Natalie Benardi is a patient who came to the ER with a respiratory infection.
History[]
Natalie came to the ER due to a cough. Mika examined her and found wheezing in her left lung. Mika wanted to get an X-ray to rule out pneumonia but Natalie told her she couldn't afford it. After her husband had died, she found a job at a local bookstore that paid low wages, so she could barely afford antibiotics. Relating to her financial troubles, Mika promised she'd get her the antibiotics but asked her to wait.
Mika returned as a nurse had just given Natalie her antibiotics and an inhaler. Mika asked her to stay for the X-ray and nebulizer treatment, which could all happen pro bono as long as they filled out the necessary forms. Natalie wanted to leave anyway since her shift was about to start. Mika said she got it but Natalie replied a doctor with a cushy salary couldn't possibly understand it. Mika opened up about her own serious financial troubles and said that if she thought she had pneumonia, which could lead to sepsis and missing out on weeks' worth of work or even death, she would get the X-ray. She would then pay the bare minimum of the bill and if it went to the collection agencies, she would again pay the bare minimum. It might lead to a huge, long pain in the ass of paying it off but at least she would be alive to do so. Natalie was then convinced to agree to the X-ray.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Natalie was married. After her husband died, Natalie was required to get a job.
Career[]
Natalie works in a bookstore. She earns a low wage and has no benefits but the owner of the store is kind.
Notes and Trivia[]
- She was 60 at the time of her ER visit.