My high school economics teacher taught me "there is no such thing as a free lunch." Meaning that no matter how free something may appear, there is always a cost. Now this is true, of course, but I always get a chuckle out of talking to patients about the services offered at Oasis of Hope Center, an entirely free health clinic located on the NW side of Grand Rapids, MI...because, for the patients, the cost has already been taken care of.
"Really?! Free? Like I don't have to pay anything??" Correct. Through a combination of local donors and volunteers as well as grants awarded and patient donations, you know that if the doors of Oasis are open, they can afford to be. As you might imagine, this is not an easy feat, but the following story represents exactly why providing this service to our community is worth every effort. |
I want to keep patient and his family in this story anonymous, but for the sake of the story, I will refer to him as Steve. Steve had stumbled across some information about Oasis of Hope, and called to schedule an appointment for two of his six children who were fighting an infection. The next day, however, when Steve's family arrived at the clinic, all six of his children were showing signs of infection. Steve was concerned.
You see, Steve had signed his family up for Medicaid, but had gotten "lost in the cloud" which means that, until his caseworker finalized his paperwork, he and his family were entirely without insurance. Several weeks had already passed without a response.
The first child we examined presented with bilateral tympanic membrane perforations caused by ear infections. The second, no perforations but did present with infections in both ears. From there, the volunteer Physician Assistant on duty agreed to inspect the ears of the rest of his six children, prescribing antibiotics to an additional two of them who displayed need.
The entire family expressed their gratitude, but before leaving the clinic, Steve stopped by the front desk, "I don't mean to be a bother, but I, too, have some health concerns that need to be addressed, is there any way that I could schedule an appointment?"
We saw Steve two days later, and he told us his story.
He had been without a job in his field of training for about a year, but was finding alternative ways to provide for his family with the help of his in-laws, who offered him a place to stay. Six months prior to his visit at Oasis, however, new housing regulations made it impossible for Steve's family to stay at their residence. So, for six months Steve, his wife, and his six children were homeless.
Fortunately, Steve's family now had a home to live in, but he still struggled to remain optimistic, and his worsening health and stress level weren't making matters any better. At this point in the story, his provider declared, "Well, you have come to the right place!"
Steve replied,
You see, Steve had signed his family up for Medicaid, but had gotten "lost in the cloud" which means that, until his caseworker finalized his paperwork, he and his family were entirely without insurance. Several weeks had already passed without a response.
The first child we examined presented with bilateral tympanic membrane perforations caused by ear infections. The second, no perforations but did present with infections in both ears. From there, the volunteer Physician Assistant on duty agreed to inspect the ears of the rest of his six children, prescribing antibiotics to an additional two of them who displayed need.
The entire family expressed their gratitude, but before leaving the clinic, Steve stopped by the front desk, "I don't mean to be a bother, but I, too, have some health concerns that need to be addressed, is there any way that I could schedule an appointment?"
We saw Steve two days later, and he told us his story.
He had been without a job in his field of training for about a year, but was finding alternative ways to provide for his family with the help of his in-laws, who offered him a place to stay. Six months prior to his visit at Oasis, however, new housing regulations made it impossible for Steve's family to stay at their residence. So, for six months Steve, his wife, and his six children were homeless.
Fortunately, Steve's family now had a home to live in, but he still struggled to remain optimistic, and his worsening health and stress level weren't making matters any better. At this point in the story, his provider declared, "Well, you have come to the right place!"
Steve replied,
"I know. This center has become my oasis for HOPE."
As the appointment progressed, we addressed the physical and psychological needs of Steve, which included starting him back on three medications he had been unable to acquire without health insurance, making the connections required to get his CPAP machine fixed that was keeping him from getting enough sleep, and making sure he knew there was always support in the form of counseling and prayer available to him at Oasis of Hope Center.
That afternoon, Steve walked out of the clinic after an entirely free medical appointment with three months of medications, totaling a cost of only $11.99, information for a restored CPAP, a face full of tears, and, I believe, a rediscovered sense of hope.
And that is why Oasis of Hope exists.
So to all of the selfless people who have aided Oasis in inspiring people of the Grand Rapids community...
That afternoon, Steve walked out of the clinic after an entirely free medical appointment with three months of medications, totaling a cost of only $11.99, information for a restored CPAP, a face full of tears, and, I believe, a rediscovered sense of hope.
And that is why Oasis of Hope exists.
So to all of the selfless people who have aided Oasis in inspiring people of the Grand Rapids community...
THANK YOU.
Or, as Steve said it, "I pray that God blesses you, because you may never know how much you have blessed me."