Director’s Note Sometimes when looking at the incredible people with whom I have the opportunity to work, I am struck by
the strength of their commitment to help others. Daily I wonder at the energy and joy which they bring to the work. At staff
meetings each week we have a moment in which we share kudos with each other. These are recognitions of those who go “above
and beyond” to help patients and each other.
A reminder
of some of these kudos came recently with the tragic deaths of two of our patients.
“Jim” came to us after having been fired by two other clinics due to not keeping his appointments,
being noncompliant with treatment and generally being a pain in the neck. Jim was a mentally ill, homeless, (and thus a rather
smelly and grumpy) alcoholic who found solace at Family Health Care. He sometimes came late or occasionally early for appointments.
A couple of times we found him sleeping outside the clinic, although his real home was under “his” nearby tree.
We were direct with him- providing limits and working with his
individual needs. He preferred not to stay inside although living on the streets frequently brought him trouble. An example
was that he had difficulty holding onto his medications and was regularly beaten for his prescriptions and for his other possessions.
We made creative arrangements with a pharmacy to dispense his meds weekly rather than monthly, so he would not be without
for long. Clinic staff and volunteers went beyond their job descriptions to give him food, items of clothing and at times
a place to nap. During the bitter cold of last winter he was driven to shelters.
“Dave” was a well-positioned professional with a devoted family and a strong network of friends.
He “adopted” Family Health Care after moving home to Kansas City and soon began fundraising projects to help support
the clinic. He was a delightful fellow with a quick wit and lively conversation. Over the years he raised thousands of dollars
which were used to provide services for those with fewer resources.
Recently these two very different people died. Dave died of a long-term illness and Jim of injuries
suffered after being struck by a hit and run driver. During his dying, Dave included Family Health Care staff among his list
of family. Jim told the nurses at the emergency room about his family at Family Health Care. I am very grateful for those
at FHC who gave these two patients, one an easy joy and one more difficult, very special care. I am very proud Family Health
Care created for each of them the true sense of family.