We would like to say a heartfelt “Thank you” to every individual out there who has donated to the Malta House of Care’s efforts. We would also like to share a story with you – one that will give you a better picture of how much help and hope your donation can provide. Alice is a Malta House of Care clinic patient who has shared her story with us.
From Alice’s letter:
I am writing to you from my heart. I know that people probably ask you for money all the time, but please read on
to listen to my story. I am writing to you, because I think it’s very important. I will give you a little history of myself
and what The Malta House of Care has done for me.
I am a diabetic and when I lost my last job in 2007, I no longer had medical insurance and could not afford it. I
was an uncontrolled diabetic spiraling downward. In March of 2008 I developed an infection. I had to go through
an emergency room at John Dempsey Hospital.
My infection required emergency surgery which in itself was tricky due to my high sugar, high blood pressure and
high heart rate. I came out of the surgery okay but was kept in the hospital to get all the other issues under
control. They were wonderful to me. My health came before the money which tells me they cared. They got me
on State Insurance and if they did not pay they had a donation program that would pay for my hospital bill. They
could not stress enough that I needed to have medication to control my diabetes. They gave me a prescription
and as much as they could do for me.
Again, I could not afford to see a doctor and get medications. I am self supporting and live paycheck to paycheck.
I again became an uncontrolled diabetic. In August of 2008 I was working temporarily. One of my fellow coworkers
found out about my diabetes and said you are coming with me. You need to take the day off from work.
She took me to a site in Hartford (Connecticut, where I live). She introduced me to Malta House of Care. They
are a non-profit organization that provides medical care and prescriptions, blood work, and x-rays for free. I was
crying that day. One of the caregivers put her arms around me, hugged me and said you are going to be okay,
we are going to take care of you.
She was right…I have been unemployed since March of 2009, collecting unemployment and still under their care.
I had a setback in November 2008. I kept falling down…they sent me for tests and found I had nerve damage in
my legs due to the diabetes and I had to start walking with a walker. It was hard for me just to take a bath but I
never asked for help because I am stubborn and am determined. I had lost a lot of weight and no longer had
muscle mass in my legs due to the diabetes. It is now August 2010. I only walk with a cane when I have to, but I
still have issues with my legs and considered handicapped…it has been a rough 2 years but my sugar is almost
where it should be. I take insulin, and many other medications associated for preventive issues for my diabetes.
They got 2 pharmaceutical companies to provide me with my insulin and other med free for a year due to my
income. Since I have been going there a lot of faces have changed since the doctors donate their time to see
patients. This organization cares about people. Because I could not walk up and down stairs, they used to bring
me a chair to sit outside. That’s when I first met Dr. —. She asked me to be patient she wanted to read my
file and would be back up. There are stairs to go up on the Mobile unit. She didn’t make me walk up those steps,
she sat with me, took my blood pressure, wrote prescriptions and talked with me.
This organization has been overwhelmed with patients and needs money to keep providing the free care that they
do. I am still with them and will be until I can get a job, which has to be soon as unemployment will run out.
People don’t like hiring handicapped people.
If you are going to give to a charity, please find it in your heart to donate to them. Their presence is needed here
in Connecticut. They don’t discriminate against anyone, young, old, black, white, Hispanic, families. They are
here to help people who have no medical insurance.
They saved my life literally, and a lot of other people’s. There have been times they could not see new patients,
due to funds. Again, please find it in your heart to help all the people in Connecticut to continue get the medical
help they need from Malta House. Anything you can do will be appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story.
Sincerely,
Alice
On behalf of Alice and the many other grateful Malta House of Care patients: THANK YOU!
September 8, 2010
Categories: MaltaHouseOfCare, Patients . . Author: mhcfoundationct . Comments: Leave a comment
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