It had been three years since Peter Coukoulis had returned home to Tallahassee, Florida, after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. But he didn’t adapt back to civilian life the way he had hoped. He began struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The side effects of the disorder include anxiety, depression, insomnia, isolation, and flashbacks, and the 26-year-old veteran was finding it difficult to return to his normal, everyday life.

After watching her son struggle, Peter’s mother, Dena, came up with what she hoped was the perfect plan to help her son recover and end his struggles with PTSD. Without letting her son know, she bought a tiny beagle puppy and planned to give it to her son as a surprise.

Dena hoped that the pup would help her son’s treatment by becoming his loyal service animal. Just a few weeks before Christmas, the Marine and his family gathered at the kitchen table. Dena handed him a big box topped with a shiny red bow.

Peter looked at the box almost as if he knew what was waiting for him on the inside. When he opened the box and saw the beautiful puppy dog eyes staring back at him, his reaction is priceless.

The precious moment was caught on video and you won’t want to miss it. It was as if Peter knew his life was going to change for the better as soon as he saw his new companion. “The puppy has already changed Peter’s life. It has made him happy after a very difficult three years,” says Dena.

Watch this incredible soldier’s surprise and share it with your friends!