I had been here at Emanuel for almost a month after surgery for a spinal epidural abscess and 6 to 8 weeks of PICC line antibiotics. One day I was feeling really depressed. I felt lonely and trapped inside my room regardless of the fact I get to go outside for 30 minutes at a time. I was so close to losing my month sobriety. Caitlin noticed something was wrong with me and acted on pure nurse's instinct to save her patient. She spent the next 30 minutes getting to know me better and making me feel human again and not just like another patient. She worked with me to get to the bottom of my depression and made me realize my thinking errors. After that short time talking to me, getting my vitals in the process, I was able to laugh, smile, and go outside and enjoy the beautiful day.
Caitlin really went above and beyond, and I believe saved my life. I probably would have continued to stay in my negative thoughts and ended up using again, losing not just my sobriety time but my kids would have lost their dad and I would have lost my life to an overdose.