FACES OF THE FALLEN / Ruth



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Michael ValentMy name is Lauren Green. I am writing this story about my friend and former roommate, Ruth. She is unable to tell this story herself because on April 7, 2003 she died. I am going to pass on her legacy. Ruth was born and raised in rural Eastern Tennessee. She lived with her five brothers, mother, and father. She attended college and graduated with her bachelor's degree in English. Ruth was an amazing writer and was able to express all of life?s experiences in this form.

After graduating from college, Ruth was accepted as a missionary. In this position she was placed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to work with an Emergency Assistance program providing food, utility, and clothing assistance to local neighbors. Ruth did not just work in this Eastern Philadelphia neighborhood, she lived there. Each day she would struggle with minimal resources to meet the growing needs of individuals who came to see her because they could not pay their electric bill or feed their children. And after work, she would see these same individuals on her walk home. They would talk and discuss the day?s events--she was not just the lady that gave them food, she developed relationships by treating everyone as a person. She could relate to their struggles because she grew up fighting for many of the same things. She served this community with all of her heart for two years.

Toward the end of her term as a missionary, Ruth began to feel very ill. She thought she just had the flu. After being extremely sick for more than a week, I convinced Ruth she needed to go the emergency room. Ruth had adequate health insurance that was provided my her mission agency, so going to the ER was not a big deal. She agreed to go to the local hospital (which is affiliated with one of the largest Philadelphia healthcare organizations), however the doctors told her exactly what she thought, it was just a virus. They sent her home after giving her IV fluids and told her to rest and drink plenty of liquids.

After another two weeks of not feeling well--to the point where she did not get out of bed for three days--and a trip to her primary care physician, I again convinced Ruth to go to the ER because she was so sick. Once more, the doctors told her it was a bug that was going around and she needed to rest. After another week of rest, Ruth began to feel better and she was able to return to work.

Throughout this time of transitioning from her missionary term to the next steps in her life journey, Ruth discerned that she felt called to serve her church as an ordained pastor. I heard Ruth speak at our local churches multiple times, and she is one of the most gifted preachers I have heard. She had an amazing way of sharing how she saw the love of God each day as she worked alongside poor and homeless individuals. She had looked into applying for seminary, however decided to wait one year to save money. She chose to move home to Tennessee with her family, where she could work and save.

After moving back to Tennessee in September of 2002, Ruth once again became very ill. However, now she had no health insurance. She attempted to treat herself with over the counter medications, but after a month of being so ill, she had to pay to see a physician. The physician once again told her she had the flu. By the time Christmas came around, Ruth had been bed-ridden for a month. She once again went to the doctor, this time because of severe pain in her leg. The doctors found a tumor. The tumor could be operated on and removed; however this would be very expensive. She then applied for adult medical benefits through the county public assistance office. It would be at least a 30-day wait before she may be approved. By this time it was the middle of February. As she waited for the medical benefits to be approved, her health continued to deteriorate. She had not been able to walk in over three months, and had put on over 100 pounds due to water retention and immobility.

In mid-March 2003, Ruth had become so ill, her parents rushed her to the hospital--though she had no insurance still. She was admitted and immediately sedated to ease the severe pain she was in. After running a multitude of tests, it was discovered the tumor in her leg was cancerous, and it had spread throughout her bones. It was decided to transfer Ruth to a hospital over four hours away. Her family traveled the distance to be with her, however, shortly after arriving at the hospital, Ruth fell into a coma and was put on life support. After enduring a week on life support, and the doctors telling the family they did not expect her to recover, the family chose to remove the life support on April 7, 2003. Within minutes, Ruth passed away.

Ruth will never see her six nieces and nephews, and one great nephew grow up. She will never experience the feeling of preaching the first Sunday in her newly assigned church. Her family and friends will never be able to hear her contagious laugh again. Ruth's right to health was continuously violated throughout this struggle, and she paid with her life.