From Crisis to Care: How HSNT Changed Cindy’s Life

For 59-year-old Cindy, getting health care used to feel impossible. As one of almost 5 million Texans without health insurance, she hadn’t seen a doctor regularly since her last pregnancy over 20 years ago. Between raising her kids and living without health insurance, she put her own health on the back burner. But everything changed when she saw an article in The Dallas Morning News about Health Services of North Texas  (HSNT).

“I didn’t even know a place like this existed,” Cindy said. “I thought, ‘I can handle $35,’ and decided it was time to go.”

That first visit turned out to be a turning point. Cindy met Nurse Practitioner Nisha Abraham, who was determined to help her catch up on years of missed care. “When she found out it had been 21 years since I’d seen a doctor, she didn’t judge me,” Cindy explained. “She just got to work. She helped get me scheduled for a colonoscopy, a Pap smear, and a mammogram through the Moncrief Cancer Institute. I didn’t have insurance, but that didn’t matter. She was going to help me no matter what.”

Cindy had originally gone to HSNT because of severe pain in her legs and dangerously high blood pressure that had landed her in the ER. “My blood pressure was through the roof,” Cindy said. “But they immediately put me on medication, ran blood tests, and found other things going on—like high cholesterol and a vitamin D deficiency. They didn’t miss a beat.”

Now, Cindy checks in with HSNT regularly to monitor her health. She recently got health insurance for the first time in her life, which is helping her take the next steps, including seeing a vascular specialist to deal with her leg pain. “Dr. Abraham has done everything she could,” Cindy said. “She knows when it’s time to bring in a specialist, and now that I have insurance, she’s helping me transition.”

Looking back, Cindy knows how different her life might be if she hadn’t found HSNT. “Honestly, I’m not sure I’d still be here without them,” she said. “They’ve done so much for me.”

Cindy’s experience with HSNT has also impacted her family. “Neither of my sons had insurance, so I brought them in, too,” she said. “Now they’re getting the help they need. It really does feel like a family.”

When asked what makes HSNT special, Cindy didn’t hesitate: “They listen. They don’t rush you, and you don’t feel like you’re just another appointment on their schedule. I know a lot of people complain about doctors not listening, but that’s not how it is here.”

Her advice to anyone who’s putting off care because they don’t have insurance? “Don’t wait. Don’t be scared. Just go. There’s nothing to fear.”

Today, Cindy feels hopeful and grateful. “I’m just so glad I found them,” she said. “I hope my story helps someone else get the care they deserve.”