The Care You Deserve

For over eight years, Claudia went without essential health screenings like Pap smears and mammograms. The high cost of care at other clinics and hospitals kept her from seeking the services she knew she needed. “I lived with worry,” she said. “In my family, three people have died of cancer—my cousin from uterine cancer, my mother from thyroid cancer, and another cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Claudia is originally from Nicaragua, where she says mammograms are expensive and hard to access. When she learned about Connect Medical Clinic and the free services available through its programs, everything changed. “When I heard about Connect and the programs they offer, I was happy. I came, and they did a mammogram for me. Thank God, everything turned out well. I felt happy and satisfied to know I was clear.”

She had been living in fear, not knowing if she might also have cancer. “I didn’t have to worry anymore because I was able to get the mammogram I needed—for free. From then on, I felt peace.”

Claudia had other concerns too. “I don’t have income or social security to pay for these tests, and I didn’t know where I could get them done. Then I found out that Connect provides these services.” She also shared that one of her friends, who has diabetes, was able to receive needed medication through Connect’s help.

“What attracted me to the clinic was the blessing that there is a program that helps many women get services like mammograms, colonoscopies, and lab tests. I received very good care in a safe, loving, and respectful environment.”

Claudia says she felt a stark difference between how she was treated at Connect compared to other places. “When I first came to the U.S., I was in a restaurant where someone mocked me for speaking Spanish. But at Connect, I was met with love and care.”

She has received a mammogram, Pap smear, and a referral for an ear issue. “Everything was explained to me in a way I could understand. I felt safe and cared for.”

Her experience inspired her to invite others to Connect. “Women would ask me if I had a mammogram done, and I told them yes—at Connect. I even gave a card to my niece, and she called the clinic. I love sharing that there’s a place where women can get the help they need.”

Claudia shared that getting her results was a joyful experience. “I was free from that fear. My results were clear. I didn’t have breast cancer, and that brought me so much peace.”
“My impression of Connect was very joyful. I was treated with respect. And I was able to get care I couldn’t afford anywhere else.”

She added, “I didn’t have many options. But Connect offered these services and treated me with dignity.”
Claudia also mentioned the personal touches that made her feel at ease. “I liked the snack they gave us—some of us don’t have time for breakfast. Everyone was very kind.”

She remembers Dr. Rachel and others by name. “They treated me with patience and tenderness. I trust them. It was a beautiful experience.”

Her message to donors is full of gratitude:

“Every dollar you give to Connect is an investment in someone’s future. You’re helping women, children, and families. You’re saving lives. May God bless you so this program can continue.”

Sometimes I would wake up and just cry,” she said. She started to miss school, experiencing nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite when the pain reached its highest levels.

Her mom was concerned about the severity of her daughter’s symptoms, so she made her an appointment at Connect. She’d been told by others, “Just put Tricia on birth control!” but she wanted to explore another option. 

Tricia met with an RN for a Cycle Wellness Education appointment.

“I was nervous at first,” says Tricia. “There can be a stigma, my peers jumping to the conclusion someone is probably pregnant if they are being seen at Connect.”

Once Tricia began charting her cycle she noted signs of hormonal imbalance. She followed up with her primary physician, Dr. Samantha Kiedrowski, who is trained in cycle health. In the end, a common and well-tolerated anti-nausea/vomiting medication for when Tricia’s chart indicated that her level of progesterone was rising was all she needed. 

Having the knowledge base to be a partner with her provider, the charts to assist in achieving the diagnosis, and being empowered to manage her symptoms has been life-changing. She even went on a 10-day bus trip to the March for Life in D.C. with her classmates during her period last month. 

“What made the biggest difference was I felt so welcomed and cared for when I came to my appointment at Connect,” says Tricia. “I wasn’t a case, or a symptom, or even a patient. I felt like a person, and the nurses just wanted to help me.”

For Tricia, the standard of care is hormonal contraception for the intensity of her symptoms. That course of treatment would have not only gone against Tricia’s moral beliefs, it would have been unnecessary. 

“I want other girls my age with period problems to know there is help. Connect is not a place you will be judged; those nurses will see you as a whole person and help you in any way they can.”

Cycle Education is safe, free of cost, and gives our young women empowering education to make informed decisions about their health. Knowing how their body works in its natural state helps them to identify when things are not “normal” for them, to appreciate their body, and realize their dignity. 

Teaching women to self-advocate lets them know that we believe that they are smart, capable, and worthy of making decisions that are within their own deeply held beliefs and optimal for their health outcomes.  If you would like more information about cycle education for yourself or your daughter, visit our website.