ORLANDO—Fittingly, Shepherd’s Hope celebrated a major milestone around Thanksgiving. The Orlando-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healthcare for those who cannot afford it topped the 100,000 mark of free medical visits in the community.

 

“We reached this milestone with mixed emotions, since it speaks to the incredible commitment of our volunteers and donors who have sustained this program for the past 12 years,” said Cindi Kopelman, president of Shepherd’s Hope. “But sadly, it also speaks to the enormous need for medical care for the uninsured and the working poor.”

 

To prepare Shepherd’s Hope to provide the next 100,000 patient visits, the nonprofit organization launched its 100,000 Faces of Hopecampaign during the holiday season to raise $100,000 by year-end, “with each dollar representing one of the past and future 100,000 faces seeking hope and healing,” Kopelman explained, pointing to a recent patient, “Janet,” as an excellent example.

 

Janet had been sick for several months with a constant cough but couldn’t afford to see a physician. Nor could she afford child care for her four-year-old daughter, Katy.

 

“Thankfully, someone told her about Shepherd’s Hope,” said Kopelman, who added that Janet had taken her preschooler with her into the exam room because she didn’t want to leave the young child unattended in the waiting room.

 

“When the volunteer physician finished with the exam, something unexpected happened,” recalled Kopelman, recalling that Katy raced across the room toward the doctor and hugged him, saying, “Thank you for making my Mommy better!”

 

“Katy’s mother, along with the volunteer nurse and the physician, were momentarily stunned,” recalled Kopelman. “No one knew that little Katy had been so worried about her mommy. There were tears in the eyes of everyone in the room that night.”

 

A month or so earlier, Rose Draper had come through the doors of Shepherd’s Hope. For more than a decade, she and her husband, Les, a computer programmer, were covered by his employer’s health insurance. But like thousands across the United States enduring the economic downturn, Les had lost health insurance when he was pink-slipped. The couple wasn’t able to afford to maintain health insurance through HIPAA-mandated COBRA coverage.

 

Then Rose suffered excruciating pain in her stomach for several consecutive days. Her temperature climbed to 102, and she couldn’t get out of bed. A friend told her about Shepherd’s Hope.

 

“When you’re in pain, and you don’t have money or health insurance, it makes your life so hard,” she said.

 

Even though Rose was discouraged by the several-hours-long wait to see a Shepherd’s Hope volunteer doctor, she realized how much company she had. More people were out of work—and insurance—just like her.  

 

After Brian Wolsey, MD, a volunteer OB/GYN, examined Draper, he ordered additional tests through a special partnership with area hospitals that confirmed the diagnosis: a severe infection in her ovaries. With strong antibiotics, she was better within a few days. 

 

“I don’t know what would’ve happened without Shepherd’s Hope,” said Draper. “My infection was so bad, and my ovaries so swollen; I may have died. You never know.”

 

Draper surprised medical volunteers when she returned to the clinic to thank Wolsey and the staff personally for “saving my life!” 

 

“Her story is inspiring, but not unusual,” said Kopelman. “In fact, Shepherd’s Hope volunteers have provided over 100,000 patient visits for patients just like Rose. That’s 100,000 opportunities to provide hope and healing for people who are sick and need to know that someone cares.

 

“Sometimes, the faces of hope at Shepherd’s Hope are not the ones we expect. The face of hope might be a patient, or a loved one, or even a volunteer.”

 

 

For more information about volunteering at one of Shepherd’s Hope Health Centers, contact (407) 876-6699, extension 3, or visit www.shepherdshope.org.