Birthday wishes

Today is my birthday — No. 51. When I was a kid, I tried to picture what I would be like when I was in my 50s. It seemed impossibly old.

If I could have one wish for my birthday, it would be this: May we all have the opportunity to live the healthiest life we can for as long possible. Our medical, dental, and mental health providers work with our patients to overcome the odds that are in front of them. It is our hope that by providing access to free medical, dental, and other care, we are helping to chip away at the burden of poverty that our patients bear and creating a healthier community along the way. When I was a kid, I tried to picture what I would be like when I was in my 50s. In turn, those adults are more likely to have high blood pressure and diabetes, use tobacco, alcohol and other substances, and experience mental health issues. Few of our patients have wiggle room in their budgets to accommodate increases in grocery and gas prices, let alone the addition of an expensive medication like insulin or the need for new eyeglasses.