“I’m still thankful for Hearts That Care,” said M.H., explaining that about 11 years ago, the clinic helped find what was really going on with her health when other doctors in the community were not able to.
Without any insurance at the time and dealing with a very low income, M.H. said that she paid out of pocket and saw more than one doctor trying to find out what was wrong with her nose. Irritated skin and soreness kept her coming back for a diagnosis and relief.
“All they did was give me a cream to put on it and that never worked, “she said, adding she was getting desperate since her nose was bothering her more and coming up with the money to visit doctors in the area was too difficult.
That’s when someone mentioned Hearts That Care Volunteer Health Clinic and she went to see the doctor there. At that time, founder and Medical Director Dr. Wendy Bartanen was still practicing at the free clinic.
M.H. said Dr. Bartanen looked at it and diagnosed it as cancer. Two of the doctors volunteering at the Hearts That Care clinic removed most of the cancer at their own clinics in town, free of charge.
Then the clinic paid for her to have the rest of the cancer removed at a specialty clinic in Oklahoma City, she said.
Now she is on Medicare and does not use the clinic.
“I will always be thankful for what they did,” M.H. said, adding that she and her family sell home-baked goods and donates some of the funds raised to the clinic on a regular basis.
A patient since 2002, for M.D. the Hearts That Care Volunteer Health Clinic has helped her though a myriad of health issues including diabetes, COPD, arthritis, and other serious issues, she said.
Unable to afford insurance, she could not afford to visit another clinic, even they offered a sliding scale based on income; nor could she afford the expensive prescriptions she has needed to manage her health issues. Hearts that Care provided both free of charge.
In December 2021, she said she made an appointment at the Hearts That Care dental clinic and was able to have an Xray, screening and surgical removal of one tooth.
In 2021, a total of 150 patients were able to have a dental screening and Xray done. Of those 150, 64 patients had a total of 64 patients had 227 extractions, 127 of them surgical extractions.
With no insurance, S.A. had not seen a dentist in 18 years — except to get some decaying teeth pulled about eight years ago. In pain and with many of her remaining teeth broken off at the gum-line, she made an appointment at Hearts That Care Volunteer Health and Dental Clinic in June 2021.
At 39 and clean from drugs for the past seven years, the 18 years she spent as a meth addict took its toll on her teeth, her fragile self-esteem and her health.
“I started doing drugs when I was about 23 because my husband thought I was too fat and I thought it would make me thinner,” S.A. said.
The resulting decaying and broken teeth made her feel ugly. “I couldn’t smile,” she said. “I’ve been in pain because my teeth kept abscessing. I even had an infection that had a red line from my jaw to my heart,” she said. “When I came [to the clinic] Dr. Todd Bridges asked me why I was there and wanted dentures. I started crying because I’m getting married next year and want to be a beautiful bride.”
Six of her teeth were extracted in June and then the remaining 16 in July at Hearts That Care Volunteer Health and Dental Clinic. Dr. Bridges connected her with D-Dent, a non- profit organization helping low-income, non-insured people get dentures.
S.A. will be a beautiful bride and much more.
“I’ll be getting dentures in October (originally Oct,. 1). I can’t wait. I’ll be able to smile,” she said.
With her two sons almost grown, she plans to go back to school to become a Substance Abuse Counselor.
“I’m going to get my doctorate,” S.A. firmly said, with a pain-free, confident smile.