CARLOS*

At the end of last year, Carlos began experiencing severe abdominal pain. He could not work and had stopped eating. Uninsured and unable to afford a visit to a doctor, Carlos purchased over-the-counter medications and tried several home remedies to alleviate his pain. Eventually, he realized that the pain was not going away. Carlos needed to see a doctor.

Carlos went to a local clinic and was enrolled in a public insurance program for low-income District residents. The clinic physician referred Carlos to a specialist who performed blood tests and a radiology test used to visualize the structures of his upper digestive system. For reasons unknown, Carlos’s treatment stopped there and he was sent home in pain. Carlos speaks limited English so it is possible there was communication breakdown. We just do not know what happened. Regardless, Carlos did not receive proper care. His pain persisted, and he continued to lose weight.

By April, Carlos had become so weak that he could barely walk. One day, his sister called an ambulance, and he was taken to the hospital. The attending physician identified that Carlos had anemia, the cause of his fatigue. He was given two units of blood. However, the hospital did not accept his public insurance, so Carlos was released once he was stable. The hospital physician told Carlos that he should make an appointment with a gastroenterologist for his abdominal pain.

Referred to Columbia Road Health Services by friends, Carlos requested to become a patient. One of our doctors suspected that he had an unhealed ulcer or a gastric malignancy, both of which are incredibly painful. Our medical staff began making phone calls to find Carlos a specialist. It took awhile, but we secured Carlos an appointment with a gastroenterologist. At the appointment, the gastroenterologist discovered a stomach tumor, large and malignant. Carlos had cancer.

We arranged for Carlos to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, which was followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells. While he is still fighting the cancer, Carlos is much healthier, no longer in pain, and has even returned to work.

Carlos came to Columbia Road Health Services sick and frustrated. Knowing that he was sick, he tried to get medical care for many months. When we worked aggressively for his care, his gratitude was overwhelming. We are grateful to be able to offer him the care that needed.

*Patient names and certain identifying details are changed to protect confidentiality.

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