Home > Our Work > Rosalina

Rosalina

Photo courtesy of Rev. Joe Moseley

Rosalina was 64 years old when she was cut from TennCare in 2005.  She was on TennCare as uninsurable because she suffers from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and non-insulin dependent diabetes.  After she was cut, she called the Tennessee Justice Center.  TJC contacted the saftey net program and got Rosalina signed up for what limited services were available.  She got what medicine she could through the safety net program, but some medicine she had to do without.  She could not afford to keep seeing the doctor she had been seeing for years.  She prayed that she would not have a major health crisis before she turned 65 in September 2006 when she would qualify for Medicare.

In June of 2006, Rosalina started feeling ill.  She went to the Federally Qualified Health Center in her county and was told she had a urinary tract infection.  But instead of starting to feel better, she just got sicker.  A few days after this seemingly minor diagnosis, Rosalina's family called 911.  She was admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) because her potassium levels put her at great risk of having a heart attack, her blood glucose level was dangerously high and her blood pressure was dangerously low.

“My doctor says that I am lucky to be alive,” said Rosalina.  “It turns out I was in kidney failure.  I almost died.”

Rosalina spent a total of two days in ICU and two more days in the hospital, for a total of four days.  She owes more than $17,000 for hospital bills.  Her husband is a retired pastor.  Rosalina is a deaconess in the United Methodist Church and she works at a church day care.  She now is on Medicare. 

Rosalina was praying and willing herself to not get sick before she was on Medicare.  She was close, but her body just couldn’t make it until she turned 65 and could receive the health care she needed.