Church Health Center saves one life, inspires another

By John Forbes

Terra Cartwright is no stranger to the life-changing work that the Church Health Center does on a daily basis. The CHC was integral in saving her mother’s life.

That’s why when Cartwright was looking for work as a medical assistant, her mother Yvonne Abark exclaimed “Go to the Church Health Center!” The Center jumped to the top of Terra’s job list.

Cartwright was hired as a volunteer medical assistant, a position that not only allowed her natural abilities to flourish, but also gave her the opportunity to do something she’d been wanting to do for years – give back to the Center that gave so lovingly to her mother.

“I wanted to give back to the people who gave so much to my momma,” she said.

Back in 2002, Abark was at the Center when she was told she had breast cancer. Her response at first was quite muted given the dramatic change her life was about take.

Thankfully, she had developed a comfortable relationship with Dr. Mary Braza, her regular doctor at the Center, and the CHC staff and knew she was in capable hands.

Abark had initially learned about the Center from a friend, after she was turned down from TennCare because she had a job. The suggestion proved to be life-saving.

Abark was impressed by the level of care she received. “They asked a lot of questions and thoroughly explained what they were going to do,” she said.

She was told she’d need a mammogram – a test she had never had before.

Things seemed to be looking up for Abark, but after a couple of weeks, Yvonne broke down and cried. “I’m going to die,” she thought. She increased her smoking and was very depressed for several weeks.

Like good friends, the CHC staff supported her during her battle with cancer and didn’t allow her to give up. Dr. Ben Willow was particularly effective in helping Abark through counseling her. And the rest of the staff picked up her spirits through kindness and compassion that Abark says are so commonplace at the Center.

“Even when they called on the phone, you could tell they were smiling, and I felt it,” she said.

She was then referred to the West Clinic for treatment.

“The people at the West Clinic knew I didn’t have any money,” she said. “But they didn’t treat me like I was different.”

Back at the Church Health Center, Dr. Braza kept up with Abark while she was going to the West Clinic for chemotherapy and surgery and made sure she understood what was happening.

Cartwright was with her mother throughout her battle with cancer, including nearly every visit to the West Clinic for chemotherapy. Nothing stopped her from being with her on those visits, not even having a baby. Although the doctors considered delivering Cartwright’s baby, India, at the West Clinic, she was taken to another hospital. But she and her mother laugh about that day now and lovingly refer to India as their West Clinic baby.

By the time her mother was in remission, Cartwright’s life had found new direction. Not only had her relationship with her mother strengthened, she also was influenced by the level of care her mother received at the Church Health Center.

Once, when she was visiting her mother, she noticed a picture on the table of a lady wearing a shirt with her mom’s name printed on the back of it. When she asked about it, her mother said that the lady was Dr. Braza and the picture was taken at the Race for Grace, the annual 5K benefit run for the Center. Dr. Braza had walked in her mother’s name for breast cancer.

Terra was so touched by the gesture she went to Remington College to become a certified medical assistant.

Recalling the challenging years of the past, Abark’s eyes have the sparkle of one who has come close to death, but lived. Her life has changed. She exercises, she quit smoking, she keeps up with doctor’s visits and prays more than ever. She also has a greater sense of what it means to give to others. She certainly won’t forget what was given to her. When no other insurance provider would take her in, theChurchHealthCenteropened its doors. And they took care of her.

Sisters in wellness find hope, joy and community at Church Health Center

Focus on faith, fellowship inspires others
By Jeff Hulett

When it comes to sisterly love, Levorida and Mironda Rollins are like two peas in a pod. They are inseparable. So much so, that they’re often asked if they’re twins. Mironda is the older sister by four years, but they act more like best friends than sisters.

“We have our differences,” said Mironda – she attends Living Life In Victory Ministries church while her sister attends Greater Imani – “but we are tight.”

The sisters live together in north Memphis with five boys ranging in ages from 7 to 14. Levorida has two boys and Mironda has three. In fact, it was their boys who lead them to Church Health Center Wellness. The boys came here last summer for church camp and just raved about how great it was.

