Almost Heaven... for Some (Pendleton County, WV)

Whenever I hear the words "West Virginia," I think of that old John Denver song, "Country Roads."

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

I can see why John Denver would say this. Our home for this week is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Nature abounds here and there is something almost spiritual about driving down these country roads that makes you understand why people would want to live here, so far from the city life that we all know back in Chicago.

But is it really almost Heaven?

In the middle of Pendleton County is the town of Franklin -- about a five-block stretch of road with a medical clinic, grocery store, elementary school, pharmacy, community park, post office, hardware store, gas station, diner, and... well, not too much else.

We spent part of this week with the physicians in the clinic. They told us the story of how the clinic got started and how it has completely changed the level of access to care (from none to a pretty decent amount) for county residents. When the physician and nurse in our group asked about opportunities for them to return and volunteer, they were told in so many words that medical help really is not needed in the area. "Go to western Kentucky," they said. "That's where the poor people are."

While shocking, this was not too hard to believe at first. The clinic is beautiful and provides all of the services any family practice would have in Chicago, plus some emergency triaging to help stabilize patients before making the two-hour trek to the nearest hospital. When we visited the elementary school to give some basic health presentations to the students, we were amazed at how advanced the classrooms were, complete with projectors, Smart Boards, and all the other bells and whistles you might find in an affluent suburban school. There is a phenomenal health and wellness program for students complete with a Pediatrician onsite in the school once or twice each week. It's a better setup than the elementary schools most of us attended, that's for sure!

But appearances can be deceiving.

In preparation for this trip, we also contacted a local priest and the area's Habitat for Humanity chapter. Through those contacts, we have had the privilege of meeting some of the more rural locals who have welcomed us into their homes and shared their story with us. Their lives are nothing like those of the Franklin residents.

Many of them struggle to make ends meet, living in rundown shacks with a handful of family or close friends. For those with infectious diseases like HIV, they deal with an uninformed community who still believes HIV is contagious by touch so won't let their children play with the children of HIV-positive parents. They can't keep a job because wherever they are hired, the customers complain to the manager and stop shopping there until they get rid of their "infected" worker. The clinic doesn't have ID doctors, and they admittedly don't know how to treat an HIV patient. The HIV-positive mother we spoke with told us that the clinicians treat her only as a drug seeker instead of a patient who truly needs meds to stay alive.

We heard countless stories such as this from those in the more rural parts of Pendleton County, telling us about their lack of access to care and the corruption that exists in the area. For example, when the mudslides happened across the state a few years ago and many homes were destroyed, the aid money from the government was distributed to the major cities in each county to be reallocated where it was needed most. The money for Pendleton County went to Franklin. Franklin schools got Smart Boards; many rural residents are still living in old, rotting homes or shacks, having never recovered from the mudslides.

Of course, these are the perspectives of those in the rural community, which contrast heavily with those of the Franklin residents. As outsiders, it's hard to know where the truth lies -- somewhere in the middle, perhaps?

At this point, we can only focus on what we know for sure. We are not needed and honestly would not return to Franklin. The people living in the town are well cared for and have everything they need for a healthy, happy life. Those in the rural areas, however, are in great need of assistance, and that is where we would return.

Habitat has agreed to let a group of our students come back and host a health fair on their grounds for the more rural community. This is a group that still needs information, education, and health advice, and would be receptive to us if we went through the right channels -- our contacts in the community and at Habitat. It's amazing how much mistrust there is with the differing viewpoints between those who live in the town and those who do not, so it is of utmost importance that trust be earned for a difference to be made at all. We hope that we can make it back here in the future to continue building the relationship we have started.

So is it "almost Heaven" here? From the viewpoint of the residents, yes. Even those who lack health care access or struggle economically have a deeply engrained love for this mountain community. They refer to themselves as "mountain people" -- made for the mountain and its rural way of life. Should they have to give that up to receive basic services like adequate medical care? We don't think they should.

For now, as we prepare to leave this place, we are grateful for all that we have learned and for the graciousness of those we have met who have been willing to teach us. It's funny how you go on a trip like this thinking you will make a difference in someone's life, only to discover what really happened -- they made a difference in yours.