Cuttin' across the lines: Party time in the community. . .

There is no way I can describe it to you.

But, I'll give it a shot just the same!

Dr. Jim Walton, our partner in the delivery of community health, wellness and medical services to inner city Dallas, takes care of over 20 severely injured patients. All have experienced terrible brain and/or neurological injuries. As a result, all are unable to walk and, in some cases unable to move much at all.

Dr. Jim makes house calls. You heard me.

Jim is a modern day Marcus Welby.

He practices medicine in this manner for at least two reasons.

First, he loves his patients and he gives them what he knows they need most, himself on their terms. So, he visits their homes, usually accompanied by one of our Community Health Workers and/or Charles Senteio, Director of Central Dallas Ministries' Institute for Faith Health Research-Dallas.

Second, he wants to keep these special patients out of the hospital for their own benefit and for the sake of the hospital systems in Dallas.

None of them are insured.

None of them can pay for their care.

None are eligible for public health benefits. Most, if not all, are undocumented immigrants who have been involved in serious accidents since coming to Dallas.

Jim's special work saves our local hospital systems hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars by caring for these special folks in their homes. Even more important, his patients do very, very well under his watchful and committed care.

Stick with me. The story gets even better.

On last Friday, Dr. Jim and his patients had a party.

More accurately, they were invited to a party.

The party was thrown for them by the "Homemakers Club" at Roseland Homes, a public housing development where we manage the community center for the Dallas Housing Authority.
Now, get the picture.

Latino patients, who almost never get out of their homes, make it over to the community center with some of their family members for a party. The cooks are the matriarchs of our community, assisted by a number of younger helpers and by members of our medical and community development staff.

You should have seen it!

Black folks, brown folks, white folks. . . young, old, in-between. . . all having a fine party. . . just because! Some meeting for the very first time. Others, old friends.

It was an absolute delight for us all!

Dr. Jim was loving every moment, for his patients; for his partner in the endeavor, Ms. Charlie Mae Ransom; and for the improving health and the maturing connectedness of the community.

I learned during the event that the Roseland homemakers have invited these special patients, now their new friends, to come to lunch every month for a party.

What an amazing place this is turning out to be!

Hope and healing are everywhere. Thanks to so many community builders.

You ought to drop in some time soon. I promise the experience will lift your soul!