In the last week I saw a community in action…well, it was a small group within the little town of Craig, AK. But these people accomplished a feat. They were able to get a man, virtually homeless and penniless, to the care of physicians at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
This is the story.
Rob and I came to this clinic to work for three weeks on November 28. During our first few days, there were several conversations among clinic staff about a man who was in dire need of medical attention. He has no insurance, no money, and almost no support structure in Craig. I learned he had come here some time ago to take care of his mother, who died last year. He has some social issues, to put it politely. To put it bluntly, he is dirty, agoraphobic, and has a noticeable odor.
This man became a patient when he’d recently experienced a change in his voice. 50-ish, he has been a long-term smoker. A man in town who befriended him persuaded him to come to the clinic a few weeks ago to get checked out. A large tumor was found to be pressing on his vocal chords and impacting his airway.
The front office staff began to work on getting care lined up. You do not treat cancer in Craig. You leave and travel to a large medical center to get access to the various specialists your condition requires. From this region of Alaska, that resource is most often found in Seattle, WA. But in this situation, sending this man away with no funds and no support wasn’t an option.
It was discovered that there is a brother in North Carolina, living near Duke, one of the largest medical research facilities in the country. A medical referral was made; social workers contacted. The brother there agreed to receive the brother here. Medical costs will be underwritten by Medicaid.
But…Alaska is a looong way from North Carolina. It is expensive to make a trip like that. And this man couldn’t get there on his own. Turns out the brother is in financial difficulties too, so also unable to finance such a trip. Typically Medicaid will cover travel costs, but for some reason, not in this case.
So an application was made to a national organization that provides free air travel for medical emergencies…just like this situation. For a few days there was faxing and phoning back and forth. The office coordinator spent hours of her time working out details, making calls to solidify plans, meeting with the patient to reassure him of progress.
Then three days before the patient had to travel, the flight plans fell through. The organization was willing to cover travel to Seattle or Anchorage, but not to a location so far away, and outside the standard medical destinations for needy Alaskans. The manager was very polite…he wished they could help everyone, but this was clearly outside their policy parameters.
So, back to square one, with the clock ticking.
Someone suggested the local community cancer coalition might help. The office coordinator called, and within half an hour, two ladies representing the coalition were sitting in the clinic, listening to the story. Turns out they provide up to $1500 to cover travel expenses for medical care. You make an application, make the travel arrangements, and apply for reimbursement.
Someone produced a credit card. Airline ticket, ferry ticket to Ketchikan, airport ferry ticket were all purchased. The coalition would reimburse with a check.
The ferry travel to Ketchikan was full price, but when the accountant for the ferry company came in to the clinic for an appointment, the office coordinator mentioned to her that the staff was trying to assist this patient. The ferry accountant immediately offered to get the fare discounted, which she promptly did.
A nurse from Ketchikan with family in North Carolina was already scheduled to fly back and offered to escort the patient through the travel stages. The friend who brought the patient in escorted him to Ketchikan so he had no time on the journey that he was alone or without support.
So, a small town that supports a local cancer coalition, clinic employees, a caring friend, a nurse traveling home, a brother a long way off, social workers and medical providers on the other side of the country all worked together. And they pulled it off.
I don’t know how this story will end. I don’t know if this patient has a chance of surviving. I do he would have had no chance if he had stayed in Craig. Whatever happens, he has the gift of possibility this season. And the gift came from the community, given freely, knowing there would be no payback for the time, money or energy that it took to be successful.
Even more poignant, this man is not from Craig; he is not a pillar of the community; he is barely known here. But they helped anyway. No one will get credit, or special notice, for this effort. But this man will get a chance.
This isn’t a Christmas story of a gift given because of the time of year. Timing had nothing to do with it, except that the need was urgent. But it shows me the best of small town life. Small communities don’t have large medical centers. They don’t have unlimited resources. But when you need to get something done in a hurry, you know who to call. You’re not a faceless application form in someone’s email. And that’s the second part of this story.
Small towns can show off the best of community. And I just had a front row seat.
Grace and Life 
I am sitting at my desk in a comfortable home in OK reading this – sitting in “Awe” with tear streaming down my freshly showered cheeks – WOW!!
Thank you, Sheila, for sharing this story and may God bless you all for helping a man, a human being, in need!
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So, as I wiped my tears away I began to read the comments – “The Rest of the Story” –
Rob and Sheila, I am speechless! My heart is overflowing with love, admiration, and appreciation for you two!!
