Helen

Helen was here for the first time last week. She is 49 years old; divorced, with a significant other of 18 years; no mention of any children. She was sent here by her primary care provider due to a low hemoglobin. (Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low hemoglobin count is a below-average concentration of the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin proteins in the blood.)

She shared her story with us. She had been taking care of her father who had recently died from pancreatic cancer; after his death, her mother was diagnosed with “the most aggressive form of breast cancer” – she told me that her mother nearly died from the chemotherapy she received, but is now doing well. Also during this time, her significant other suffered a massive stroke, and has been left partially paralyzed on one side.

She has had a bit of stress in her life.

She began feeling ill and was seen by her healthcare provider. Blood work done at that time showed a low hemoglobin, which can be indicative of bleeding somewhere in the body. Without further testing, they could not identify the source of the bleeding. She was uninsured, so was sent to the clinic for testing.

We were able to start the testing, but some of the tests needed are difficult to access without healthcare insurance. We were also able to connect her with the local mental health access point, and that was definitely a resource she needed.

She is anemic, anxious, fatigued and scared. Scared that she too has cancer. Scared that the delay in diagnosis could affect the outcome.

But, she is also grateful – grateful for the healthcare provider who has been seeing her; grateful for the clinic; grateful for the support of the mental health professional; and grateful that she will qualify for the Healthy Michigan Plan and will finally have access to healthcare.