Debbie Wilson lives in Spring, Texas with her husband who is a post 9/11 Army Combat Veteran. The two met in May 2013 where they connected instantly over their similarities, one being their shared appreciation of multiple family members who served in the military over multiple generations, in several branches. She and her husband were married in April 2016, where the blended family continued to make life and memories full of love, lots of laughter, and an ability to overcome many life struggles by staying a strong family unit. Debbie cherishes motherhood to her three children from her first marriage and is the proud bonus mom to two daughters that her husband had from his first marriage. Both parents are proud of the five children they have watched grow up over so many years and are continuing life transitions as three of them are now adults, and their younger two are in the journey of high school years.
As a veteran spouse, Air Force veteran, Blue Star Mother, and the daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran who she was a caregiver for from 2016 to 2021, Debbie understands the importance of openness, understanding, and support for the entire family unit. This knowledge was validated when she came across Veteran Spouse Network as a participant in 2021 and wanted to help support other spouses. She became a Peer Leader in 2022. Her efforts within VSN focus on helping other veteran spouses find friendship and community, so spouses don’t feel alone.
Born in Nederland, TX, Debbie was adopted after foster care, where she was raised in Houston, TX by an Army Vietnam veteran dad and her veteran caregiver mom, where the couple struggled with the undiagnosed PTSD and several medical issues from his military wartime service. She has seen the military culture, sacrifice, and family struggles all her life surrounding post-service invisible wounds of war and how PTSD can impact a family and shape a person in general. Debbie's parents were able to later retire by moving from Texas to New Mexico and became Founders and leaders for Veteran Couple Retreats at the Angel Fire New Mexico Veterans Wellness and Healing Center.
Debbie and her husband spend their time helping communities with military, veteran, and first responder PTSD awareness and treatment, suicide prevention and education, and veteran homelessness. Debbie's background is in Psychology and the medical fField, specializing in child trauma, domestic violence, and female wellness education. She is a PTSD advocate and a Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer. She loves music, photography, design, the outdoors, swimming, and enjoys cruising with the wind in her hair with her husband on the Harley Davidson Road Glide.