Their doctors had also encouraged them to join, so the two agreed to give it a try, and now they’re very glad they did. Members since last June, the sisters have not only made great strides, they have found a supportive community that has helped them make healthy, positive changes.

“Everybody is focused on doing better here,” Levorida said. “When you first walk through these doors and see these pretty smiles, it does something to you. It’s like one big, happy family here.”

Being in community with others headed in the same direction means the sisters are also inspiring others around them to take their health more seriously and embrace healthy changes. With such positive, can-do attitudes, you’d probably be surprised to know that both of them are struggling with serious health issues.

In April 2008, Levorida was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery, went through chemotherapy and radiation, but unfortunately the treatments led to even more health problems, including avascular necrosis (deterioration of the bone), kidney disease, liver problems and digestive issues. “When you find out you have breast cancer, it’s devastating,” said Levorida. “I was only 30 years old and I thought I might have to lose one of my breasts. I wasn’t married, and I wondered if anyone would have me. Would I have the support I needed to make it through it?”

Levorida has already had two hip replacements, and once she gets back from her family reunion this summer, she plans to have knee replacements in both legs as well. This is the point in the story where you well up and say, “My God, the poor woman.”

Don’t.

The Rollins sisters, who are not the self-pitying types, say they draw their strength from God. “When life gets hard, God puts everyone that you need to get through it in your path,” said Levorida. “This place is such a blessing.”

In September 2008, on the heels of Levorida’s breast cancer diagnosis, Mironda was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous symptom. MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. When this nerve covering is damaged, nerve impulses are slowed down or stopped. Symptoms vary, because the location and severity of each attack can be different. Episodes can last for days, weeks, or even months.

“It snuck up on me,” Mironda said. “The first couple of months I was in denial and didn’t know what to do. I lost my job and was looking for answers.”

Mironda was also going through a divorce and was worried about how she was going to take care of her children. Thankfully, she had the support of her family and her faith community, but she still struggled to make sense of all that was happening in her life. She was looking for anything that would help her remain positive and moving forward.

That’s when she saw it.

“Be faithful. Be focused. Be connected” right there on the Church Health Center Wellness Sports Court bulletin board she’d passed hundreds of times before. The message changes almost every day, but this day was different… it was as if it had been written just for her. “This is when it hit me that I was in a place of healing, and it was time for me to fight my illness,” she said. “You can’t let your illness conquer you. You conquer it.”

Thankfully, Levorida and Mironda have a great team of doctors that care for them, all of whom have encouraged them to work on their health goals at Church Health Center Wellness.

More and more doctors in our community are starting to realize that Church Health Center Wellness is a great place to send their patients who need extra hand-holding to make lasting changes. After all, we are the only certified Medical Fitness Facility in the city. That means we have staff trained in helping people with chronic diseases exercise safely.

Once they went through the Healthy Bodies classes at Wellness, the Rollins sisters immediately started attending the community cooking classes on Thursdays, where Church Health Center Wellness Education Coordinator and chef Carolyn Nichols encourages participants to introduce healthier foods and ingredients into the household setting. “We bring a lot of the recipes we cook in class home to the family,” Levorida said. “The boys love them, especially the fruit crepes and corn casserole,” Mironda added.

Nichols said the classes are popular with lots of members, including the sisters. “In the kitchen we make changes to everyday recipes people are familiar with. We incorporate healthy, economical ingredients while ensuring the food tastes great.”

After cooking class is over, Levorida and Mironda usually head upstairs to our sports court, where they walk around the track, stretch and then exercise on the elliptical machines. They also talk and visit with other members and friends they’ve met along the way.

“You hear people’s stories and share your own stories and it encourages you to keep going,” said Mironda. “Working out here is good for us because it releases a lot of our stress and takes our minds off of things for awhile.” Let’s face it, struggling with two debilitating diseases while raising a family is no easy task, and everyone needs an outlet to release stress.

“Raising five boys is hard, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Levorida. “You’ve got to be positive and not let your mind get so overwhelmed.”

Things have gotten better for both sisters as they continue to seek treatment and work on becoming healthier and stronger. They continue to test new recipes from the Church Health Center kitchen at home and share their experiences with family and friends.

