Is there any way to get around this non-compete problem...????

I was recently terminated from a home health company in Illinois. It was my first job as a nurse. I thought I was very careful about reading everything before i signed it. apparently not.
I got a new job about a week later and then i got a letter from my former employers attorney stating i signed this agreement and am in violation of such. I am terrified. One of the people who had been my patient was extremely upset i was no longer their nurse and called to cancel services with my former employers. She is calling me and wanting to know where I work so she can get services from them. I never contacted her. Its been 2 days since I received the letter from attorney. Do I need to resign my current job???? What do I do? It stated I cant perform services (nursing) for a 25 mile radius from anywhere i performed duties before..and I cant Contact former patients. which I haven't. My old office is in ****** Illinois and the new company is 46 miles away. I'm so confused and scared. How will I support my family.. I called attorney who sent letter and requested copies of all pertinent doc that I allegedly signed. But I need to know how to proceed..Should I resign? and file for unemployment? I've never been terminated from a job so this whole thing is very frightening. Thank you for any suggestions...