Meet Yvette Hicks “the Vegetable Queen” and one of Community of Hope’s first patients to take advantage of our new Fruit and Vegetable Prescription program.
The program provides fresh produce to Community of Hope patients on the Care Team with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They can pick-up their fresh fruits and veggies every Tuesday at the Arcadia Mobile Market, right next door to the Conway Health and Resource Center.
“This program will help me eat healthier and maintain my progress, and help my family eat healthy too,” Hicks said.
This veggie enthusiast is a Ward 8 great-grandmother who has been a patient at Community of Hope since 2014. Following recommendations of our providers, she has reduced the number of pills she takes from eight to three. She has lost 100 pounds and her blood pressure is well and diabetes “excellent and under control.”
“I love vegetables! My favorites are collard greens and green beans,” she exclaims.
Ms. Hicks did not always put her health first, but after receiving a wake-up call three years ago that sent her to the hospital because her blood pressure was at life-threatening levels, it was time to get serious about her health.
“The doctors told me they didn’t think I was going to make it through the night,” Ms. Hicks recalled. “I had to get healthy for my family, especially my great-granddaughter, who I have custody of.”
At Community of Hope, our providers continue to work with Ms. Hicks to help her manage her chronic diseases. They answer all her questions and make recommendations that Ms. Hicks gladly follows.
“Even small changes like that made a difference in my every day – made it easier to stay on top of my health and not forget,” she said.
One recommendation was to incorporate more healthy foods into her diet. “But I already knew that,” chimed Ms. Hicks, “I am the Vegetable Queen!”
Ms. Hicks shares stories about how she only fed her son and his friends vegetables when they came to the family’s home. “No cookies at our house,” she said shaking her head.
One sunny day in June, Ms. Hicks used her prescription voucher for the first time, with seven-year-old great-granddaughter Madison in hand, at the Arcadia Mobile Market. Holding up a ball of cabbage and smiling, Ms. Hicks said, “Can’t wait to cook this tonight!”
