Wife After Prison

Book excerpt: Shelia Bruno is known for giving voice to the psychological impact of incarceration, also known as Post-Incarceration Syndrome. In 2014, after being apart for thirty-eight years, Shelia became reacquainted with her high school sweetheart, Kevin Bruno, who was incarcerated for twenty-eight of those thirty-eight years. Fifty-three days after their reunion, they were married. In 2016, Kevin became barely recognizable, both in character and in behavior. With each passing day, his behavior worsened, leading Shelia to cry out to God, asking, "What is happening to my husband?" Her kind, caring, loving, affectionate husband was now sliding in and out of depression, easily irritated by seemingly insignificant incidents. Shelia's cry for help was heard by God, which led her to Google the question: Can a boy become a man in prison? Up popped two articles by Craig Haney and Terry Gorski, "The Psychological Impact of Incarceration" and "Post-Incarceration Syndrome and Relapse." This information is tremendously significant. However, in America today, society is not giving it the attention it deserves. Desperate for support to help her resolve the psychological disorders that had crept into her marriage, Shelia looked for support groups that dealt with the after-effects of incarceration. To her dismay, there weren't any. So, she created one: the Wife After Prison Support Group. Shelia has reached over 40,000 people in her quest to raise awareness of Post-Incarceration Syndrome. She has made it her mission to provide education about the devastating effects prison has on their loved ones. After a period of successful mental health treatment, Shelia and Kevin's marriage is now more robust than it's ever been. Shelia's transparency and determination have encouraged others to break through the unrealistic expectations they may have for themselves and for their loved ones who are being released after serving prison sentences. Working in prison ministry programs and as a volunteer in several prisons throughout Texas has taught Shelia to see people who are made in the image of God and not as prison inmates. Shelia has built relationships with currently incarcerated men and women and those who are about to be or have been recently released to help them successfully transition back into society.