Humans of Clarkston - Matthew Simpson

In this issue of Humans of Clarkston, we want to bring awareness to our patients and those in the community who are impacted by cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.  Heart disease doesn't just happen to those with health insurance, but impacts those without it in equal measure-- and sometimes with worse outcomes because it is not caught in time resulting in heart attacks, strokes, or death. 

Through Mosaic Health Center's primary and preventive care, we are able to diagnose our patients and provide FREE lifesaving medications to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  In fact, in 2024 alone, we provided patients with over 3,445 30-day supplies of medications to treat and manage heart disease.  

In Georgia today there are 1.2M without health insurance – the 2nd highest rate in the nation.  And with the recent passage of H.R. 1, current estimates suggest that an additional 500,000 people will lose their health insurance in the years ahead in our state.  We must make sure these individuals have access to critical healthcare that will test for and treat heart disease. 

Each one of these individuals has a story to tell, and this series – Humans of Clarkston – presents real stories of our patients.  Today's story is that of a patient who came into our clinic on the verge of a stroke, who now has his high blood pressure under control. 

If you want to help more people in our community like him access diagnosis and treatment, please donate today.  We cannot do this without your support.

What is your name?  Matthew Simpson (name has been changed for the purpose of this story to keep the patient anonymous).

What is your story?  I’m originally from Southern California, and lived in Las Vegas for nearly two decades before the Great Recession pretty much made me move on.  I went to Louisiana where I was told there were plenty of jobs, but that meant living on an oil rig on the middle of the Gulf.  I had a friend who was in Atlanta and told me to come out here.  And now, I’ve been here for 20 years.

I had a fairly decent job with health insurance, and I was getting by.  But then, my health took a downturn.  The same blood test that told me that I had diabetes told me that I had leukemia.  I was trying to work and manage with the illness, but ended up getting in an accident that totaled my car.  I couldn’t get to work, so I lost my job, but still had the health issues to deal with.  It was suggested to me that I should look into disability.

How did you find out about Mosaic?  Six years into the process of applying for disability, I was reading an NPR story and learned about Mosaic.  And I lived right down the street for years, but had no idea about this clinic.

My first visit, they did an in-patient exam, and after lots of whispers at the clinic, they said they wanted to hook me up to an EKG.  Then, they said they were calling an ambulance.  I knew I had inherited high blood pressure, and all that time without healthcare, for so long, I went without treatment.

I was on the verge of a very major stroke that the clinic caught.  I was taken to the ER and fortunately got some simple medication that brought my blood pressure down, and everything was good enough that I didn’t have to be admitted and I could go back to the clinic for treatment.

For two years, Mosaic scrambled hard to get me the care I needed.  They helped me with the diabetes and the high blood pressure.  They were able to connect me with a financial assistance program with Georgia Cancer, so I started to get my cancer treatments again.  The leukemia that I have, chronic myeloid leukemia, is very treatable.  As long as I’m taking my daily dose of oral chemo, I can expect to live a long life.  The problem was that dose is $5,000 a month. 

Finally, after a period of about two years with the clinic, my disability claim was approved, meaning that I didn’t qualify for treatment at the clinic because now I have insurance.  Which is fine— it’s for people in need, and now I have another option. 

What has Mosaic meant to you?  Would it be cliché to say everything?  They kept me going until the disability finally was granted.  They kept me going and did everything they could.  The doctors, the nurses, the staff— they were there.  I was never made to feel ashamed for needing help.  So now it’s been a little over a year that I have been out of the care of the clinic, and I still think of them and the impact they had on my life.  My blood pressure is at normal ranges, and my diabetes is under control, and my leukemia is officially in remission.  Without them I wouldn’t still be here; I was at the point where I was considering a more permanent option.  If you look for help, there is help, you just have to be ready to accept it.  It’s not easy in today’s world, but it can be found in the special places. 

At the time, the clinic’s services were really limited and they worked overtime to service their patient’s needs.  And I benefited from that very much.   It’s important for people to know how to find services like this, and for people with resources to know where their money can best serve the community.  That’s my purpose in sharing— so people who need help can find it and if you want to give help, you have a place to do that.