Judy Oliverio
February 2021
Judith
Oliverio
,
BSN
Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)
North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System
Gainesville
,
FL
United States
So you see, I owe this woman my life. If she would have just thought of herself and left me out to dry, I would surely have killed myself.
In late December I did something that I never thought I'd do. I wanted to take my own life, not fearing anything. It is irrelevant as to how or why such a strong feeling of suicide overrode and prevailed over everything that I believe and hold dear to my heart but, it did happen to me. Through all of this and looking back, there is one person I can say with the Holy Spirit as my witness that saved my life. At the end of this testimony, I will make known that name.
God started putting this person in my path in November & December. She asked me about the COVID I was going through and the mental health meds I was taking. She was very professional and knew what was going on, yet she also had a sense of caring deeply for my concerns. I'm sure she is like this for every vet. I felt as though she had the heart to get things done- and done right- as I called her back to speak with her about my disability pay I was to get from work but had trouble with getting the paperwork filled out. Anyways, she told me the process of how to handle it.
I was at a different medical center where I stayed for two weeks. I was really learning a lot about myself. In mid December, they had told me that I wasn't authorized for treatment, and they were going to send me to the VA in Gainesville FL. At that time, I was now having an anxiety attack, as I was in a safe environment and was handling business, but I accepted the fact that I was going the next day.
The next morning I was told they were sending me home instead. I went straight into a panic attack, as I knew I was not ready and would be dead by nightfall. Again, I called Judy and even though I was a mess she took control and spoke with the social worker and me on speakerphone. I remember her asking for them to transport me down and they refused; then she did something that broke my heart. She begged this lady saying, “I don't know this man, yet he has called me several times. I'm sure he's a good guy. If you could find it in your heart, would you find him away to the VA in Gainesville FL?” The social worker said she would check with her boss, and I got back on the phone with Judy.
She asked me if I could trust myself, and she must have heard it in my voice because she answered me back in the same voice, and after consoling me for a moment, she and I hung up. A short time later, I had a bus ticket, but I know if I had to call Judy back, she would have come to Valdosta to get me. So you see, I owe this woman my life. If she would have just thought of herself and left me out to dry, I would surely have killed myself. I've never met Judy Oliverio, but would like to just say thank you for caring and saving my life.
Psalm 8:4 “What is man that thou art mindful of him?”
2 John 1:5 “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning: that we love one another.”
God started putting this person in my path in November & December. She asked me about the COVID I was going through and the mental health meds I was taking. She was very professional and knew what was going on, yet she also had a sense of caring deeply for my concerns. I'm sure she is like this for every vet. I felt as though she had the heart to get things done- and done right- as I called her back to speak with her about my disability pay I was to get from work but had trouble with getting the paperwork filled out. Anyways, she told me the process of how to handle it.
I was at a different medical center where I stayed for two weeks. I was really learning a lot about myself. In mid December, they had told me that I wasn't authorized for treatment, and they were going to send me to the VA in Gainesville FL. At that time, I was now having an anxiety attack, as I was in a safe environment and was handling business, but I accepted the fact that I was going the next day.
The next morning I was told they were sending me home instead. I went straight into a panic attack, as I knew I was not ready and would be dead by nightfall. Again, I called Judy and even though I was a mess she took control and spoke with the social worker and me on speakerphone. I remember her asking for them to transport me down and they refused; then she did something that broke my heart. She begged this lady saying, “I don't know this man, yet he has called me several times. I'm sure he's a good guy. If you could find it in your heart, would you find him away to the VA in Gainesville FL?” The social worker said she would check with her boss, and I got back on the phone with Judy.
She asked me if I could trust myself, and she must have heard it in my voice because she answered me back in the same voice, and after consoling me for a moment, she and I hung up. A short time later, I had a bus ticket, but I know if I had to call Judy back, she would have come to Valdosta to get me. So you see, I owe this woman my life. If she would have just thought of herself and left me out to dry, I would surely have killed myself. I've never met Judy Oliverio, but would like to just say thank you for caring and saving my life.
Psalm 8:4 “What is man that thou art mindful of him?”
2 John 1:5 “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning: that we love one another.”