Boy oh boy, did I arrive in bad shape! What a struggle. I acquired an opiate pill addiction after having surgery in June. It escalated and I finally decided to try to stop. When I hit the Saguaro unit, my nurse from the start was Tina. Through the detox, I felt horrible. Tina showed such interest in me and my comfort as I suffered from pain, nausea, headaches, etc. She advocated for me with the doctor, for my meds, and her intervention caused the doctor to adjust my medication. Once she got me started on a different plan, immediately I started to feel better. Tina really made me feel and know that this detox at Banner was one of the most important steps I could be making in my life to put the pills behind me. After a day I tried to leave because I felt so bad. I wanted to get out of the hospital and go get high.
Tina spent some deep moments encouraging me and promising it would get better. I listened to her and stayed. I am now five days into my detox. Just like she said, it got better and I cannot believe how much better I feel! If Tina had not shown that compassion and interest in me and my care that second day, I would have left the hospital. If that would have happened, I would still be stuck with the 'monkey on my back.' I am so grateful I woke up daily to Tina's face as my nurse. She has qualities of beauty inside and out. I am eternally grateful to her.