In Loving Memory of Sam Calvin, Former One Community Health Patient

“My chemo doctor says I have a short life span, so enjoy life to the fullest. And I am!”  — Sam Calvin

Despite a diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer some years ago, retired businessman Sam Calvin was living life to the fullest. At the time that he wrote this testimonial, he was in the midst of writing his tenth book on fishing, a fish cookbook, and was hoping to soon travel to Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii, “if I make it that long.” Most importantly, he enjoyed spending time with his partner and childhood sweetheart, Helen, with whom he reconnected at his 50th class reunion.

Raised in The Dalles, Oregon, Sam spent most of his adulthood living elsewhere, as family and work responsibilities took him all over the country. After moving back to The Dalles to be near Helen, Sam began looking for a medical practice in the Gorge he could feel comfortable with and soon found his medical home in One Community Health’s The Dalles clinic. Unlike many of our patients, Sam has private health insurance and likely could have seen a doctor at just about any of the medical practices in the area. However, he chose One Community Health thanks to the professional, personalized medical care he receives there, noting in particular that his physician "has been there for me. One of the beautiful parts about him is that he calls me in the evening to see if his recommendations are helping me feel better.”

Sam is also impressed with the fact that our staff in general are “very open and friendly, which makes it easy to do business with them.” During Christmas, Sam particularly enjoyed providing candy canes to the front desk staff, as a way to thank them for their support and help.

Sam would like the wider Gorge community to know that despite One Community Health's former Spanish name, La Clínica del Cariño, “you don’t have to speak Spanish to go there,” and that he is very satisfied with the care he receives: “I am really happy with One Community Health, and I’ll continue to use them…as long as I last, anyway!”