The Importance of Stories

Richard Rohr writes: “I’ve never known anyone who really shared all of their story with me whom I could not love.”

It is so true – we make assumptions about people when we meet them or observe them a setting. It is easy to dislike or distrust someone who is not known. But, once you sit down with a person and hear their story, it changes everything.

I had that experience last week. A former patient called, wanting an appointment to review his health insurance coverage. He had been paying his premium for a year, had used his health insurance appropriately, and wanted to review it. A total success story! Except for the fact that when I heard his name, I just shuddered.

We ran into a few roadblocks during the process of reviewing his insurance coverage, so we had some time to talk. I had made some judgments about him. What I learned in the time we spent together was a completely different person than I had assumed.

His mother died when he was 8 years old. It had clearly impacted his entire life – including the fact that he was not able to finish school. He wasn’t “stupid,” he was uneducated.

He is married to a woman who lost five children in an intentionally set fire decades ago. She is broken – emotionally, physically, and mentally. His concern and love for her was evident.

Because of the time we spent together, my attitude toward him changed dramatically.

I see this so often with the population we see here at the clinic. It is so easy to make assumptions. I often hear someone say, “he’s just a user.” But sometimes that “user” is taking care of an elderly mother with dementia, or is the only parent to a young child, or is recovering from substance abuse. We never know the battles people are fighting in their lives.

We really need to take the time to hear their stories. 

Holy Batman!

Well, that was a first. We had to delay the opening of the clinic tonight… because we had a bat.

Oh, it’s not the first time we have had a bat – the clinic is located in the basement of a church, and bats seem to like churches. They are frequent visitors here. And we have even had them during the clinic, but we have never had to delay opening the clinic.

My feelings about bats vary on a scale between grossed out and terrified – depending on how close the bat is to me. I loathe them – especially when they are indoors. (Shudder!!)

Fortunately, we had a couple of volunteers that were eager to escort the bat out. If it happens when I am here alone, I have “Batman” on speed dial. Batman is my hero Patrick who serves as the sexton for our church and the Catholic Church next door. I’m guessing he has lost count of how many bats he has rescued me from!

Monica

As she walked into the clinic, my eyes about popped out of my head. She was beautiful – looked absolutely fabulous.

When I first met Monica, that is not how I would have described her at all.

I had known Monica’s mother for a few years. She called me one day very concerned about Monica and wanted to know if we could see her here at the clinic. They both came in on Tuesday evening. Monica was 21 years old at the time. She presented with fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, headache, aches and fatigue. She was dressed in jeans and a baggy sweatshirt. She was pale and clearly did not feel good.

We ordered some tests and put her on some medication for the nausea and vomiting. She returned two weeks later for test results, still not feeling any better.

At that point, I helped her with her application for the Healthy Michigan Plan. She was working in a low-paying job. She qualified immediately for the Healthy Michigan Plan, and was able to see a provider in our community. I lost track of her after that.

She came into the clinic to bring some paperwork. I hadn’t seen her in six months – and could not believe it was the same young woman. Because of having health insurance, she was able to get the care she needed. She still has some problems, but they are minor compared to what she was dealing with a few months ago.

She is in school, motivated to live her life to the fullest.

The outcome could have been very different – without a parent who cared and without access to healthcare.

It’s Flu Season

Everyone was in a panic about Ebola a few weeks ago, but how many of you have had your flu shot? It is the easiest way to prevent a disease that causes illness, loss of productivity and too often, death.

The timing of the flu season is unpredictable and varies from year to year. Most commonly it peaks between December and February. But, it can occur as early as October and as late as May.

Contrary to popular belief, the flu is actually a respiratory disease, not a gastrointestinal disease! The flu can cause vomiting and diarrhea, more commonly in children.

Flu symptoms include:

• A 100^oF or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
• A cough and/or sore throat
• A runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Seizures
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

The flu is most dangerous for infants, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, and cancer.

So please, get your flu shot!

Buzz

I wanted to take an opportunity to say goodbye to a dear man.

I met Buzz and his wife several years ago. The clinic was fairly new and one of the local food pantries called asking for some flyers so that they could let their clients know about it.

I put a handful of flyers in an envelope, but then decided it would cost too much to mail it. So, I got in my car and drove over to the food pantry to deliver them.

Buzz and his wife were volunteering at the food pantry when I got there. We just hit it off right away. They were so excited about our new ministry and were so aware of the need in our community.

I have always called this meeting a “God moment.” It was meant to be.

Buzz was very active in the community – he arranged for me to speak a couple of times at a service club where he was a member. He and his wife sent the clinic a check every single month.

Buzz died a couple of weeks ago. He will be missed by us here at the clinic, by his community and all of those who knew him.

Our sympathy to his wife and family. Buzz made a real difference in this world.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

A Prayer for Thanksgiving

Dear Lord,
As we gather together around this table
laden with your plentiful gifts to us,
we thank You for always providing
what we really need even when we didn't know we needed it.

Today, let us be especially thankful
for each other--for family and friends
who enrich our lives in wonderful ways,
even when they present us with challenges.

Let us join together now
in peaceful, loving fellowship
to celebrate Your love for us
and our love for each other.

We thank you for the turkey, the dressing and the gravy.
This table overflows with your abundant blessing.

Remind us always that all gifts come from you.

Amen.

Thank you Sr. Mary Ellen Howard for sharing this!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I’m not talking about Christmas – I am talking about Open Enrollment in the Marketplace.

Open Enrollment for plans starting January 1, 2015 began on November 15. I LOVE helping people enroll in a healthcare plan – whether it is through the Marketplace or helping them enroll in the Healthy Michigan Plan – Michigan’s expanded Medicaid.

It brings me such joy to see people finally be able to afford and enroll in healthcare. Some of the people I am working with this year are re-enrolling. I love hearing the stories of how having insurance changed their lives – how they were finally able to have some long-needed surgery, or see a specialist that they could not afford before.

It is exciting to see people enrolled for the first time. I love teaching them about how insurance works, what their options are and showing them how their tax subsidies will make the insurance affordable for them.

This year, the clinic is once again providing individuals and families with a place to come enroll in healthcare with the assistance of Certified Application Counselors. Connie and I both completed the training for both the Marketplace and to assist in enrollment for the Healthy Michigan Plan.

Give us a call – see if we can help you!