Miracle Caseworker
Quick work by HCHD employee gives man second chance at life

 

Lanelle Blackwell and Matthew Fulton

Everything was ready. The ornaments were out of storage, the lights unstrung from their packages and a bare Christmas tree stood poised for decorating. It was a Fulton holiday tradition.

After Thanksgiving dinner, the family would decorate the Christmas tree. This was something his dad Rudy and mom Pat had shared for years, and it was a tradition Matthew now looked forward to sharing with his wife Grace and young son Paul.

But last Thanksgiving, Matthew Fulton never hung an ornament.

And if not for the quick action of Lanelle Blackwell, HCHD SSI Case Manager, and subsequent medical care at Ben Taub and Methodist hospitals, the Fulton’s holiday tradition would have never been shared by the family again.

At Thanksgiving dinner, Rudy noticed a yellowish tint on Matthew’s neck and asked him about it.

“It’s been coming and going,” he told his dad.

His father urged him to get it checked out. “I will,” Matthew said.

Later, Matthew said, “Dad, I don’t feel good. I’ll come over Monday to help with the ornaments.”

He never returned, but instead went to see his dad’s doctor. One look and the doctor told him to go to the hospital.

Yellow all over by then, Matthew drove himself to Ben Taub. Four days later he was in a coma.

During this time, doctors discovered he needed a liver transplant. Weeks later, they discovered the full extent of his illness. Matthew suffered from hepatic-renal syndrome, which causes liver and kidney failure, frequently resulting in death.

Matthew’s only hope was a transplant, which is not provided at the Hospital District. The family wanted him transferred to Methodist Hospital where he could get a transplant.

But before Matthew could get on the transplant waiting list, he needed Medicaid. A Methodist social worker referred the Fultons to the Hospital District’s eligibility services.

On Dec. 10, the Fultons met Blackwell. She took charge of the case with energy and innovation, and went beyond the call of duty to rapidly respond to the challenge.

“It usually takes 60 to 90 days to get Medicaid benefits,” Blackwell said. “But according to doctors, Matthew didn’t have that luxury of time.”

Blackwell contacted Social Security and the Texas Department of Health Services (TDHS) and spent the entire day with the family filling out paperwork and making phone calls. By afternoon, Matthew had Social Security benefits – but still no Medicaid.

Blackwell persisted and got on the phone with to TDHS officials in Austin – and, unbelievably, got Matthew’s Medicaid approved after 6 p.m. that day. Blackwell deflects praise for her efforts to focus attention on the patient.

“Matthew is such a young person and has so much to live for. I just had to help him and his family,” Blackwell said. “We were grateful we were able to help them.”

But securing benefits was only the beginning of the roller-coaster ride the Fultons were facing. Nearly a month later, on Jan. 2, doctors told the Fulton’s of their son’s bleak outlook.

Matthew had been in a coma and was getting worse. He now needed a kidney transplant, too.

Even if a donor could be found, Matthew was at risk of infection because his blood count was so high.

“A doctor told us, ‘There are 18,000 people waiting for a liver and we’re not going to waste one on your son.’” Rudy said. “‘He’ll never walk out of this hospital.’”

Monday his blood count was at 48,000. Tuesday night it improved to 36,000, and on Wednesday, Jan. 5, there was a donor.

Doctors told the family there was a 95 to 98 percent chance that Matthew wouldn’t survive surgery.

Rudy replied, “But there’s a 2 to 5 percent chance he might.”

Days after the nearly 12-hour surgery, Matthew’s prognosis improved dramatically. He’s now well on his way to recovery.

“I believe if it wasn’t for Ms. Blackwell and the fine people at the Hospital District I wouldn’t be here today,” Matthew said. “It’s a miracle that my family found Ms. Blackwell’s office. I appreciate her helping my family during this rough time.”