Unreachable: one patient’s journey from darkness to light

He had no food, no family nearby, and wasn’t feeling well. But thanks to two caring women, his story took a hopeful turn.

In Emory, Texas, a small, rural town 65 miles east of Dallas, Mr. Terry Robinson was struggling. His home was quiet and dark, with no furniture and no working refrigerator. He had no food, no family nearby, and wasn’t feeling well. But thanks to two caring women, Lorrie Irvinbeshirs and Angelique Perez, his story took a hopeful turn.

Lorrie is a community health worker with WellMed. She’s been helping patients for three years, traveling across North Texas to visit patients in rural areas. These are patients who are unreachable by phone, so Lorrie conducts wellness checks.

Lorrie has what she calls a “servant’s heart.” She loves helping others, listening closely and figuring out what people need. She’s a perfect fit for her role. “I’m pretty good at reading the room,” she says. “And what I saw at Mr. Robinson’s home was a bit alarming.”

When Mr. Robinson didn’t answer several calls from a nurse, Lorrie was called on to drive out to see him in person. When she arrived, he invited her in. His home was very small, and dark with no lights on. It was a hot August day, and the only air conditioning came from a small window unit in the bedroom. His medications were scattered across his bed, and he looked tired and overwhelmed.

Lorrie sat and chatted with him to get to know him better. She learned that he had no food in the house and no working refrigerator. It had broken the week before, and he was using an ice chest to keep things cold. He didn’t feel well enough to drive, and someone had stolen his wallet and pill packs. He wasn’t sure if his utilities would be shut off.

Lorrie knew Mr. Robinson needed help right away. She immediately connected him with a nurse and then went out and bought him groceries and water with her own money. She connected him with a social worker to get more support.

“He needed lots of help and didn’t know how to ask for it,” Lorrie said. “I’m the eyes and ears when someone is hit with so much and is isolated. I can lighten the load a little; it’s empowering — for them and for me.”

When social worker Angelique Perez joined the effort, the scenario began to look even brighter. Angelique has been a WellMed social worker for four years and is known for her caring heart and dedication.

Angelique spoke with Mr. Robinson about his situation. He had congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. He wasn’t feeling well and needed help with daily tasks like cooking, cleaning and bathing.

With Mr. Robinson on the line, Angelique made a call to Texas Health and Human Services and got lucky; they answered right away. She helped start the conversation and the application process for home services.

She connected him with Adult Protective Services to report the stolen wallet and get help with his bank account. He qualified for services, and an APS worker visited his home.

Soon, things began to improve. Mr. Robinson got a new debit card, food from the food bank, and a working refrigerator. He qualified for help at home with cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

Mr. Robinson had already signed up for Meals on Wheels, and Angelique followed up to make sure he was still receiving meals.

“These ladies made all the difference in the world for me,” Mr. Robinson said. “I’ve needed help for a while, but I didn’t know where to find it. It felt like I was banging my head against a wall. The visit from Lorrie and help from Angelique have been a relief – a big relief.”

Angelique, a caregiver for her parents in her personal life, was happy to see things fall into place. “Not every story ends this well,” she said. “But this one felt like it was meant to happen.”

Both Lorrie and Angelique believe in the power of teamwork. “It takes a village,” Angelique said. “We say that about raising children, but it’s true for caring for patients too.

“Many patients don’t want to ask for help,” she said. “They’re used to being independent. But sometimes, accepting help is the bravest thing they can do.”

Mr. Robinson knew he needed some help. “I’m a man with no children. No family. So I’m very happy that the help is there for me.”

Lorrie and Angelique both believe in looking at the whole person — not just their health, but their life. They know that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

“I’m not someone who goes down a checklist,” Lorrie said. “I want to make real change. That’s what builds trust.”

Thanks to their teamwork, Mr. Robinson is now safer and has his basic needs met. But he is still alone. This, along with his health, have him looking into assisted living.

His story is a reminder that even in the hardest times, there are people who care. Thanks to their compassion and quick action, Mr. Robinson’s road to hope began with a simple visit and a whole lot of heart.