Cipriano’s story
When Cipriano fell ill in 2003, his daughter Olga brought him to the Essential Health Clinic. On their way home, they got a call from the Clinic, advising he be taken to the emergency room because of his blood test results. He left the hospital after a week with a colostomy bag, no job, and no way to pay for the bills.
Cipriano’s post-colostomy recovery went anything but well. He and his family had no money to see a specialist, so he put off care hoping for things to get better on their own. Finally, in the summer of 2009, Olga took Cipriano to the Essential Health Clinic again, and he enrolled in Project Access.
According to Olga, “Since 2003 my father was saying, I want to get well. It was an impossible dream to get the operation he needed. Now it seems that thanks to Project Access we’re going to get there. It’s like a dream come true.”
Care Coordinator Glenda Quezada helped Cipriano complete the necessary paperwork, make all the appointments, and guide him through the process of his recovery.
Olga said, “I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough. It’s so hard to believe this is happening. Getting health care is impossible for people like us who don’t have the money. I’m glad there are programs like this.”
Tears welled up in Cipriano’s eyes as he shared his experience with Project Access. “I’m so happy with the program. And doctors will tell me in a few weeks when I’ll be able to have the colostomy bag removed.”
(February 2010)