The Church Health Center is much more than a clinic, and our wellness center is much more than you’re your average gym. We are proud that our members have told us that “spiritual guidance,” “compassion” and “being a safe-haven for my kids” are reasons why they come to Church Health Center Wellness.

“Coming here with my sister – it’s our thing – we started as a team and we’re not going to stop until we reach our goals,” said Levorida. “Always look for the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re doing better and we will keep on fighting.”

One woman’s resilient spirit pays back kindness with kindness

Center’s whole-person approach to care contributes to amazing comeback
By Marvin Stockwell

Eliza Martin divorced an abusive husband and moved back to her native Memphis in 1997. A year and a half later, her Cobra health insurance coverage had run out. She was uninsured, and her osteoarthritis was considered a pre-existing condition, so she was uninsurable. Adding to her pain was fibromyalgia, which would be diagnosed later on.

“I was in a lot of pain and no one would take me,” she said. “Thank God I found the Church Health Center.”

She “found” the Center one day when a relative surprised her with a Gift of a Day to the Center in her honor, stopping by the Center when they were out for lunch. “What a wonderful surprise it was,” she said.

As the bookkeeper for her son Eric’s music store, Martin Music, she learned that she qualified for the MEMPHIS Plan, our healthcare plan for small businesses, and was soon enrolled. However, access to healthcare was only the beginning of Eliza’s healing journey.

Pain begets pain, and sometimes the resulting emotional pain was too much. She felt hopeless and had tried to kill herself more than once. On top of that, her physical pain was overwhelming. Narcotics left her in a haze, and surgery and nerve blocks were only partially successful.

There are several theories about the causes of fibromyalgia, but post-traumatic stress disorder is thought to be one possible cause. Some studies have shown that when the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight-or-flight” part) is constantly engaged over a long period of time, it can have a devastating effect on a person’s physical health.

“It’s like your sympathetic nervous system is an accelerator stuck to the floor, and the parasympathetic system, acting as the brakes, can’t calm the nerves down as it normally should,” Eliza said. “Your fight-or-flight instinct is designed to make sure you can survive until you are out of danger, but when you’re a child, you can’t get away. You can’t fight off an adult. You can’t sleep. You’re always in fear.”

The first step in healing the emotional and spiritual wounds of her abuse was telling her story to someone she loved.

“The first person I told was my son, Eric,” she said. “When I did, I felt like a giant weight had just fallen off of me.”

Then she began meeting with Church Health Center counselor Angie Dagastino. She confided much of her story to Angie, including many of her emotional symptoms, but the details of her abuse she kept to herself. Those who abused her told her that they would kill her if she ever told anyone. She had kept her abuse a secret for more than 40 years.

“Angie saw the enormity of my pain and really stepped into my shoes with understanding, when no one else – not even family – was willing to,” Eliza said. “She looked me in the eyes with compassion and told me ‘You need a better quality of life.’ Those words were like music to my ears. She had true empathy for me.”

In time, Eliza found the courage to tell her whole story, including her abuse, to Church Health Center volunteer psychiatrist Dr. Nancy Duckworth. Eliza worked with her and Angie over a series of months. “Angie and Dr. Duckworth were both such wonderful ladies,” Eliza said. “Angie really stuck with me. She called me every day just to check on me and make sure I was okay.”

A mix of therapies – counseling, encouragement and medication – provided relief and hope, but that was only half the battle. Eliza still had unrelenting physical pain to contend with, and her doctor told her, even before she had sought counseling, that if she didn’t start exercising, she’d wind up in a wheelchair.

At first the idea seemed ludicrous. She barely had enough energy to get out of bed, and exercise made her pain worse, not better. But she knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. She had to do something.

She heard that we offered Ai Chi classes in our heated, therapeutic pool and decided to give it a try. Ai Chi is a type of exercise that uses deep breathing, meditation and gentle movements to increase strength and flexibility. She found the classes to be a peaceful, relaxing way to exercise, and she started going regularly.

