Tim

Tim first came here almost three years ago. He was employed through a local staffing company. He was driving a truck for $10 an hour working full time. Since he was employed by a staffing company, there were no benefits – no insurance.

Then, he injured his shoulder at work and lost his job. The shoulder injury required multiple surgeries, and following the final surgery he suffered a heart attack. He has a 20-plus year history of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

He had been covered by his wife’s insurance, but when her hours were cut from 40 hours a week to 20 hours a week, they lost their healthcare insurance. She went on the County Health Plan – a program that provides access to physicians, medications and basic out-patient services. He was unable to access the medications he needed on the County Health Plan and ended up at the clinic.

We were able to access the vital medications he needed to control his diabetes and heart disease through the Prescription Assistance Programs. The Prescription Assistance Programs are a method of obtaining brand name medications for a specific patient from the manufacturer. There is paperwork to be filled out, a prescription is necessary, and a place to ship the medication is needed. The clinic serves this purpose. Connie does all the paperwork and all the follow-up phone calls to provide this service.

As I talked to Tim tonight, he shared with me his blood sugar log for the past couple of months. His blood sugar levels are within normal range. He has lost over 60 pounds and is hoping to go off some of his diabetic medication.

His hope now is to find a job. We have helped him to regain his health, and now he is ready to take on the world again. A success story – one of many.

Good Grief

 

 

 

 

 

On November 20, 2012 our beagle Simon lost his battle with cancer. It seems that someone who is such an important part of our lives should have an obituary, so I’m writing one for Si.

Simon Pavka was born about ten years ago in an unknown place, at an unknown time. On a very snowy, bitterly cold New Year’s week-end 2003, he was abandoned by his mother and rescued by John and Nancy Gertig. He was adopted that same week-end by the Pavka Family: David, Jill, Peter, Ann Marie, Buddy – a beagle mix, and Homer – the cat. He was preceded in death by Buddy and Homer.

Simon was a spoiled, neurotic, funny dog who loved to eat and was always ready to go – anywhere! He traveled many miles in the truck and the motorhome. He also loved to ride on the boat at the lake.

He fought a valiant battle against his cancer and taught all of us many lessons – which we will continue to process for years to come.

Memorial donations can be made to Northside Veterinary Hospital’s food bank (OK –I’m just kidding, but don’t forget the animal food pantries during the holiday season!)

This is mostly for me – but, the loss of a pet is part of many of our lives. Right now the pain is so raw that it is sometimes hard to remember that I had almost 10 years of joy with Simon. The grief strikes at unexpected times, in unexpected places; it is worse first thing in the morning and at bedtime (Simon was the first one up the stairs when I said it was time to go to bed!)

But, the grief is good because it means I can still feel. And we know that we did everything that we could for Simon. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the family on Sunday, November 18, 2012 so he saw “his kids” and “his grandparents” and everyone had a chance to say good-bye. Our life will never be exactly the same, but we will move forward. We will always cherish the memories of the dog we loved.

I'm still Smiling

I have never had to buy insulin syringes for the clinic.  But, last week when the nurses came in to volunteer at the Diabetic Clinic, I told them that this was the end of our insulin syringes. I would have to buy some before next month. I was thinking about my resources and where to purchase them.

 About an hour later my pharmacist for the evening, Tim, came in with his arms full. It was insulin syringes! Boxes and boxes of insulin syringes.

Yes, I am smiling. I smile every time I think about it.

Every time that I forget the reason we are here, I am reminded. I am not in charge here. God is. And we are always provided for.

Musings

I grew up in a privileged life. I had two parents, a house with my own bed, clothes to wear, food to eat, and healthcare whenever I needed it.

I did not know I was privileged. I only knew what I lived, what I saw. I did not know that not everyone had two parents, a house with their own bed, clothes to wear, and food to eat. The idea of anyone, especially a child, going to bed hungry just never occurred to me.

We know what we see. And, too often we choose not to see the suffering around us. We choose not to see that there are those in our community who are homeless, hungry, and going without healthcare.

Or sometimes we choose to believe that what others are doing is enough. But, is it enough to provide healthcare to people in our community one night a week, in the basement of a church? What happens when those individuals experience a healthcare crisis on Wednesday or Friday?

As the debate rages in Washington about debt and budgets, let us not lose track of the fact that it is about human lives.