This commentary is by Emily Jankowski of Derby, a licensed clinical mental health counselor.
I grew up in Derby, and after moving away for many years, decided to return to the Northeast Kingdom to raise my own family, and work as a mental health therapist. I genuinely believe there is no better place to raise a family, with the amazing schools, slow pace of life and countless outdoor activities that we love.
With that being said, without North Country Hospital, I can honestly say we would not be able to live where we do. Just in the last 10 years, NCH saved my daughter’s life after she was born with an infection, saved my own life after I had sepsis, and recently saved my father’s life when he had a brain bleed after a mountain bike crash. The quick and quality care from NCH was impeccable.
While I strongly feel there is no better place to raise children in a rural community, it of course comes with some challenges and sacrifices. My husband travels 1.5 hours, one way, just to get to work every day. We travel almost two hours to get to Costco or Trader Joes; we travel three-plus hours to get to the ocean and to visit extended family. This of course, is all by choice. We knew living up here would take some sacrifices and time, and it is worth it for us.
One thing, however, should never have to be a sacrifice. One thing that is a basic human right is health care. It is our right to have access to the medical professionals who treat us for regular preventative care or for unexpected trauma that we can’t plan for but is inevitable.
As a mental health therapist, I work with extremely vulnerable and high-risk children and adolescents. Many of my clients are high-risk for early pregnancies, substance and drug abuse, and/or human trafficking. Many were born into generational trauma through no fault of their own. So many families I work with do not have transportation, internet or even a stable home.
Without health care access for my clients, we would be failing our children and only perpetuating childhood trauma. What we know is that generational trauma is complex, but we also know that it can be broken. But only if families have access to quality health care.
I ask our Vermont state government and the GMGreen Mountain Care Board to think about what Vermont’s values are. For me, it is to live and raise my family in the Northeast Kingdom all while giving back to our community. With quality healthcare and NCH, it is possible for me to raise my family in Derby, and to help others live here too.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Emily Jankowski: North Country Hospital allows my family to live where we do.