When the power company notified Cheryl F. that her electricity was about to be disconnected, her big heart sank—literally and figuratively. Living with congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, cardiomegaly, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease among an array of other health issues, and relying daily on a Medtronic monitoring system, a CPAP machine, and a defibrillator pacemaker, losing power wasn’t just an inconvenience—it was a life-threatening emergency.
Cheryl explained, “I wasn’t able to pay it. The rent has gotten sky high, my finances have diminished and depleted and that day, that was all that was weighing on me, ‘How am I going to pay this bill?’”
But thanks to United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Critical Medical Needs program, Cheryl didn’t have to face that emergency alone. With her medical condition reliant on monitoring from her devices, it was crucial her power stayed on. The program, designed to prevent utility shutoffs or restore essential services for people with serious health conditions, intervened after Cheryl received a reference from Evergy.
“I reached out to 211 and immediately was given a call back and was told, ‘We can help you,’” she shared. “Everything moved expeditiously. I didn’t have any problems or any other worries or concerns.”
With support from Evergy and Spire, and in partnership with local health systems and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), the Critical Medical Needs program coordinated assistance to keep Cheryl’s electricity on—ensuring her devices remained powered to download the information that informs her treatment planning. To date, 490 households have been provided more than $315,000 in assistance through the program.
“It is very vital to me living on a daily basis. It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders,” Cheryl said. “I’m humble and grateful and thankful, but also, it’s a good feeling. It’s a very good feeling to know that you all care.”
With power running, Cheryl is not only able to live stress-free but can continue her search for a remote position and work from home. Having donated to United Way in the past, she shared how this is a full-circle moment for her.
“I didn’t think when I was donating that I was donating because one day I would need the services, but just to know they’re still here, they’re still around helping people means a lot,” she said. “The support is giving me a positive outlook and has inspired me to continue to do better so I can remain stable.”
The Critical Medical Needs program was created to bridge the gap between health care and basic utilities for some of the region’s most medically vulnerable residents. To learn more about the program, visit here.