After an inpatient stay, Shanyn asked a family member to pick up her medications, but he could not afford them because she has no health insurance. When he asked if there was anyone he could talk to about the cost of the medications, the pharmacy contacted Megan Williams, manager of ONE Health, who promptly fixed the problem. Williams was able to offer coverage for the cost of the medications because Shanyn qualified for the ONE Health program. Williams then introduced Shanyn to a social worker, Renesa Clemons, who could help her deal with ongoing issues. This moment of intervention, Shanyn tells me, is what she means when she says, “I got a blessing.” I contend that, while this was indeed a blessing, it was just one of many. As we spoke, Shanyn described a profound loneliness that nearly strangled her as she plodded through each day. Her body language showed shame as she downplayed her sobriety by saying “these six little months,” but brightened up when she began to recall her first session with her ONE Health social worker. “During our first meeting, Renesa pulled out flashcards with different needs on them and asked me to put them in order of importance to me. That was I’m not ashamed anymore. I even went back to my old church and they were happy to see me! SHANYN, ONE HEALTH PATIENT 12 Regional One Health Foundation
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