TULSA -- Good Samaritan Health Services helps thousands of people every year who can't afford medical care. Among the volunteers who make it happen is one woman with a very personal connection.
Vianney Ramirez noticed her stomach growing last October. She was in pain, but one doctor told her there was nothing wrong.
"I couldn't eat anything else anymore, the symptoms were really bad," said Ramirez.
With no health insurance, Ramirez turned to Good Samaritan Health Services, who brought her to St. John Medical Center. That's when she found out what she had was more serious than she could have imagined.
"Everything went blank and it was a big surgery, part of my colon was removed but I was so happy it wasn't cancer," said Ramirez.
Ramirez was in the I.C.U. twice and went through multiple surgeries to remove the growing infection in her stomach. It would've cost around $300,000 but she didn't pay a dime. Now she volunteers as a translator to patients receiving care through Good Samaritan.
"It was just a blessing and I'm very thankful that I can do that," said Ramirez.
Good Samaritan's 63-foot-long medical trucks roll into low income neighborhoods and bring help to those who might not get it otherwise.
"Our mobility allows us to go right into the community in need," said Dr. John Crouch, President and Founder of Good Samaritan Health Services.
He says the service wouldn't be possible without the nearly 250 volunteers.
"If we have the volunteers and the man power and if we have the finances we can expand our services to new places," said Dr. Crouch.
Services, Ramirez says, that go beyond basic medical care.
"They receive health service but they also receive a family treatment, they care for you," said Ramirez.
Good Samaritan Health Services travels to 13 locations in Tulsa, hosting more than 50 clinics each month. They treat everything from a common cold, to serious health issues like diabetes and heart failure.
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