‘You Saved My Life’: Marion Man Reunites With OhioHealth Substance Use Navigator
For the first time since celebrating one year of sobriety, Larry Boganwright of Marion reunites with the substance use navigator who he credits with saving his life. September is National Recovery Month, and Boganwright is sharing his journey with the hope of helping others.
After decades of struggling with alcohol use disorder, Larry Boganwright now describes every day as a gift.
“Here I stand today happy,” Boganwright said. “Life is so good.”
This summer, he celebrated one year of sobriety. Today, he is focused on his future and has no plans of turning back.
He nearly lost everything – including his family and eventually, his life.
One night in June of 2023 he called 911 for help. He was taken to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital’s Emergency Department. That’s where he met Katie Herdman, a substance use navigator with the hospital’s Addiction Medicine program. Herdman happened to pick up a shift she doesn’t normally work that night.
“I just happened to be there,” Herdman said. “The pieces fell perfectly where they needed to be. And I am very grateful that I could be there for him.”
A substance use navigator is a health care provider who assesses a patient’s needs and then links that patient to follow-up care and the resources necessary to address any barriers they may face on their journey to a successful recovery. They are part of an Addiction Medicine team working to support the patient. That team can include but is not limited to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and counselors.
Fast forward one year from that night in June of 2023, Boganwright returned to the hospital in August to reunite with Herdman. He wanted her to know he is OK all because she was there the night that he wanted to make a change, and she was there to help point him in the right direction.
“It is so nice to meet you again,” Boganwright said as he hugged Herdman. “I don’t look like I did.”
“I am so happy this happened,” Herdman said. “This is all you though.”
“In my book, you saved my life. You pointed me in the right direction,” Boganwright said. “It has not been easy.”
“But you did it’” Herdman said. “I am so proud of you.”
Herdman gave Boganwright a gift. A stone that reads, “make every day count.”
“That’s right,” Boganwright said. “My life has changed so much.”
Boganwright is sharing his story to help support others who know his struggle. He hopes by sharing his success it will encourage others to seek resources to help.
“There ain’t no backstepping for me. It’s all forward for me. And I know one thing for certain, I’m not alone,” he said.
“Seeing the success stories makes it all worth it,” Herdman said. “One of the hard parts is, someone must be ready on their own. We can be there, and we can help them, and we can navigate, but if a person’s not ready to take that step, then we can’t force them and that’s probably one of the hardest things.”
Herdman worked as part of a team of providers through Marion General Hospital and Marion Public Health to provide care to Boganwright over the last year. That team also includes Marla Sager, MA, substance use navigator, Melinda Heiligmann, FNP-C, MSN, RN, BSN, and Jacqueline Morris Bell MS MA LSW, Addiction Medicine social worker.
The Addiction Medicine Program at Marion General Hospital is funded by a Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) rural community grant.
“With that grant we were able to start a consult service,” said Lindsey Pulfer, nurse manager, Marion General Hospital. “The other part of that grant is that we also have a clinic at the Marion Public Health Department and that’s where we offer medication assisted treatment and counseling.”
Pulfer said there is a great need in the Marion community for this resource.
“We’ve seen an increase in alcohol use disorder over the last couple of years,” she said.
In the last year that the grant has been utilized, Pulfer said her team has met with 356 patients. Of those, 185 patients were provided medication assisted treatment and 236 patients were linked to follow up treatment.
“I’m proud of my team for their compassion,” Pulfer said.
With the addiction medicine program there are two key steps to a successful recovery journey. The first, is providing someone who is there with the patient to link them to the resources they need and to follow-up care. The second step is that follow-up care.
“It really is a team approach,” said Vinayak Shukla, MD, associate program director, Addiction Medicine Fellowship. “For patients to have a successful recovery, it requires a team approach providing comprehensive, evidence-based, patient-centered care. Larry’s story exemplifies that. His support team was there for him over the last year while he was on his recovery journey.”
There are a few options for people wanting to seek help through these resources.
“They can either come through the emergency department and then what will happen is providers will put in consults for us, and we can help that way. Or on Tuesdays we are at the Marion Public Health, and they can walk in and ask for help,” Pulfer explained.
The timing couldn’t be better for Boganwright to be sharing his story to help others. September is National Recovery Month, a time to honor and support those in recovery, remember those who lost their lives, and increase awareness.
