My Christmas Gift

Howdy Y'all & Happy Holidays! I'll say that as I know people of many faiths...not everyone celebrates Christmas. Deal with it.

If you've been following my saga, then you know that life has taken an upswing for me lately. It's been a really rough couple of years...but it's all working out. Whew!

Over the past year, my typically crappy health took yet another turn, and I was diagnosed with diabetes (aka...The Beetus). That was all I needed to hear! Aside from the physical complications that come along with it, it's a damned expensive disorder to have...especially for the poor and uninsured...like me!

Luckily, my broke ass had found the Birmingham Free Clinic, down in Pittsburgh's Southside. WOW! What a great bunch! I contacted them last spring. I was broke, just about to run out of my heart medication, and really didn't know what to do. (For you Fox News lovers out there, NO...going to the ER is not a viable option. An ER visit costs, usually, $1500-2000.00. A doctor's office visit is usually $120-200.00. If one doesn't have the latter, they surely can't afford the former.)

I looked online for Pittsburgh free clinics and found the Birmingham Free Clinic (run by the evil empire itself, UPMC). I sent them an email, explaining my situation and asking if they could help. Due to the overwhelming number of poor and uninsured in the area, they are usually swamped on the few days per week they can see patients. It basically works on a 1st come, 1st serve lottery...and on a good day, they can accept 20 patients. This means showing up a few hours before they even open...and still no guarantee you'll see a doctor.

On my 1st visit, I wasn't going to make the cut. As soon as they opened the door, the folks waiting swarmed! I was clearly (and loudly) dismayed. One of the nurses asked what my visit was for, and I told her it was for my heart medication. She snuck me in! (God bless you little lady!)

Since then, the BFC has been my source for health care...and I'll tell you this for nothing, THEY DO A GREAT JOB! They always make sure I have my medication...especially the one that I wasn't taking regularly because of it's price. In the overall scheme of things, it's not that the medication was overly expensive...but most months I had to choose between that pill and, oh say...the light bill. Or food. Not a fun position to be in.

Now before you ask "Why didn't you just apply for welfare and medical assistance?"...I did. And was turned down every time. The next time some talking head tells you that the 'gubment' is 'giving away benefits to illegals and welfare cheats', you tell them I said they're full of shit. Your chances of being approved are only slightly better than winning the lottery. Even with a history of chronic health conditions and a negative cash flow, I was still turned down.

The folks at the BFC took excellent care of me! In fact, they even made sure that I got my annual blood work (which I hadn't had for 2 years) to make sure that my meds weren't destroying my liver. On the down side, this same blood work is also what diagnosed my diabetes. On the upside, the folks at the BFC went out of their way to help me out! I have since lost 30+ pounds, my blood sugar is perfectly normal, and I'm hoping to be off of my diabetes medication by spring. Yeah...that's how good they are! Some of the staff even call just to check in on me and make sure I'm OK. Now THAT, my friends, is service! Tell you what...go price the cost of blood work. If your insurance covers it, be thankful!

Like I said, things are on the upswing! I'm not out of the red yet...but I have a new, decent paying job that I enjoy. I've had some money coming in recently, and I've made a decision: this is going to be my Christmas gift...the gift of being able to give and help out someone else. I think that truly is in the spirit of the season.

Hey, money is tight for everyone...I understand that. Everyone is out spending money on presents, and cookies, and all of the good stuff. But...if you can, donate a few bucks to the Birmingham Free Clinic. It's a gift that will definitely keep on giving. You will be helping out a fellow human being who really needs your help. Maybe they just need an employment physical so they can start a job, or maybe, like I was, they're an undiagnosed & uninsured person with a chronic illness. You might just help save a life. So, if you can afford a couple of bucks, donate. If you're really strapped, I understand. I've been there. But if you can help out...do it. It's the best gift you can give.

Donations

How You Can Help

In order to continue to provide the best possible care to our community’s uninsured and underserved, the PHCUP is always in need of corporations and individual donors who underwrite the cost of supplies and medicines:

Your Donation of $20 provides an uninsured patient with one primary care clinic visit, including pharmacy services. (Actual cost per visit is $120—$100 in-kind provided by volunteer health professionals).
Your Donation of $50 provides an uninsured, diabetic patient with one month of medication.
Your Donation of $100 buys three new blood pressure cuffs, or more than two-months’ worth of multiple medications for an uninsured patient with high blood pressure.
Clinical Support - $10,000 needed annually for medications, equipment, medical supplies, immunizations, and patient education materials.
For more information on ways to support PHCUP, please contact Gary Dubin at (412) 647-9113 or dgary@pmhsf.org. Donations to the PHCUP are tax-deductible.

The BFC helped me. I plan to help them as much as I can. It'd be great if you could too! Here's the link for more info:

https://www.dom.pitt.edu/dgim/phcup/donations.html

Happy Holiday to all of you and here's wishing you and yours and happy, joyful, and prosperous new year!

-MM