A Young Man’s Journey to Healing and Health
About three weeks before a serious health crisis landed him in the Emergency Room, Nerjinder was feeling weak and out-of-sorts, his vision blurry and his weight down by more than 25 pounds, leaving him gaunt and sallow. Scared for his future and medically uninsured, the 25-year-old San Francisco hospitality worker was in a highly precarious position for anyone at his – or any – age.
Nerjinder’s hospital diagnosis was Type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment and immediate lifestyle and diet changes. Employed but without insurance and in need of high-quality, ongoing medical support, Nerjinder was referred by a local hospital to the Order of Malta Clinic for follow-up care.
When Nerjinder arrived at the Clinic for his first appointment, the 6-foot-tall young man weighed in at just 137 pounds. Immediately upon examination, internal medicine physician Dr. John Gunderson referred him to our Diabetes Nurse Educators to monitor and adjust his post-hospital insulin regimen. With a new long-term treatment program in place, the Clinic team also provided Nerjinder with an additional Freestyle Libre 2 glucose monitor and sensors, the latest in real-time glucose data and monitoring with no finger sticks. This advanced equipment – made possible by a generous grant from the John Muir Health Community Partner Benefit program – provided Nerjinder with the medical technology he needed to begin to reclaim his health.
Over the next few weeks Nerjinder had multiple appointments with Clinic physicians and specialists, all of whom worked with him to monitor and prevent any insulin complications and introduce new meal-planning and exercise options.
Within a month of arriving at the Order of Malta Clinic, Nerjinder had regained most of his weight and eliminated other previous problems attributed to his diabetes. After three months, he became eligible to apply for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage and relied on the Clinic to bridge his prescriptions and care while awaiting a dedicated primary care provider. Today, thanks to the guiding hands of the Order of Malta Clinic team and his new PCP, he has learned how to keep his blood sugar steady and embraced new diet and exercise plans. Still a young man himself, he is dedicated to continuing to improve his health and is actively pursuing his passion to help other at-risk youth and young adults.
Nerjinder’s story is just one example of the commitment and partnerships that define the work of the Order of Malta Clinic. The gift of understanding, compassion and care he received from us helped this remarkable young man transition from a very scary time in his life to one of purposeful determination and service to others. His journey has just begun.
By Anne Brussok, DM