“The deep breathing of Ai Chi is cleansing. It lessens your pain, reduces stress and gives you more energy,” she said. “Yes, you get tired, but it’s a good tired.”

The words Ai Chi mean “love energy.” That’s what Eliza desperately needed, and exactly what she found. The love and support of her classmates was life-giving, and the gentle exercise was invigorating.

“The pool and those classes were my salvation,” she said. “One day Angie called me, and I said ‘I have energy! I have energy!’ The more I did Ai Chi, the more my energy came back. Within six months, I really felt like I had my life back.”

Eliza and others clamored for more classes, but the volunteer instructor was too busy. Eliza had become pretty good at Ai Chi, so she volunteered to teach classes on an additional day each week. Now a certified Ai Chi instructor, she teaches beginner and intermediate Ai Chi classes twice a week at our wellness center.

Eliza found Ai Chi so life-giving in fact, that she started looking for other ways to share the healing gift she had received. Now she also teaches Ai Chi as a volunteer at the Skinner Center and the Village atGermantown. She has also trained staff members from all the city’s YMCAs to teach Ai Chi.“What I got from Angie and others at the Church Health Center is what I want to give to others,” she said.

Another thing that helped Eliza was working with our physical therapists. She first worked with Richard Bryant after her neck surgery. Later on, she worked with Lisa Liebschwager to reduce the pain in her knees. Recently, she worked with Pam White after her hand surgery to restore mobility to her thumb.

Now our physical therapists often send their patients to Eliza’s Ai Chi classes, and the circle of healing continues.

Goodness, it turns out, also begets goodness.

MEMPHIS Plan helping farmer and immigrant family

Alberto Velazquez immigrated to theUnited StatesfromMexicoin search of a better life. He was managing a team of landscapers and sending money home to support his wife Manuela and their four children when he met Andy Taylor while doing a project at his home in 2007. By that time, Alberto had already been trying to secure green cards for his family for years, patiently working all legal channels.

Andy saw Alberto work long, hard hours in the heat and grew to admire his strong work ethic and dedication to his family. The more he got to know Alberto, the more he liked him and wanted to help him and his family.

“Alberto was working hard, filing his taxes and taking care of his family the best he could, and I just started thinking about it,” Andy said. “What will happen to a guy like that when he gets older? He needs access to healthcare like anyone else does.”

Alberto’s hard work, patience and dedication to his family soon paid off.

In August of 2009, after seven long years, the Velazquez family’s immigration paperwork finally went through and they were cleared to immigrate to theUnited States. Soon thereafter, Andy hired Alberto to manage his 80-acreMillingtonfarm.

Alberto was uninsured, and he and his family had no access to medical care, but Andy couldn’t offer Alberto a traditional health insurance plan. He struck up a conversation with Church Health Center Executive Director Dr. Scott Morris and explained his predicament.

“Dr. Morris said, ‘Have I got a deal for you,’ ” Andy said.

Dr. Morris went on to explain that the MEMPHIS Plan was an employer-sponsored plan that was helping more than 1,400 small businesses do what seemed impossible – offer lower-wage workers access to quality, affordable healthcare while reducing sick days, increasing productivity and improving employee morale.

It almost sounded too good to be true, but now that Alberto and his family are enrolled on the MEMPHIS Plan, Andy has seen how donated services from volunteer doctors and support from area hospitals add up to a top-notch healthcare plan that’s a win-win for him and the Velazquez family.

Access to dental care was a huge help, said Alberto, who along with everyone else in the family, took care of dental issues they had been putting off. “Everything we experienced was very good,” Alberto said. “They take good care of us.”

Within a year, each member of the family was well-established with a primary care doctor and receiving regular care for routine issues. However, for Alberto’s oldest daughter, 17-year-old Maria, being on the MEMPHIS Plan may very well end up saving her life.

A routine trip to her doctor led to the discovery of a pronounced heart murmur. Further tests revealed a large hole in Maria’s heart and her blood thickening to compensate. She was referred to LeBonheur, and is now on a drug regimen to prepare her for surgery – all at a cost her family can afford.

