EUSTIS | Being diagnosed with one type of cancer is distressing. Being diagnosed with two while without insurance and far away from home could be too overwhelming.

When a woman faced that situation, it was St. Luke’s Medical clinic, run by Catholic Charities of Central Florida, that gave her hope.

Linda Gavino planned to move to the United States from the Philippines to be with her daughter, but in October 2023 doctors discovered colon cancer. While exploring treatments, she also noticed something unusual about one of her breasts. However, surgical fears and worries about moving kept her from asking questions.

Two months later, Gavino finally recovered from surgery and moved to Tavares to be with family. She was happy to care for her grandchildren, but still missed her homeland and the relatives she left behind.

“I grew up in the Philippines. It was all I’ve ever known,” she said.

Early in 2024, Gavino could not ignore the changes in her breast. She did not have insurance and was not sure what do to. Her daughter mentioned the dilemma to a friend who told her about Catholic Charities of Central Florida’s St. Luke’s Medical Clinic in Eustis. Gavino decided to give it a try.

“After examining her breasts, in a most sincere way, the doctor told my mom she likely had breast cancer,” said Gavino’s daughter, Helen Johnson.

Johnson recalled her mother breaking down. “She was devastated. She was still in the middle of her colon cancer recovery. She was worried about how we were going to pay for her care. She was always very health-conscious, and yet this was happening to her.”

Gavino said she asked herself and God, “Am I a female Job?” But she prayed and said her faith strengthened despite health challenges.

“I prayed hard for the Lord’s help and always believed there is power in prayer. Then this miracle happened (of finding St. Luke’s),” Gavino said. “God works in miraculous ways.”

Her doctor ordered a mammogram and ultrasound. Gavino had a biopsy in May that confirmed Stage 1 breast cancer. They determined her receptors could block the spread and went forward with a lumpectomy.

Erin Burley, director of Catholic Charities clinics, immediately began searching for insurance options. She secured coverage for the required testing through The Pink Program, a nonprofit that helps the uninsured screen for various cancers. Then she put Gavino’s daughter in contact with Moffit Cancer Center.

“St. Luke’s Free Medical and Dental Clinic serves the uninsured population whose income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty guideline and who are not eligible for Medicaid,” Burley said. “Many of our patients suffer chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and asthma. These conditions, left unattended, will result in multiple hospital visits and a shorter life expectancy. We are able to provide continual care of these conditions which results in better quality of life for our patients and their families.”

Johnson is grateful to Burley and the staff at St. Luke’s for guiding her through the process.

Gavino celebrated her 66th birthday Aug. 20, 2024, four days after her second surgery. Gavino also saw a doctor for follow up care for her colon cancer. She had a colonoscopy, CT scan, and blood tests.

“And it’s all because St. Luke guided us,” Johnson said.

Knowing how many people have cared for her keeps Gavino hopeful. “St. Luke’s Clinic has helped me a lot in my journey of treatment,” she shared. “I got to Moffitt because St. Luke’s helped me from the very start. If not for them, I don’t know where I would be now. … For myself, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for St. Luke’s. When the treatment is over, I would like to get a job. I want to pay it forward.”

Six doctors serve St. Luke’s Medical and Dental Clinic. Due to limited availability, the doctors see patients about two days per week, often in the evenings after their regular workday ends. Dr. David Kornblum, the first to see Gavino, served the clinic for several months in between moves.

“I wanted to do something meaningful with my time,” Kornblum said. “I always wanted to make something like this a part of my practice but hadn’t had the opportunity.” He said volunteering at St. Luke’s fit the bill.

Similar clinics located in Wildwood, Ocala, Leesburg and St. Cloud share the same mission. And since the COVID pandemic, the need is greater than ever. “We lost a lot of our volunteers during the pandemic, and we saw an influx of patients who lost their jobs and therefore their health insurance,” Burley said.

In her almost 10 years overseeing Catholic Charities’ clinics, Burley has seen the difference that having medical and dental care can make. One thing is certain, the clinic doctors and dentists have improved the lives of countless patients and will continue to do so as long as volunteer doctors continue to help those in need.

For more information on St. Luke’s Free Medical and Dental Clinic in Eustis, call 352-602-4640.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, September 5, 2024