10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VENDOR VOICES JESSI AVERILL Groundcover contributor Over several issues of Groundcover, Ramón Roberto Isla Caballero, vendor No. 347, has shared about his physical and mental health conditions while living unhoused. He has talked about the ongoing hip and chest pains he feels, as well as his routine to drink at night to help him sleep outside on the busy downtown street. Ramón turns 66 years old in December. Since returning to Ann Arbor during the pandemic he has only stayed inside overnight for a handful of days. Growing older while living unhoused makes it very hard for Ramón to keep good health. Fortunately, he is constantly checked on by Washtenaw County Community Mental Health’s street outreach team, PATH. They help him consistently schedule and travel to his doctor appointments. They also help him get the medicines his doctor prescribes. Early in October Ramón started experiencing more severe chest pains, mostly related to acid reflux. He started thinking the medicine he was taking was not working. He canceled an upcoming doctor's appointment and stressed to his CMH caseworker that he did not want to take the medicine anymore because he was not getting better. However, Ramón was continuing to drink alcohol somewhat heavily despite the doctor telling him it could worsen his acid reflux and affect the medicine that is supposed to help him with it. The caseworker asked Ramón if he would like to try staying at a local recovery center to see if it could help him with reducing his drinking. Both Groundcover and PATH staff helped prepare Ramón for moving into the center. He brought all his belongings to the Groundcover office, then PATH had an Uber pick him up to bring him to the center. Before entering the program he needed to take a COVID test. He tested positive. He had to wait at least 10 days before he could come back to try again. PATH made sure that Ramón was set up in a hotel to isolate and recover from COVID. He was now sleeping inside for the first time in a long, long time! At the hotel Ramón was able to shower, eat regularly and rest. He also was able to use a phone (his cell phone was stolen a while ago) which made it easier for his CMH caseworkers to stop by and check on him as well as Groundcover staff to plan meal dropoffs as part of his wellness care. Ramón started feeling much better and soon recovered from COVID. But the best news of all: Ramón was no longer drinking. To-date it has been over three weeks since he had a drink! During this time he has not been having acid reflux or chest pains. Other changes have been no more shaky hands or rapid breathing. Ramón has not returned yet to try the recovery center, but he is working with CMH to get placed in housing in Ann Arbor. This is huge news: Ramón was resistant to housing options in the past because he would say, "give it to someone else who needs it." CMH is also working on ordering him a mobile phone. While he waits for the new housing placement, Ramón has not been selling Groundcover New papers because he does not want to be far from the hotel phone in case his caseworkers need to reach him. He still stops by the Groundcover office to say hi, grab a cup of coffee and chat before taking off to go back to the hotel. The change in Ramón is obvious when he stops in to say hi — he is smiling, laughing and eager to talk about what he is watching on TV (usually something from the History Channel). On behalf of Ramón: Thank you to all the caseworkers who have been so helpful and caring to him and towards his recovery. And, most of all, thank you to Groundcover staff for their support over the last few weeks (and over the nine years since he became a vendor). NOVEMBER 1, 2024 Cancer survivor, and now COVID survivor, too! Support an Alternative Business Model Local - Organic - Member-Owned Your Ypsilanti source for healthy, eco-friendly food and goods INVEST BY BECOMING A MEMBER! 7 principles of Co-ops Voluntary, Democratic, Equitable, Independent, Informative, Collaborative, Community We make it affordable: Frequent Sales/Use Your Bridge card/Ask us about Double Up Food Bucks Visit us for 312 N. River St. (734) 483-1520 www.ypsifoodcoop.org unique cards and local, handmade items too $2 OFF your purchase of $15 or more One coupon per transacton Must present coupon at time of purchase exp. 01/31/2025
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