Mercy Health Foundation

In 2007, Sarah, who was 2 years old at the time, was playing with her big sister when she began acting peculiar, and, with tears in her eyes, just wanted to go lie down.  It wasn't the crying that caught her mother's attention but the relatively quick, sudden onset of high fever and usually rapid breathing.  After being rushed to the Emergency Room at Mercy Regional Medical Center, a bacterial lung infection, pneumonia, was diagnosed.  It was a relief in getting her treated, but it left her mother with unforeseen medical and prescription bills she could not afford and a very heavy heart.  However, because of our wonderful community and compassionate people like you, Sarah's mom was able to seek help from the "Mercy Project" to get assistance with the prescriptions for Sarah.

Sarah's mom, like so many, is working hard to maintain a safe and health home environment for her family, but her employer does not provide healthy insurance.  Sarah's mom is not eligible for Medicaid yet is not able to afford or access private health insurance.  The "Mercy Project" is an ongoing program Mercy Health Foundation supports.  It is a program that assists patients who "fall though the cracks" to apply for assistance with medical expenses and prescription drugs.  Patients maintain their dignity as they become responsible for a small portion of their bill and usually make small payments for their part.  When patients are uninsured or on a a limited or fixed income, medical expenses and prescriptions can be overwhelming, but the Mercy Project is easy to apply for, and has helped hundreds of patients locally.

Without the life-saving prescriptions Sarah needed, she would have become even sicker and would have needed to be readmitted to the hospital.  This is one of many stores of ordinary people in extraordinary situations who touch our hearts.  This precious little girl, who was very sick, is now healthy and happy while her mom was able to get through the family health crisis and return to work.