“When we first found out, I was sad, I was upset and very worried,” Alberto said. “I am still worried, but not as much, because I know she is receiving the best care.”

Alberto says he and his family love living inMillington, and really, what’s not to love? His house is walking distance from the farm he manages, and every night he is able to come home to his family.

His children are doing well in school, acclimating to American culture and getting better at speaking English. His 14-year-old son Abel attendsWoodstockMiddle School, while his 15-year-old daughter Adrianna and 16-year-old son Humberto attendMillingtonHigh School, where Humberto also plays soccer. And thanks to theChurchHealthCenter’s MEMPHIS Plan, Alberto’s daughter Maria will turn 18 next month and start her senior year at Millington High.

“I don’t care where you come from, if you don’t have health insurance and you have a daughter who needs open-heart surgery, just think about that and how you would feel,” Andy said. “The Good Lord put Scott Morris in this place to absolutely change lives, and the MEMPHIS Plan has literally saved lives and changed the lives of many people. Alberto and his family are living examples of that.”

For more information about the MEMPHIS Plan, call (901) 272-7526 or visit ChurchHealthCenter.org/MemphisPlan.

Jacob’s story

At the Church Health Center, we see patients at our Clinic every day with problems that could have been prevented. In our present economy, people are so worried about putting gas in their cars and food on their tables that they often forget to take care of themselves. They know that preventative care can help keep them healthy, but it can be difficult to get started and stay motivated.

At the Church Health Center we are committed to providing healthcare to those without insurance, and we are equally committed to helping them make healthy lifestyle changes that will prevent them from getting sick in the first place.

Jacob recently heard about the Church Health Center from a friend. He found himself dealing with an ongoing staff infection that kept him from going to work, and he didn’t know where else to turn. He came to the Walk-In Clinic one morning, and his doctor gave him some antibiotics.

During Jacob’s appointment, his doctor found out that he wasn’t exercising regularly and encouraged him to visit Church Health Center Wellness. Jacob has since become a member of Wellness and finds himself in the best shape of his life. He enjoys playing basketball and meeting new people within the diverse staff and membership base at Wellness.

This new lifestyle has not only changed his physical appearance, but his spiritual life as well. He hasn’t missed a day of work in over three months, and he has more energy, both physically and mentally, to take on any of life’s challenges.

Mara’s Story

Mara first came to Church Health Center Wellness with her mother about six months ago. Significantly overweight for her age of 11, Mara was determined to loose the extra weight. Our Wellness center was a perfect place for both her mother and her to work on their health and wellness goals since there are a wide variety of programs for both adults and children.

Mara is like many of today’s youth. She grew up on potato chips and video games, quickly developing many unhealthy habits. With a single mother working full-time, fitness and healthy eating had simply not been a priority for Mara and her mother. However, this summer as Mara’s mother’s health began to decline, the mother-daughter team decided to make a change in their lives.

Joining Church Health Center Wellness was the first step towards making this change.  Mara and her mother went through the Getting Started orientation process and began to participate in a variety of programs. Mara saw our nutritionist, and today can be found participating in many of our wellness education and fitness classes, including  Creative Movement and nutritional cooking classes for youth.

Mara and her mother are now familiar faces at Church Health Center Wellness. They are regular participants in our family fitness classes and continue to learn about and implement healthier lifestyles. Their courage, positive attitude, and persistence are an inspiration to us all.

 

 

Patient Story – Augusta

The Church Health Center provides a sanctuary for those who have no where else to turn, and no one can attest to that fact better than  Augusta.

Augusta has only been coming to the Church Health Center for about a year, but she has already discovered how important the Center is to her personally. When she first came, she was suffering from extreme high-blood pressure, which was having a very serious affect on her health. She knew something wasn’t right.

Augusta had no money to pay medical bills and thought she had nowhere else to turn. The doctors at the Church Health Center treated her problem and are still helping her today. Augusta said, “Where else could I turn when I was seriously ill? The doctors helped me through it.”

“Other places turn you down, but they don’t. The Church Health Center allowed me to believe in something.”

That is what the Church Health Center is here for – to give hope to the hopeless.