Throughout the year, El Buen Samaritano receives clients who struggle to seek health services through employer-based insurance or even public insurance streams. Day after day, families share their stories of financial hardships and their desire to improve their lives and the opportunities for their children. Many families delay medical care until the last possible moment, oftentimes utilizing costly emergency room services for conditions that could have been prevented.
A current patient of El Buen Samaritano’s Wallace Mallory Clinic, Jesus Torres (shown in photo) recently shared his story of struggle with the health care system.
Jesus, a legal resident of Austin for more than thirty years, faced constant challenges due to a chronic condition and was unable to find a health care home in Austin. He made frequent trips to his home country of Mexico to receive treatment for a chronic gastrointestinal issue, traveling more than six hours at a time for a brief visit. Over time, his health deteriorated, making his trips across the border increasingly more difficult. During this troubling time, Jesus was introduced to the clinic at El Buen Samaritano, which proved to be a turning point in his life and his health.
Today, Jesus, a husband and father of three, takes his health seriously. "I'm a true believer of preventive health care as I strive to improve my quality of life and that of my family," Jesus said. Today, he receives medication, regular checkups and referrals through El Buen Samaritano's clinic. He feels, in many ways, as though he has been given a second chance at life and has finally regained his health.
"I am grateful to God that I'm able to access excellent health services at El Buen Samaritano. I never imagined I could see a doctor close to home at such low costs," Jesus said.
