart to ultimately find out that Montalván couldn’t keep his promise and left Tuesday when he was doing all he could... But I understand that the torment and demons never really end... :’) RIP <3 🐕💖🌈🙏🏼

Amazing

A great story of an incredible man and dog! Wow. Thank you for sharing this amazing journey.

Beautiful Book...

What did you love best about Until Tuesday?

Until Tuesday is a beautiful book about how a service dog saved a lost veteran! The power of a dog to literally turn a humans life around and help them survive on a daily basis is incredible. It it also a powerful story of a veterans struggle of dealing with PTSD and TBI and the overall effects it can actually bring upon a once strong and powerful soldier.

mouth drops open at the honesty of this man!

Would you listen to Until Tuesday again? Why?

oh yes! it was that awesome!

What did you like best about this story?

i'm a dog lover - as well as disabled. this story shows the truth on so many levels: being disabled, ptsd, what is happening to soldiers, the VA and the love/connection a man can have with service dogs...and also how society reacts to such

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

yes, laughed, cried and everything in between!

Any additional comments?

whew! amazing account of the iraq war from one man's POV, and the outcome of his own life in the aftermath...ptsd, debilitating disabilities and Tuesday - a dog who gave Luis his life back. in this story, we as civilians will see the war [and the VA] in a whole new light...and some info will piss you off. the author also reads it, so i loved it! great book!

Excellent and true story. I wanted to applaud.

This was an excellent audio book, made even better because it was true. Tuesday was wonderful. I made me want a dog just like him. The author read the book and was excellent. I would read another book by this author at any time.

So moving!

I think Luis & Tuesday are teachers for all of us. May we learn from them!

good dog

Loved it. I was entertained and educated. And I love dogs, well most dogs and some humans.

The power of love to help a veteran in need.

This is the story of a disabled veteran rebuilding his life with the help of his service dog, Tuesday. Any dog lover will find much of it heartwarming as his relationship with the dog develops and strengthens, helping him to overcome the crippling anxiety brought on by PTSD. The description of daily life with PTSD, the struggle to get treatment within the VA, and the burden of facing the constant illegal restrictions of the service dog were heartbreaking. The author has done a great service in describing these problems and raising them up in the public consciousness. I find myself worrying about him and Tuesday, who is 10 years old now and should be retiring soon. I hope they are doing well.

Amazing!

Amazing from.start to finish. I never understood what training service dogs go through. Good boy Tuesday. Thank you for your service and sharing Tuesday Luis.