Miesha was working her regular shift at Langston Bag in West Memphis, Arkansas in July of 2020. Her job required her to be on her feet constantly. She began having symptoms of what she thought was a sinus problem. Her condition continued to worsen, and she found herself in the emergency room at the hospital in West Memphis. When her symptoms did not improve, she was transferred to Regional One Medical Health Center in Memphis, a trauma center, where she was diagnosed with COVID-19.  This was still during the early stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

Miesha was placed on a ventilator and was in a coma for two weeks.  When she awoke, she had trouble trying to speak.  She was unaware of her surroundings and thought that she was still in West Memphis.  She was unaware of the time or date.  She had completely loss track of time.  It was now nearing the end of July. Miesha had been at Regional One for almost a month. 

She had to learn how to walk and feed herself all over again. Those things that had come naturally for her in the past, she had to relearn.  Her determination to beat this vicious disease kept her going where she would be able to see her family again.  She was finally able to go home at the end of July. 

Miesha had insurance on her job which covered her stay in the hospital, but due to having COVID, she lost her job and was unable to return to work.  Thankfully, she was able to apply and receive Medicaid benefits, which covers the cost of her treatments including heart, hypertension, and pre-diabetic medications*. Without Medicaid she would not be able to afford her prescriptions, see her doctor, go to the emergency room for her blood pressure when it becomes too high, or receive necessary treatment for her heart problems. 

Miesha says that she is on the road to recovery. She has worked her entire adult life.  She wants to return to work but realizes that the road to recovery is a slow one. Nevertheless, Miesha does hope to return to work one day soon.  She takes walks for exercise and is thankful for each day that she is alive. Medicaid has been her lifeline to continued recovery. 

 * In the state of Arkansas, you may be eligible for Medicaid if you fall within any of the following groups: (1) age 65 and older; (2) under age 19; (3) blind; (4) disabled; (5) pregnant; (6) the parent or the relative who is caretaker of a child with an absent, disabled, or unemployed parent; (7) living in a nursing home; (8)under age 21 and in foster care; (9) in medical need of certain home and community based services; or (10) disabled, including working disabled. Arkansas has expanded its Medicaid eligibility to adults (ages 19-64) with income up to 138% of the poverty level. 

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