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Impact of the Quarter
(from the desk of medical director Duane Furman)
We have been serving a woman who is 27 years old, married for 8 years, who lives life with a joyful outlook with a devotion to her family that is beyond compare.
She wears a continual smile on her face that lifts anyone in her presence. She speaks softly and maintains such a gentle spirit. Her heart is full of gratitude for she feels blessed; she feels at peace with herself.
What the above description does not capture is the physical toll her life has dealt her. She was diagnosed with
diabetes at the age of 5 and is now
nearly blind with extremely limited vision but for shades and limited shapes. At the age of 21 she developed
end stage renal disease and is now on dialysis three times per week. At the age of 22 she required a right below the
knee amputation due to complications from her diabetes and infections. Presently, she takes 16 different medications every day to help her "keep going" as she would say.
Despite all her health issues, that smile and gentle appreciative spirit shines through.
She and her husband came to Katallasso two weeks ago after a friend read about Katallasso and mentioned the clinic to them. Her husband lost his insurance coverage and she was no longer able to afford her regular primary care physician. They have applied for various insurance programs but were either denied because he made too much income or
they couldn't afford the coverage quoted for the care that she required. Uncertain as where to turn, they decided to take their friends advice and schedule an evaluation at the clinic as they work through the process of obtaining insurance.
During her time at Katallasso, she was able to get medications refilled at a reasonable cost and receive some samples to fill some of the medication gaps. She was set up for a GYN evaluation as her last one had been nearly two years ago and she was presently experiencing some abnormal bleeding. An appointment was scheduled with our Endocrinology
provider so she could receive high quality care for her diabetic issues and concerns. Laboratory services were provided at no cost to her so that all the important blood tests could be completed. But most importantly, she felt loved, cared for and valued that she could receive this type of care in her time of need and uncertainty. As she left her appointment that day, she said,
" I may not be able to see with my eyes what Katallasso looks like, but I can sure feel in my heart what Katallasso is about."
What a joy to see how Katallasso is reaching beyond healthcare to impact the lives of people for the Kingdom of God! |
our new intake process for the patient's first visit. We have been gathering pertinent data so we can know our client base better which helps in decision making concerning client services and possible expansion of ministry. Here is some interesting statistical data that has been compiled about our clients (you may find some surprises):
