I am a 46-year-old Veteran of the US Army who found himself at the Hot Springs VA DOM after suffering from a nervous breakdown. I was enrolled in the VA seeking safety, Substance abuse, and PTSD treatment programs. I came to know Stacey one evening/early morning when I found myself in the nurse’s station after having a panic attack. I sat for hours talking to the night shift nurses, Stacey being one of them and P being the other. Both talked me down from my panic attack and gave me much medical and emotional advice during those hours.

After that evening/morning talk, Stacey kept taking the time to ask how I was and provide me with advice about different non-medicine means of pain and mental treatments, i.e., Battlefield acupuncture, Alpha Stem, Tens units, which she went to great lengths to research and reached out to my PCP in Grand Junction, CO to procure for me a replacement for pain meds and possibly anxiety meds as well. Stacy has also answered any medical questions I have or pointed me in the right direction to include other possibilities of non-med means after I leave the DOM. She is always happy to help any Vet and does so with a smile. I am truly thankful that she was on staff at the DOM and is a credit to the VA and the healing process they offer at Hot Springs, SD. I know I am in a better place mentally and physically because Stacey took the time to help me. Thank you, 5B, and the VA, for giving me my life back.