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Carolyn and Lloyd

Carolyn is a tireless advocate for her son, Lloyd. Photo by Nicole Eke

Carolyn is the personification of the statement, “Never underestimate what a mother will do to protect her child.”  Carolyn is the mother of three grown children.  When her youngest was three years old, she became a widow.  She has had to work and raise her children alone ever since.  Now past 60, she works in the fast food industry to have enough money to support herself and her seriously ill son.

Carolyn’s 34-year-old son, Lloyd, is a “brittle” diabetic.  In June 2005, he was notified that he would be terminated from TennCare.  Carolyn immediately began working to make sure her son received the health care he desperately needs.  She filed appeal after appeal, keeping her son on TennCare for as long as possible.  She applied to pharmacy assistance programs for the insulin and high blood pressure medicine Lloyd must have.  She stayed on top of his disability application for SSI.

Carolyn was not satisfied just helping her son alone.  She spoke out publicly against the cuts to TennCare.  She repeatedly called elected officials, and she coordinated petition drives and town hall meetings in Paris, TN.  She spoke before the TennCare Oversight Committee offering a personal example of the failure of the safety net and the damage caused by the cuts to TennCare.  She was interviewed by the New York Times, and told them with certainty that “People will die” because of these cuts.

Carolyn is a tireless advocate for her son, as well as all persons hurt by the cuts to TennCare.  Lloyd recently was approved for SSI disability and is back on TennCare.  That hasn’t stopped Carolyn’s political activism and her concern for others hurt by the needless cuts to TennCare. 

Click here to read more stories of TJC clients and TennCare.