My life has been impacted not only by reading this wonderful “Christmas” story, but by knowing the two of you and seeing your lives in this story!
May you be blessed in unexpected ways for the love, perseverance, faith, trust,character, and GRACE you have both so freely given –
I’m honored to call you brother and “sister”!!
I love you both, unconditionally!!
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Thank you JL, for your sweet comments. Honestly, I was mostly a bystander and observer. But it was good to be able to help someone in need, and maybe he will find a way some day to pay forward the chance this community has given him. But regardless of the end of the story, it is always right to be kind.
I know you and Richard do similar things…giving of your time, doing counseling for free…all the time. You guys are real heroes! Don’t lose sight of your own contributions to making the world a better place! You are an ongoing source of inspiration to me! ~ Sheila
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Well, the tears were almost in my eyes as I finished reading your post, Sheila. and after I read Rob’s comment, they’re definitely flowing. What a sweet, unselfish act. Will be praying that this man will recover – and that he’ll always remember (and perhaps pay it forward in some way) the kindness of strangers who helped him in his time of need.
The timing may have not had anything to do with Christmas, but it’s certainly an appropriate story for the season.
Thanks for sharing it.
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Thank you, I’m so glad the story touched you. It was moving to me to watch!
As for helping out by providing the credit card…well, it was just a convenience issue…Alaska Airlines and the ferries don’t take checks! But I truly knew that I was acting without risk that I would not be repaid. The work was done by the others.
Yes! Paying the good forward! Hope this man gets a chance to do that! ~ Sheila
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All I can say is…in these times…we need to hear of these happenings…God Bless! …all who were involved!
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Yes, heartwarming stories remind us of what life is really about! Glad I was able to witness this one and pass it on! ~ Sheila
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You may not have meant it as a Christmas story, but I think it truly represents the spirit of the holiday and the beauty of unconditional love – especially within your marriage. Your husband’s comment is so beautiful. I imagine it is like a gift to you to read such words of gratitude and respect from the man you are married to. Lovely!
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Thank you Renee! What a lovely thing to say! Yes, he has a way with words and touches my heart often. It is a gift to me indeed! Someday I’ll write the story of how we almost lost each other and were able, through effort and grace, to find each other again. ~ Sheila
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Wonderfully said, in all regards!
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Thank you William! It was a story worth telling…small town heroes really do exist! ~ Sheila
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So here’s the REST OF THE STORY!!!!
What Sheila didn’t tell you is that…SHE was the SOMEONE with the credit card. She was the detached observer watching the situation develop, when everyone was discussing the reality that the community would probably come to the aid of this poor unfortunate guy, but WHO was going to spot him the $1400 for the plane ticket until a check could be cut. It was NOT the mayor or anyone who knew that it would be “taken care of” but MY WIFE, who has quit her job to tag around with me….and who knows that in a month she will not have a regular income…and who lives paycheck to paycheck. She has seen “perfect situations” fall through…and yet despite logic/reality/common sense…she stepped forward and underwrit the entire interprise, without guarantee or assurance. Yes, it did work out…but for 4 days, she was out a full paycheck for this poor unfortunate guy who, as far as I know, never said thank you.
Hats off to “Grace and Space”……we could all use some!
I love you my dear……Unconditionally
Your husband, Rob
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I saw this just after posting my comment. And somehow it doesn’t surprise me. You’re clearly a very lucky fellow, Rob. (But I suppose you already know that.) 😉
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Thank you, Sheila, for sharing the story with us — so inspiring!! And thank you, Rob, for telling us the REST of the story 🙂
Just like her to stay quietly in the background, claiming no glory.
Someone who pulls out her credit card to pay the way for another when she doesn’t know where her next paycheck is coming from truly is walking in faith.
Beautiful! MJ
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Thanks for your words, MJ! But I have to be honest to say that I truly had no concern about the money being repaid. It was just a matter of convenience to use a credit card to expedite the travel arrangements. Nevertheless, I try to walk by faith…some days I’m more successful than others! ~ Sheila
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Thank you for that remark! I don’t know about lucky…maybe some days! But then I’m lucky too. He spends his work hours making a difference and not many people know what he does, beyond his patients…that patient privacy thing, you know…But I know.
Anyway, for everyone fortunate enough to be in a long term relationship that is still vibrant…there has clearly been a lot of giving on both sides, and maybe that creates the luck. ~ Sheila
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What a sweet thing to say…unconditional love! We’ve worked a long time to reach this point, and we’re getting there, “not at once, but at last.”
Thank you for your words, I know you meant them. ~ S
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