On March 5, 2012, George Maltezos, LCPC, CADC and Charles Martinez,MD were honored at the Our Lady of the Resurrection CARES Award reception. The award honors individuals who exhibit the medical center’s CARES values – Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Service. The founders of the Old Irving Park Community Clinic accepted this award on behalf of the core group of 20 volunteers that helped get the clinic off the ground and put its mission in action. It is with your ongoing support and generous donations that the clinic continues to impact and serve the community, and the above success stories would not be possible without your help. Thank you. We hope to continue receiving your support so that we may keep open the doors to free quality healthcare.
Had Robert not come through Old Irving Park Community Clinic’s door one evening in 2011, he would not be alive today. At 42 years old, Robert had untreated high blood pressure, and Medical Director Dr. Martinez determined that Robert was experiencing heart failure. Robert was advised to go to the emergency room immediately, but he refused. His wife had recently given birth to the couple’s daughter who was born with a heart defect, and Robert wanted to go to the hospital to visit his little girl. “If you don’t go to the ER immediately, you won’t live to see her grow up,” warned Dr. Martinez. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Robert made the trip to the ER, where they lowered his blood pressure and restored his heart to proper function. Robert has since been a patient at the clinic, where he has worked with Dr. Martinez and the clinic’s volunteer clinicians to implement the proper treatment to regulate his blood pressure. With the right care in place, Robert is on the healthy path to enjoy life with his little girl and wife.
After a career as a successful businessman, Bill found himself unemployed at 62 years old. He had known heart disease but could no longer afford his medication. Bill came to the clinic to see a cardiologist for his high blood pressure and symptoms of heart failure. Dr. Puthamana, a volunteer cardiologist at the clinic, determined that Bill had a severe valve abnormality and needed a valve replacement immediately to avoid permanent damage to his heart. Bill took Dr. Puthamana’s recommendation and underwent surgery at a local Chicago hospital. He now receives long-term follow up care at OIPCC and “looks like a million dollars,” according to Dr. Martinez.