Kevin’s Story: A Home Away from Home
When Kevin first came to the Clearwater Free Clinic in February, he was in constant pain—pain he had lived with for five years. Misdiagnosed, uninsured, and unable to find help, he had exhausted every avenue. “I couldn't get help from any government source. They just basically looked at me and said, ‘You own a car—sell it, you’ll have money.’ I tried every avenue. I was actually in the hospital, and one of the nurses gave me some paperwork. She had written ‘Clearwater Free Clinic.’ I called, they said, ‘Come on in.’ Since then, everything’s been terrific.”
Kevin had been in and out of the hospital for months. He had a 1.6 cm kidney stone and two arteries blocked at 99%. “I knew something was wrong, but no one believed me,” he said. “If I hadn’t come to the Clinic, I’d be dead. No question.”
“If the clinic wasn’t here, I’d be dead. Oh, I know I’d be dead. The stents—I had two main arteries at 99%. I would not be here.”
Since coming to CFC, Kevin has received primary care, cardiac support, medication, and tools to manage chronic respiratory conditions. “Maureen walks through every lab result with me in plain English. Dr. Lenz is watching my heart and helping me quit smoking. They treat me like a person—not a problem.”
With the Clinic’s help, Kevin is finally getting better. He’s lost over 50 pounds. His oxygen levels have improved from the high 80s to 95%. And he’s making big lifestyle changes—cutting out soda, quitting smoking, and staying on top of his medications. “I use my inhaler first thing in the morning just to breathe. Without it, I can’t function. The Clinic makes sure I have what I need.”
Kevin is even being referred for free cataract surgery—something he never knew was available to him. “Bob Quinn told me about it. I thought I just needed new glasses. Turns out I’ve had cataracts for years.”
To donors who make this care possible, Kevin has one message: “Thank you. I give what I can every time I pick up my meds, because someone else might need the help I got. This place? It’s my home away from home.”