Clients, Families, Volunteers and Donors. These are their stories...
Many thanks to the folks who are willing to share their stories of help and hardship. We salute you.
The staff of NC MedAssist
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Stephanie Alexander: Client and Volunteer |
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Stephanie Alexander is one of our newest volunteers and has become a great asset to the MedAssist team. Stephanie has spent most of her life in Charlotte and has been blessed with three grown children and nine grandchildren. But Stephanie has a unique volunteer story because she is also a MedAssist client. Like many of our clients, , she lost her job in 2008 because of the recent economic decline. This came as quite a surprise to Stephanie as she had worked for the same company for 20 years. After being unemployed for a year, Stephanie’s Cobra benefits expired and her life took a downward spiral. Stephanie had been diagnosed with diabetes several years prior to losing her job and now struggled with the choice between buying food or the insulin she needed to survive.
When she had coverage affording her medication was not an issue. Without coverage she found it impossible to pay $120 for her insulin shots. Her son offered assistance but he had two children with special needs and she couldn’t let him do that. Stephanie chose to pay for food and go without her medicine. After three weeks went by, her body could no longer survive without insulin and Stephanie admitted herself to the hospital. At this point her blood sugar levels were extremely high. “Without the insulin shots, my body couldn’t process food into sugar,” said Stephanie. “…. I felt like I was walking through molasses. My entire body ached and I couldn’t think clearly.” Stephanie feared she may die from not taking her medication. A family member informed her of MedAssist and she promptly made an appointment after leaving the hospital. It has been three years since Stephanie enrolled into our program and it’s been three years since she’s had to choose between food or medicine. This spring, when Stephanie came to MedAssist to recertify, she learned about the different volunteer opportunities that we have and signed up immediately. She had developed a passion to help others in need just as MedAssist had helped her. She spends her time at MedAssist filing and doing data entry. Volunteering at MedAssist has really opened her eyes to the thousands more that have had similar challenges and experiences. “MedAssist is a life saver,” she says. “You helped me and now I am helping you.” We are so appreciative to have you on our team Stephanie! Thank you for giving your time and efforts to support others in need! |
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Kevin Shally's New Outlook on Life |
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When Kevin Shally moved to Charlotte in 1978, he was full of ambition and desire to live a comfortable life. He set out to accomplish this goal by starting his own landscaping business, which flourished and became very successful. Kevin was able to buy a great house, afford the things in life he wanted and carry good health insurance even though he paid 100% of out pocket as a self-employed business owner. But luckily for Kevin, he didn’t have many health issues at that point in his life. Then in 2008, everything changed; Kevin’s world was turned upside down, along side of the economy. He eventually lost his business followed by his house, but the one thing Kevin held on to was his insurance because years of landscaping had finally taken its toll. With pain in his knees and signs of skin cancer, Kevin used his savings to continue insurance coverage, so he could continue to afford his medications. When he turned 60, things changed again. His insurance policy more than doubled to $1,500 per month just because of his age. Now he was faced with the shocking reality of living uninsured. Because of his limited income, he could no longer afford the insurance policy.
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NC MedAssist Helps Save Lives! |
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Bettie Clay was independent, working and insured until April of 2006 when she was laid off from her job after 13 years due to a department cut. About a year after Bettie was laid off she was diagnosed with COPD, high blood pressure and hypertension, that require seven different medications for health maintenance. Because of the severity of her illness, she was unable to work. Her inability to work forced her to go on disability, making it even more difficult to make ends meet. She was able to pay for these medications when she was employed and insured, but now with a very small income, she can barely afford her mortgage and bills, let alone the seven medications she needs to save her life.
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A Few Kind Words from United Way |
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On behalf of United Way of Central Carolinas, we would like to thank you, your staff and Board of Directors for the time and effort put into this year’s Citizen Review Process. The programs and services that you provide continue to significantly impact the lives of many. The work that you do is extraordinary and greatly appreciated and is more important than ever.
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Part of a Critical Need Safety Net |
 Sheila Rice began to feel pain in her left hand. A single Mom and working fulltime, Sheila initially dismissed the discomfort. Soon, however, she knew in her heart that something was wrong. “At that time, I was working for a catering company at Duke Energy,” recalled Sheila.
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