Susan M's Story
WHAT IF…
You were driving to work one day and someone smashed into your car, then fled the scene, leaving your mode of transportation to work in shambles?
It’s the reality Susan M. faced this year while heading to one of the churches she regularly cleans in Kansas City, Missouri. Desperate to keep money coming in, she called a friend who she knew had a bicycle sitting in the garage.
Susan has COPD, which makes it hard to breathe, especially in the summer heat. Pedaling 10 miles one way to clean just one church was all she could handle.
“I was using my rescue inhaler a lot more, which you can only fill that so often,” Susan said. “And it was getting to where the breathing medicine the doctor had me on wasn’t quite working. I did quit smoking, and it’s made a difference. But with all the bike riding, it wasn’t quite enough.”
Not only was her health suffering, but so were Susan’s finances. Cutting back hours at work meant she fell behind on bills. She knew losing electricity could have serious health consequences, especially with her breathing.
“I was really starting to panic,” Susan said. “I wouldn’t make it long without air conditioning.”
Thankfully, a social worker at University Health knew about a new United Way initiative called the Critical Medical Needs program. The program is designed to stop disconnection or restore services for Kansas City households, like Susan's, who have serious medical needs. It’s made possible thanks to generous support from utility providers, Evergy and Spire, and in cooperation with local health system partners who help identify eligible patients. This partnership speeds up securing assistance and provides additional support for households struggling with major medical needs.
James Carver's Story
Jeanie Bordon and James Carver have been divorced for more than 12 years. But that hasn’t stopped Jeanie from stepping into a major caregiver role for James over the past year.
“He’s always been an awesome dad to our children,” said Jeanie. “So when he had a stroke last November, there was no question that I would do whatever was needed to help him.”
James is only 50. He’s done manual labor jobs most of his life, often as a contractor or on a self-employment basis. Doctors warned the stroke could permanently leave him without speech, the ability to walk and more. But with therapy and determination, James has fought through.
“He couldn’t even feed himself at first,” Jeanie shared. “His recovery is amazing, but there’s also been a lot of hardship.”
The recovery was impaired by a second stroke James suffered last summer. Thankfully, it was much less severe.
“But there just aren’t a whole lot of options for work for him with where his body is at right now with all of this,” Jeanie said. “We have been trying to get disability benefits for him, but it’s a very long process. We applied way back in December 2023 and are still waiting for that to get approved.”
With no income at all, keeping food on the table and the lights on has been a huge struggle.
“His electricity actually did get cut off at one point. And it’s a medical emergency for him, because in addition to the stroke, he has a pacemaker and it’s monitored through wi-fi in his home,” said Jeanie.
James had racked up utility charges of more than $900. Family and friends tried to scrape together money from anyone who could help, but they only managed to come up with about a third of that past due balance.
His healthcare providers learned of United Way’s Critical Medical Needs program and Jeanie reached out immediately.
“It’s huge, because honestly, for him pretty much adapting to a new way of life with all of the medical situations he’s dealing with and previously being such a physical person his entire life, it’s been really tough,” she said. “Not having to worry about the electricity bill now is truly tremendous. We are so very grateful.”
The critical medical needs program has served 500 households, and more than $325,000 of assistance money has been awarded, with 17 healthcare partners providing client referrals to the program.
Learn more about the Critical Medical Needs program: UnitedWayGKC.org/CriticalMedicalNeeds
You can also support the program with generous donations: UnitedWayGKC.org/Donate
Join UWGKC this September for CommUNITY Fest, a city-wide day of service. Individuals can spend a portion of their day giving back in ways that are meaningful to them: unitedwaygkc.org/events/