Meet Sammy from Plymouth

In 2021, Sammy, then 12 years old, had played well in his football game, but suddenly he had severe stomach pain and fatigue. Sammy saw doctors in Sheboygan who suspected it was his appendix, but they weren’t comfortable operating on a child Sammy’s size, so they sent him to Children’s Wisconsin. Several tests and scans revealed Sammy’s appendix was fine, but he had amass of lymph nodes that had swollen and attached to his colon. Sammy’s body began shutting down – fluid was building around his lungs, his organs began swelling, and he needed a blood transfusion. Children’s Wisconsin providers started Sammy on a steroid treatment and his condition began to improve. After three weeks of treatment and physical therapy, Sammy was able to go home. Today, Sammy is healthy and enjoys playing sports. He has regular checkups with his doctor, and his scans show no signs of the mass returning. Having Medicaid coverage allowed his family to focus on figuring out what was wrong with Sammy and his recovery, instead of stressing over the finances behind his treatment. Sammy’s mom is a single mom with a lower income. At the time of Sammy’s illness, his mom wasn’t working, and they were at risk of losing their vehicle and their home. Knowing that they had Medicaid coverage so Sammy could get the care he needed enabled her to have peace of mind during this traumatic time. When she reflects on all of the care Sammy was able to access – from surgeons, oncologists, social workers, chaplains and time in the ICU – without insurance, none of that would have been possible. Sammy’s mom believes Sammy wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for his Medicaid coverage, and his ability to access care means the world to their family.

Please keep Medicaid strong for kids like Sammy!