Jerry saved my life and saved me from a bad fate. I was in the hospital for 6 days and 5 nights. I was very sick from a bad medicine change for my Crohn's disease and an unrelenting hacking cough that kept me awake for a total of 8 straight days with zero sleep. Jerry provided excellent nursing during his shifts, taking great care of me and honoring my status as a Veteran (he is one also.) His care was well above standard and I would call it exemplary.
The sickness I experienced kept my fever at 103.5 over a day and then 102.5 for another day and a half. They were giving me double IV antibiotics and breathing treatments and other meds to try to save me. About the 3rd night after sweating myself soaked many times, my fever finally broke and it was no longer the immediate problem.
Due to the nonstop cough, I could not get a moment's sleep; on my 5th day of hospitalization and 8th day with no sleep I was quite delirious (still remarkably logical) but I was beginning to hallucinate and was made to speak to two psychologists. It became clear they were there to evaluate my mental state to determine what action to take. I was able to allay their worries to some degree and allowed to talk to a doctor who ordered what I needed to sleep. I stated that if they could stop the cough, I would sleep like a baby, barring that I needed something to make me sleep that could overcome the coughing.
It was at this time that Jerry spent the better part of the next several hours talking me down, he explained he had been through this himself and what I needed was to sleep. He continued as long as he could and when he had to leave, he came back as soon as possible to continue. He was firm but always kind and the epitome of patience, no matter how I rambled on he was still patient, firm, and insistent that I needed to get quiet and find a way to get to sleep.
His dedication to helping me through that time of crisis helped to change my life. That night I was able to sleep for about 6 hours total which was enough for them to allow me to leave. The cough remained but I was on the path to healing. Jerry just kept saying he was just doing his job, but without his personal commitment and dedication to helping me, the outcome would have been far more undesirable.
For my part, I am seeking help for my PTSD and other health issues and have switched to a completely healthy lifestyle, my body is responding well to it. The care and love that Jerry showed me made a huge difference for me, he would have been well within his duties to just provide the nursing and not helped me through the toughest time in my recent memory. He could have done his job and just felt bad that I was not going to make it and allowed my cards to fall where they would.
Jerry went well above and beyond the call of duty; he showed me constant respect, firmness, and dedication in getting me through that and I am forever grateful to him. The caliber of his care was at the very top of the scale and his patience and dedication were above all duty or expectation. If he does this as a general rule, then it is no wonder why the reputation of the Asheville VA is so high. I will never be the same due to all the· circumstances, care, and the dedication of individuals who exceed all expectations to pursue excellence in what they do. I applaud his efforts and am forever grateful for him. Thank You.