In a recent video call, I had the profound experience of speaking with Paola, a former house call patient of Dr. Thomas Cornwell, HCCI founder. Her story is one of resilience, advocacy, and the transformative power of home-based healthcare. Paola's journey through her medically complex chronic conditions is both inspiring and a testament to the importance of personalized, compassionate care.
The Challenges and Triumphs
Paola's health journey since youth has been marked by numerous challenges, including Type 1 diabetes, multiple chronic conditions, chronic pain, and a series of life-threatening events such as a triple rollover car accident and emergency brain surgery. Despite these hurdles, Paola has become an advocate for herself, researching and understanding her conditions to better manage her health.
One of the most significant changes in Paola's life, however, came with her simultaneous single kidney and pancreas transplant in 2019. Having unexpectedly lost complete function of both kidneys in early 2016, requiring hemodialysis five times a week, followed by heart failure, stent placements, ongoing complications, and numerous hospitalizations, she experienced repeated denials for placement on kidney transplant waiting lists due to the deteriorated state of her health. After being placed under the care of Dr. Cornwell and his staff, where they were able to provide care in her home, Paola's health progressed to the point where she could receive her life-saving double-organ transplant, despite having undergone a complex knee replacement six months prior. Throughout this journey, Paola's greatest support has been her faith in God, a small group of friends, and her family.
The Benefits of Home-Based Primary Care
Paola's experience with home-based primary care under Dr. Cornwell's guidance highlights the profound benefits of receiving medical care at home. She shared how being in the comfort of her home not only allowed her to avoid the challenges of transportation in her debilitated state, but also the depressing environment of dialysis clinics, where the sounds of machines and the sight of other suffering patients were discouraging. Instead, receiving medical care at home provided a sense of normalcy and comfort.
"Being at home was just amazing for my spirit," Paola said. "When you're in the dialysis clinic, it's depressing. People are crying, people are moaning. You hear the repeated beeping and alarms of all the machines. It's hard, very hard."
Dr. Cornwell and his team brought not only medical expertise, but also a sense of community and support. Paola remains friends with several of her nurses on Facebook, a testament to the strong bonds formed through compassionate care.
The Role of Advocacy and Support
Paola's story underscores the importance of advocacy in the healthcare system. She emphasized how Dr. Cornwell's team had the tools, resources, education, and training necessary to manage her complex conditions and provided the caring environment that contributed to the improvement leading to her successful double-organ transplant. This level of care is crucial for critical patients like Paola, who require specialized attention and a holistic approach to their health.
As a national nonprofit, HCCI’s mission is to address the unmet needs of over 5.9 million people in the U.S. who are homebound, home-limited, or living with serious illness. We believe that the future of healthcare is in the home, and we are dedicated to making home-based healthcare accessible for everyone.
Paola's journey is a powerful reminder of the difference that compassionate, home-based primary care can make. By supporting our mission, you help ensure that all those in need of house calls receive them, bringing hope and healing to countless lives.
Dr. Thomas Cornwell on Paola: "One thing I think is amazing is she was a 7-time national karate champion on the USA National Karate Team in the 1990s and early 2000s, competing internationally as a Type 1 diabetic when we did not have the better treatments we have now, nor things like continuous glucose monitors. During tournaments she would burn calories (carbs/glucose), and said during one tournament, she had to check her sugars 36 times in one day to manage it."
Paola's story is one of courage, determination, and the incredible impact of home-based healthcare. Join us in making a difference for patients like Paola and many others who benefit from compassionate, personalized care at home.
