Friday, March 4, 2011

Patty

Patty lives in an apartment in downtown Issaquah. She is chronically mentally ill, and is matched with a regular volunteer who takes her to a clinic where they can monitor her medication.  With these consistent and regular visits, is able to manage her condition pretty well. And like many of our clients, she calls our office when she has occasional doctors' visits for other health concerns.
Patty came to our program through the recommendation of a friend, another elderly client. The assessment team member who did Patty's initial home visit for our program noted that Patty was very withdrawn during the visit, perhaps because of her anxiety. And when Patty first would call our office to request a ride, you could hear the hesitation and discomfort on the phone.
Now, a year and a half later, Patty has come out of her shell. When she calls for ride, it feels more like she is asking a friend for help. And her volunteers are her friends - not just connecting Patty to the health care she needs, but providing a human connection she otherwise might not have in her life.
Since Patty became a client in February 2009, Faith in Action volunteers have given her 238 one-way trips, totalling over 2500 miles. The quality of her life, through the access to the physical and mental health services she needs, and the social contacts she has made, has been transformed. Your support of Faith in Action has made this transformation possible.

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