Self-Check Month
February is “National Self Check Month”. This period serves as a reminder that it is possible for us (and ultimately our responsibility) to take charge of our health. Self-checks serve as a means to increase the chances of avoiding chronic disease and other mostly preventable health conditions. In honor of this month I would like to share a story with you about the importance of receiving regular check up exams.
In 2021, my mother started gaining an unusual amount of weight. At first, I didn’t pay any attention to it, but my sister called me on several occasions very bothered about our mother getting winded easily and sleeping a lot. My sister resided with our mother at the time, and we are both very thankful that she did because she saw the immediate transformation, first hand. My sister was very frustrated, but my mother, as I am sure like all mothers was/are very stubborn and disregarded all of my sister’s concerns.
One Friday morning, I cleared my work schedule, went to Chick-fil-A, and then brought my mother some breakfast. She was sitting on her porch. I said to myself, “No Excuses! This will be easy.” as I pulled into the driveway. I got out of my truck walked to the porch, and said “Good morning Alicia!” sarcastically. “I brought you some breakfast.” She looked at me with a side eye, not happy at all. “Good morning” she replied. I explained to her the reason for my visit. “Here is your breakfast and I brought you some coffee too. After you eat you have two choices, I’m calling the ambulance and we are going to the hospital or we can go to this appointment I have set up.”
Keep in mind, I had no appointment but I needed her to know that I was not playing.
She hesitated and tried to tell me she was okay, and that she would go on her own. She could tell I wasn’t going for that. After a while she said, “What hospital are we going to Ranata?” You could hear the aggravation in her voice, as she knew she had no choice in the matter. When she said that, I knew I had to act fast.
So, I immediately called my good friend girl, Wanett Mims, the founder and owner of Galatians Community Health. I have been going to her facility for years, and I’ve always received the best care. I hurried and described to her what was going on and she ordered me to bring my mother in right away, so that’s what we did. They ran some tests, took some bloodwork, and within a few days, Galatians called me to inform me that my mom needed to go to the hospital immediately to receive a blood transfusion.
My mother was informed that one of her major organs were failing and later had to receive heart surgery to remove the calcium from around her heart, which formed as a result of the diagnosis. Had she not received that treatment at Galatians, her time would’ve been limited and hospice would have been inevitable in a couple of weeks. By the grace of God, our mother’s health has turned a complete 180.
Yes, this could have been prevented, if she had taken preventative measures, and went to her PC on a regular basis. This is the reason for writing this blog.
I would like to express the importance of receiving regular self check-ups. If you don’t have health insurance, Galatians Community Health will happily take care of you. They work on a sliding scale and accept most insurances. My mother is here today, because of the accelerated care she received. I know there may be hesitation if we feel something is off, as we never want to hear or receive bad news about our bodies, but it’s better to know than not to know the status of your health.
Your physical health as well as your mental health, is equally important. Staying on top of your health is key to living a long, productive, healthy, and prosperous life. My family and I will be forever grateful for Galatians Community Health.
Their attentive care to our mother, is the reason she is here today. If you are in need of self check-ups, please contact them as they provide services for women’s and men’s health, primary care, and pediatrics. I cannot express the importance of taking preventative measures for your well-being. There are so many resources available to us. It is better to know, than to not know.
I am so thankful that God worked through Wanett and her staff, as they saved our mother’s life and helped her to continue living.
Call your PC today and set up your annual self check-up.
Galatians Community Health
4551 New Bern Ave., Suite 160 Raleigh, NC 27610. (919)556–1008
galatianshealth.org.
