I was a patient at the Spencer Hospital behavioral health wing. I was admitted to the hospital after enduring a year and a half of traumatic challenges in my life. My husband nearly died after an infection went to his brain and he had multiple brain surgeries, two months later, I was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma Caused by the radiation I received to fight my breast cancer 10 years earlier. My husband and I have always been an amazing team, working to bring healing and restoration to kids through foster care and adoption. The final challenge we faced after multiple health issues was the biological parent of one of our adopted kids. I finally broke and attempted to take my own life. I had never felt so hopeless before and had always been on the giving end of support. I attempted to take my own life with a handful of old pills from the many surgeries I endured over the past 10 years. I had never felt so lost. No matter how many people I had in my corner, ready and willing to offer support endlessly, I still felt an overwhelming wave of despair. When I arrived at Spencer Hospital, I was so weak and hurting.

Amber stood out to me and was always there with the right words at the right time to help me find Hope again. I am forever grateful to her for reminding me with dignity and grace that everyone has a breaking point and that it’s OK to lean on the providers because it’s my turn to receive care after giving so much. I want to thank Amber for the way she helped me out of the very dark pit where I felt stuck. She helped me find one thing each day and taught me to celebrate the little victories with joy. Amber was quiet and reassuring and did everything she could in her power to make the evening sleep that my body most needed as comfortable as possible. She helped me try out different options of meds and encouraged me to be honest, so my provider would know how to help me best. I am forever grateful for Amber and her care and expertise, but most importantly, her compassion and helping me find the light once again.

Thank you, Spencer Health, for having such remarkable nurses serve your patients!