Anitra Wilson is the most outstanding nurse I’ve ever had the privilege of receiving care from. Over the past five years, she has been my nurse through 2 separate PCMs at the same clinic. Not only has she treated me amazingly, but she’s also always been wonderful with my three boys.

My son has severe allergies and immune system issues. Anitra held my hand through the entire process of getting needed referrals, medications, and replying to emails regarding concerns I was having. She always made sure I understood other options available, so I didn’t feel defeated with the rollercoaster ride of getting the proper diagnosis and treatment needed.

When my oldest son was struggling with behavioral issues, Anitra showed the most compassion when I was scared everyone would think I was a horrible mom who couldn’t take care of my kids. She made sure I understood there was nothing wrong with reaching out for help and learning ways to give him more tools to succeed and for me to help him do so.

Anitra has been with me through finding out I was pregnant with my 3rd child and checking on the baby and me anytime I was at the clinic for my other children and receiving my care through the OBGYN. I could write a million ways Anitra has impacted my life, but the top event that I believe makes her the best nurse I will ever know is: After having my third child, I couldn’t find a way out of the dark hole of postpartum depression. I had seen two doctors who weren’t my regular PCM, so Anitra wasn’t my nurse. Neither doctor was able to understand how much I was struggling. I went to the clinic for a third time with a scheduled appointment with my PCM.

Anitra came and saw me in pajamas, hadn’t showered, kids crying in a stroller next to me, and me completely falling apart. I hardly had the words to express how I felt, but she knew me. She knew I wasn’t okay. My husband was deployed, and I was drowning. Anitra listened to me cry and get it all out. I completely unloaded how frustrated I was. Nobody was listening, and nobody was taking me seriously. That day Anitra became my advocate to the doctor. She explained what I couldn’t. I needed help and needed a mental health referral. I needed a therapist. I needed to know I could get out of the hole. The PCM put the referral into TriCare that day, and Anitra made sure the referral/case manager at the clinic knew how important it was that I saw somebody ASAP.

Before I left that appointment, Anitra also provided me with the information for child and youth services to assist me with my husband’s deployment so I could just have a second to breathe without my children. She followed up with me periodically and ensured I was in with a doctor and getting the help I needed. Her ability to read me, know me and care that day saved my life. It saved me from feeling like I couldn’t keep going.

I will never have the words to explain how much her compassion, guidance, and just belief in me have helped me over the years. She has always been on my side, from juggling medical conditions with my children to finding out about my possible issues. Anitra has helped me advocate for myself and understand my treatment, medications, and follow-up. She has never made me feel like I was just another patient or annoying her. I will do everything in my power to make sure regardless of what doctor I see in the clinic, I try always to keep Anitra as my nurse, and if for some reason I can’t, I know she will still make an effort to pop by and say hi when she knows I’m in the clinic and I can always seek her out for advice.