[charming folk music plays]
I’m William Wisniewski.
WILLIAM:
My wife was having teeth issues.
And when we called DentaQuest,
we got a hold of Kerri.
My name is Kerri Cook,
and I am a case manager with DentaQuest.
KERRI:
Came from a dental public health
background.
I came into this job
because I knew that it would allow me
to use my dental knowledge,
to assist other people
to be able to access dental care
... as well as to help them
gain a better understanding
of the importance of oral health
to good overall health.
WILLIAM:
When Kerri got involved,
my wife came down sick.
KERRI:
She asked me
if I would be able to help her husband.
I said, well, is he Medicaid?
And she says, Yes!
I worked their case management
case as a single case.
[Kerri]
I worked them together.
WILLIAM:
My wife came down as terminal
KERRI:
She passed away in December of 2022.
I knew that without support,
Mr. Wisniewski would be in trouble
based on his health history.
WILLIAM:
And I have heart issues
and I had a heart attack.
KERRI:
The last thing that he would
want to be bothered with
is to pick up the phone to call
and make an appointment.
WILLIAM:
That was the furthest thing from
my mind, is to get the teeth pulled.
KERRI:
He's in mourning.
He's experiencing grief.
WILLIAM:
She wanted me to
keep on going.
I was still going to live and move on.
KERRI:
Right after she passed away
about once a week,
I would pick up the phone and call him.
Is there anything you need?
Have you seen the doctor?
Okay, what's next?
At this point
it was just a matter
of not letting go of him.
WILLIAM:
She was going to stick with me
no matter what
to complete what we started.
[sound: wind and chime]
WILLIAM CONTINUED:
I don't know what to say, but
she's a fantastic woman
and you need more like her.
DIRECTOR, OFFSCREEN:
Excited?
KERRI:
Yes. I’m excited.
He's the first plan member
that I've ever had a chance to meet.
KERRI, OFFSCREEN:
Hey, Mr. Wisniewski!
DIRECTOR, OFFSCREEN:
We got a surprise for you.
KERRI:
It's Kerri from DentaQuest.
WILLIAM:
She’s done so much for us, she didn't have to.
I mean, it was just a job.
I got off the phone with you sometimes,
and I said,
I'm glad I have her.
None of this would have happened.
I mean, I hope she's like this
with everyone--
--I know she's like this
with every one of her clients.
It brought me right out of it.
It really did.
KERRI:
Remember I would say to you...
Am I pestering you?
BOTH LAUGH:
Never.
WILLIAM:
She told me - Never give up.
And I didn’t.
And I'm doing good now.
KERRI:
We shifted your focus, didn’t we?
WILLIAM:
- Yes, you did.
This has impacted my whole life to where
I have a new beginning.
And it all started with a
with a woman who helped
me get my teeth fixed.
[inspiring country music plays]
[graphics]