Senior Spotlight: One in a Million Second Chance at Life
By: Katherine Lane
Updated: October 26, 2009
A southeast Texas woman lost her health, then her job.
She feared she would be homeless next, but she did not give up. She visited a free health clinic, and weeks later has been given a second chance at life.
Gloria Molina spends time with her mom, doesn't go out much, and doesn't go anywhere without her battery pack. When needed, it jump-starts her weak heart. She had it with her weeks ago when she walked into the free health clinic at Reliant Stadium, and ended up on a stretcher because the battery was low.
At the clinic she met a man who would soon change her life. Dr. Devinder Bhatia, a volunteer at the clinic, discovered Gloria's critical heart condition. Molina became a patient of Dr. Bhatia at the Houston Northwest Medical Center, and got a whole lot better.
Dr. Bhatia explained that Molina's heart was functioning at just 18 and 25 percent. "We can see that in this area the heart muscle here is really not moving, a very diminished ejection fraction and its also described as a very weak heart," said Dr. Bhatia as he went over her ventriculargram.
Dr. Bhatia, and another doctor, began preparations to implant a pacemaker and defibrillator into Gloria's chest. Over time the pacemaker will strengthen Molina's heart, and shock it when it gets too weak. The machine that would be planted under her collarbone would cost $20,000. That cost, in addition to doctor visits and hospital stays, was a price Molina said she couldn't afford.
"You know being without a job, no insurance and a critical diagnosis like I have and not knowing if you're going to get help or if you're going to live or die, it was pretty scary and not knowing if I was ever going to see my beautiful daughter," she said.
But her anguish, like her heart, will both have a chance to heal. Gloria got her surgery, all for free.
"It went really well without any complications whatsoever," he said. Gloria Molina is still one of a million people in Houston without health insurance. Thanks to Dr. Bhatia she has a one in a million second chance at life.
She feared she would be homeless next, but she did not give up. She visited a free health clinic, and weeks later has been given a second chance at life.
Gloria Molina spends time with her mom, doesn't go out much, and doesn't go anywhere without her battery pack. When needed, it jump-starts her weak heart. She had it with her weeks ago when she walked into the free health clinic at Reliant Stadium, and ended up on a stretcher because the battery was low.
At the clinic she met a man who would soon change her life. Dr. Devinder Bhatia, a volunteer at the clinic, discovered Gloria's critical heart condition. Molina became a patient of Dr. Bhatia at the Houston Northwest Medical Center, and got a whole lot better.
Dr. Bhatia explained that Molina's heart was functioning at just 18 and 25 percent. "We can see that in this area the heart muscle here is really not moving, a very diminished ejection fraction and its also described as a very weak heart," said Dr. Bhatia as he went over her ventriculargram.
Dr. Bhatia, and another doctor, began preparations to implant a pacemaker and defibrillator into Gloria's chest. Over time the pacemaker will strengthen Molina's heart, and shock it when it gets too weak. The machine that would be planted under her collarbone would cost $20,000. That cost, in addition to doctor visits and hospital stays, was a price Molina said she couldn't afford.
"You know being without a job, no insurance and a critical diagnosis like I have and not knowing if you're going to get help or if you're going to live or die, it was pretty scary and not knowing if I was ever going to see my beautiful daughter," she said.
But her anguish, like her heart, will both have a chance to heal. Gloria got her surgery, all for free.
"It went really well without any complications whatsoever," he said. Gloria Molina is still one of a million people in Houston without health insurance. Thanks to Dr. Bhatia she has a one in a million second chance at life.
