“I don’t know why I care!” Mary exclaimed.
She’d just decided to cancel lunch plans with a friend so she could help someone get to a doctor’s appointment.
Of course, we all knew why she cared. It’s the same reason why all of us around Patchwork care.
The man had come to Patchwork for coffee and had chatted with nurses John and Mary while he drank it. He decided to have them check his blood pressure. They discovered it was very high—not high enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room, but very concerning, especially since he also complained of headaches.
Mary and John asked if the man had a primary care doctor that he could call. When he said he did, they helped look up the phone number and let him call from Patchwork. It had been a long time since the man had seen his doctor, but because of the blood pressure reading that John and Mary reported, the office was motivated to fit him in for an appointment the following day. He needed a ride to get there, so Mary volunteered.
So, why did Mary care?
Because someone needed to.
Because a man was standing in front of her asking for help that she was able to provide.
Because every person deserves health care.
Because she wasn’t going to turn her back on a condition she knew could turn fatal.
Because a little extra support for the man at that moment might be exactly what he needed to get his health back on track.
Because our medical system isn’t fair to people on the margins.
Because it shouldn’t be so difficult to get high blood pressure treated.
Because God cares about high blood pressure.
Because it was the right thing to do.