Nurse Deborah Honnen has repeatedly gone out of her way to assist me with various issues. For once, I actually felt like someone cared about me as a patient. She listens to me even when I'm very upset about ongoing issues. It takes a special kind of nurse to stand out like this. I've asked for help and dang near begged at times without getting anywhere until I met this outstanding RN. From the first time I spoke with her she asked me to start from the beginning so she personally knew my whole story so that she knew how to help me. Normally, I would have not been excited about having to repeat these things all over again. However, Deborah remembers everything I've told her and who I am when I call. Not that I have to call often because she usually beats me to it.
I've recently been approved for care outside of the VA. The pain management in Gainesville wasn't able to help me and I can no longer continue to miss work due to the pain. If it were not for Nurse Honnen, I would still be getting the run around from pain management. It took me so many years to get on board with PM that I had to spend thousands of dollars out of my own pocket for outside pain management even though I have service connection.
A lot of people have back pain, I know that. But at 34 years old I sleep most nights in my recliner because I struggle to climb the stairs to my bedroom. Nobody has seemed to care about that. Nobody seems to care that I lost my house because I couldn't physically work enough to cover the mortgage and now I'm facing the same problem as a renter. Nobody cared at all. That is until I met Nurse Honnen. My financial issues aren't going to change anytime soon, not until I can work full time once again. I explained all of this to my nurse and she showed compassion. She actually cared about me and went out of her way to help me in every way she could.
I hope that Nurse Honnen receives recognition for what she does. She is a most deserving individual and this veteran for one appreciates her from the bottom of my heart.