Julian

Julian moved back to the area recently. His mom lives in the area – and for various reasons, it was time to come home.

He came to the clinic soon after arriving – he was unemployed, but looking for work and was optimistic about being able to find a job. I talked to him about applying for Medicaid, but he didn’t want to.

He came because he had not been feeling well – general symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep issues, fatigue, shortness of breath and vague aches and pains. His major symptom was that his neck was swollen.

Given that the symptoms were general and vague, he was treated with antibiotics and blood work was ordered.

He returned a few weeks later with no improvement. The lymph nodes in his neck were swollen and at that time there was suspicion of a mass in the neck area. He was sent for a CT scan.

The lab work was basically normal – no issues were found. The CT scan came back inconclusive – it could be lymphoma, it could be an infection, possibly TB. He needed a specialist.

By this time, he had found a job and was working. Still no insurance, and there is no way to see a specialist without insurance. So he finally consented to apply for Medicaid.

Today, I got word that his TB skin test was positive. And about 5 minutes later, I got word that he had been approved for Medicaid.

He sees the specialist on Tuesday of next week. Without insurance… well, I don’t even want to think about that.

Whatever happens next Tuesday, it will be life changing for him. Now he has insurance, and whether he knows it or not, he has a group of people who are pulling for him. He is not alone in this journey.