CBS

12.02.11 Blog: Stories Inspired by Real Family Clinics

Posted on Dec 2, 2011 03:00am

Free and community clinics see everything from common colds to rare and
exotic conditions and diseases. As the first point of contact for many Americans,
those who work at clinics never know what to expect. In this week’s episode
of A Gifted Man, the staff at Clinica Sanando is faced with a strange case of a
condition that they rarely, if ever, have seen before. The following story of an
unusual condition comes from NC MedAssist in Charlotte, NC.



Max’s story began when his doctor discovered a 70 pound non-malignant tumor
in his stomach. He had come to the clinic to have his high blood pressure and
asthma checked, neither condition was helped by Max’s obesity. To say that we,
along with Max, were shocked at the discovery of such a massive tumor would be
an understatement. He needed surgery to have the tumor removed, but continued
having trouble breathing, which he had always attributed to his asthma. It turns out
that the weight of the tumor had damaged his diaphragm. Once he recovered from
surgery, Max returned to work, but was unable to perform the necessary duties due
to breathing troubles and was subsequently let go from his job.



Now without any income or health insurance, Max found himself unable to get
the medications he so desperately needed. Because of his terrible shortness of
breath, he could barely make it through an interview and had trouble finding a job.
His limited income forced him to buy blood pressure medicine one month and an
inhaler the next instead of buying both every month as he needed. This compromise
eventually landed him in the ER because his blood pressure was out of control.



When Max returned to our clinic, he could not make it inside the front door without
stopping several times to catch his breath. Being able to get his medications from
the clinic has proven to literally be a lifesaver. His breathing began to improve and
he was able to start exercising. After being with MedAssist for one year he lost an
incredible 100 pounds, went from needing seven daily medications to four. His health
has improved to the point that he no longer uses an inhaler. Max says there is no doubt
in his mind that he would be dead if she had not had the help of our clinic. Just last
week he said, “Before I came to MedAssist, my house was a mess because I wasn’t well
enough to clean it. Now my house is a mess because I can spend more time with my
granddaughters!”