Glendale residents Lee and Chandra have been married for 33 years and have six children along with demanding work schedules. Although they are both gainfully employed, like millions of Americans, they find themselves unable to afford healthcare and ineligible for government assistance.
“The monthly premiums are like a mortgage payment and the deductibles make it so virtually nothing is even covered,” Chandra says.
Work physical indicates health issues
When Lee, 55, failed his physical in early 2021 due to high blood pressure, he knew he had a major challenge on his hands. His employer requires him to pass an annual health exam in order to remain employed because he has a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and operates city buses.
When he told the medical professional who administered the exam that he could not afford health insurance, he was referred to Mission of Mercy (MOM).
“Mission of Mercy has been the greatest blessing to us,” Lee says. “From the moment you walk through their doors, you can tell that everyone there genuinely wants to help people.”
The medical team at MOM completed basic vitals and bloodwork and determined that Lee had both high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He was given prescription medications to bring down his levels, so he could continue working and pass his physical.
Extending MOM’s umbrella of care
After her initial skepticism about a “free healthcare clinic,” Chandra also sought MOM’s help. As a Type 2 diabetic since 2000, her fasting blood sugars were extremely high and the oral diabetes medications she needed were too expensive.
“At first, my pride got in the way a little bit,” Chandra says. “It’s embarrassing to not be able to afford healthcare even though we both work, so we just went without it.”
Both Lee and Chandra have achieved excellent results in just a few months of care. Over just three months, Lee’s blood pressure went down from 160/90 to 128/70 and Chandra’s A1c level decreased from 13.5% to 11.2%.
“We still have work to do, but with MOM’s support, we are headed in the right direction.”
