Patricia Upton

"Help Bless Them the Way I have Been Blessed"

Patricia Upton, a 46 year old Patrick County native and resident, is a patient, volunteer, and employee of Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County.  She is Caring Hearts!  Patricia describes her life before finding Caring Hearts clinic as follows:  “I had no energy, I hurt all over, I was overweight, depressed, cried all the time, could not breathe, could not walk up a hill without great effort.  I had no job, no money to see a doctor and no money for medicines.  I figured it was time to sign up for my social security.  I knew this was going to take a couple of years and a lawyer so I decided to visit the clinic in the meantime.”

Within a month of visiting the clinic, Patricia was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux and asthma.  Patricia was prescribed medicine to get her health problems under control and the MedAssist program, funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Healthcare Foundation, and the Harvest Foundation, made it possible for her get the medications she needed.  The county’s MedAssist representative is located in the clinic.  Patricia also began to see a counselor to treat her depression and went to Carilion specialists for various tests and procedures needed to diagnose and treat her health conditions.  Procedures at Carilion are possible through a partnership Caring Hearts established with Carilion to assist indigent patients that have been properly referred.  In return for all the help that Patricia was receiving, she decided that she wanted to give something back; she began to volunteer at the clinic.  Patricia has a degree in Administrative Support and she thought maybe there was something she could do to help. 

Within a year of volunteering at Caring Hearts, Patricia had lost 35 pounds and was able to walk without feeling drained, and breathe without effort.  She was able to stop taking all of her medication with the exception of the acid reflux and depression medicine.  The fibromyalgia was under control with only small flare ups.  Patricia canceled her application for Social Security Disability benefits.  She now has not one, but two jobs!  Part-time positions at both Caring Hearts Free Clinic and Pioneer Community Hospital compliment the skills she developed while working on her degree!  (She was hired by the clinic in August of 2009 into a clerical and housekeeping position and by Pioneer Community Hospital in the Health Information Management department and has been there since October of 2009.)  “I have discovered over the time that I have worked at the free clinic that no one would believe how many people in our community do not have insurance or can’t afford their medicines.  Some of these people have to choose between taking their medicine and having food to eat” said Patricia. 

Almost four years later, Patricia is still working for the clinic and according to her, “I not only can walk up a hill but I can run up it”.  Patricia volunteered over 200 hours for the clinic in 2012 in addition to the paid hours she worked.  She is one of the many success stories from Caring Hearts Free Clinic, an example of someone taking initiative to help herself.  She is working hard at two jobs and still unable to afford health insurance in today’s economy.  Patricia was able to help herself immensely after receiving the help made possible by donations from caring citizens in our community. 

You can meet Patricia at the clinic during the appointment or walk-in clinic.  Patricia offered, “You, the people of Patrick County and surrounding areas are the reason the clinic is still here and any help you can provide to the clinic is greatly appreciated.  Your donations can help many people with the medicine and care they need.  Help bless them the way I have been blessed.”  

This is the story of one patient at Caring Hearts Free Clinic.  In 2012, we had 834 other stories to tell.  Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County is committed to providing free, non-judgmental quality healthcare to those in need.  Through these stories, the clinic hopes the citizens of the County will learn more about who Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County serves and how you can help.  Patrick County relies on Caring Hearts to help underserved, uninsured citizens with the most basic of needs.  The clinic relies on the citizens of the County to help those that need it most; there were over 2,220 volunteered hours served at Caring Hearts in 2012. Even with the generosity of the current volunteer staff, there is a great need for volunteer Physicians and Nurses at the clinic as there are always more patients than appointments at every clinic.  Stay tuned for more stories about Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County throughout the month of July.  For more information or any questions, please call Susan Heath, Executive Director at 276-694-3410.