Megan Wassum, RN

In late March and early April, I went on a drug-fueled psychotic break where I was desperate to get off Kratom, an opioid like drug. I had tried to detox several times at home and realized I couldn't do it without assistance. Due to my mistrust of the Salem Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center mental health and other departments, my drug-fueled brain believed I would receive better care in Tennessee's VA hospitals. After being escorted out of James H. Quillen VA in Johnson City, TN, I quickly scored more drugs and continued my drug-fueled crazy to get into detox and get clean at Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VA in Memphis, TN. When I couldn't receive care there either, I gave up hope. I was so upset that I kept asking for help and receiving none.

Desperate and out of options, I reluctantly agreed to meet my wife at the Salem VA. I was reluctant and already knew where I would get more drugs when this attempt at getting into a detox program failed. I wasn't even sure I was going to check into the ER like I had promised my wife. I am extremely thankful I did walk into that ER and met Nurse Meg. Meg is my angel, and I truly do credit her with saving my life. From the moment Meg said, "Don't worry, I know exactly what you need," I began trusting her. When she asked me if I was hurting from withdrawals, she actually brought me medicine to help. When the orders weren't written in a way that gave me the best chance of recovery, I heard Meg get them corrected. Meg took charge, and I overheard her go out of her way to take care of me and set me up for success in detox.

I have no idea how many patients were in the ER that Saturday morning, but Meg made me feel like the only one. Meg began rebuilding the trust I had lost with the Salem VA within minutes of meeting her. After ten minutes, I believed she really was going to help me and stopped plotting my escape. After thirty minutes with Meg, I was sure she had my best interests at heart and that I was safe there. For the first time in years, I genuinely felt safe at the Salem VA. After reading this, I hope you realize that saying "Meg saved my life" is a little generic. Nurses help people into rehabs all the time. I doubt they work that hard to give a junkie stranger a chance. I really doubt many nurses restore patients’ faith in an entire medical establishment.