by Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magazine — Your News, Your Voice
What started as routine visits to a no-cost health clinic turned into unexpected discoveries — and, for one local veteran, a moment that meant the world.
Mark, a former Ohio National Guard member, wasn’t feeling quite right last weekend. He’d been nauseous and throwing up but figured it might pass. On Saturday, he stopped by the GuardCare event at the Trillium Event Center just to get his temperature checked. It came back perfect, so he shrugged it off and went home.
By Sunday, the symptoms were still there. This time, Mark decided he’d get some blood work done. He brought along a new coffee mug printed with the flag of the 73rd Battalion, a unit he’d once served in and still remembered fondly. He’d saved the mug for years, planning to give it as a lighthearted “reward” to whichever medical worker ended up drawing his blood.
Before the blood work began, nurses checked his vitals. His blood pressure was dangerously high — 220 — well into the range of a hypertensive crisis. Within a couple of minutes, a doctor appeared to confirm the reading, surprising him with how fast the response was. Arrangements were quickly made to send him to the ER for further evaluation.
As he was preparing to leave, Mark glanced back and saw around 20 members of the Ohio National Guard gathered together in prayer for him. For a man who once wore the uniform, it wasn’t just a kind gesture — it was a powerful reminder of the bond between those who serve and those who continue to serve. “It meant a lot,” he said.
Mark wasn’t the only one who left GuardCare with a new understanding of his health. Robert, who attended Saturday afternoon, moved through the stations like many others — labs first, then immunizations. Because it had been over a decade since his last tetanus shot, he got one. Across the hall, an EKG was being offered. He felt fine, but figured it couldn’t hurt to get checked. That’s when things took a turn: the screening showed he was in atrial fibrillation, a condition that can lead to serious complications without warning.
EMS was called immediately, but Robert had ridden his motorcycle to the event and didn’t want to leave it behind. He arranged for a friend to take him to the ER after returning home to secure the bike. At the hospital, tests confirmed both atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. After hours of evaluation, he was discharged with medication and a cardiology follow-up scheduled for this week. “The GuardCare event could have easily prevented a stroke or a heart attack for me,” he said.
About GuardCare
GuardCare is an annual partnership between the Ohio National Guard, the Ohio Department of Health, and local agencies to provide free healthcare services to any Ohio resident — no insurance or income requirements. This year’s Bucyrus event offered everything from medical exams and dental care to vision screenings, immunizations, mammograms, and mental health resources. Attendees could also get blood work, car seat fittings, bicycle helmets, and connections to local and state support programs.
Groups like the Vision Problems Support Group were also on hand, giving away free reading glasses and sunglasses, sharing information on assistive devices for people with vision loss, and distributing pamphlets about tracking devices for individuals who may wander due to conditions like autism, Down syndrome, or Alzheimer’s.
Over the two-day weekend, 462 people were served at the Trillium Event Center, with an estimated $76,258 worth of no-cost healthcare provided to the community. The clinic also serves as a training exercise for Guard medical personnel, giving them hands-on experience while helping fill healthcare gaps locally.
Lasting Impressions
For some, the event brought peace of mind. For others, it uncovered serious conditions they didn’t know they had. And for at least two attendees this year, it may well have prevented life-threatening emergencies.
Names have been changed to protect sensitive medical information.
