A Mother and Son’s Shared Path to Better Health

By: Amanda Barrett
Since settling in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, Denise Owens has spent the last 33 years receiving care through One Brooklyn Health Interfaith Medical Center and now its care, Bishop Orris G. Walker, Jr. Health Care Center. A trusted, neighborhood-based multispecialty facility, Bishop Walker partners with culturally diverse communities to provide high-quality, patient-centered care that meets the needs of both individuals and families.
She receives primary care, eye care, hematology, physical therapy, and social work services—
and has never looked back.

“I really have no complaints,” Denise says. “They really look out for you.”
Now living in Red Hook, Brooklyn with her son, Diallo Owens, who also serves as her health aide, Denise continues to receive care at Bishop Walker. Despite the relocation, she remains committed to Bishop Walker because of the staff, the personalized care, and the long-standing relationships she has built there that keep her rooted.
“They are very concerned,” she says. “They go out of the way. They put your best interest in it. They are very attentive and encouraging.”

Bishop Walker Health Care Center is more than a collection of services. As part of the Patient- Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, the care center offers coordinated, comprehensive care that addresses the whole person. It is a place where trust is built, and where the team, made up of caring, culturally competent professionals, works closely with patients and their families to navigate care with dignity and respect.

For years, Diallo focused on managing his mom’s care. But during that time, he struggled with his own health. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with full-blown diabetes and high cholesterol at another hospital and was placed on insulin. Despite treatment, he continued to face serious challenges managing his condition.

“My sugar used to drop below 20,” he recalls. “Even on insulin, it wasn’t getting any better.”
One day, while pushing his mom in her wheelchair on the street, Diallo became so disoriented that Denise began yelling, “You’re pushing me into the bus!” He hadn’t realized how far his condition had deteriorated.
Soon after, Diallo was hospitalized. That experience, along with constant encouragement from the Bishop Walker team, motivated him to finally bring his medical records to Bishop Walker and seek care.
When he arrived, the welcome was heartfelt.

“I didn’t expect red-carpet treatment when I got there,” he says. “But the staff said, ‘Finally, you showed up.’ Then they told me, ‘We really appreciate your mom as our patient, and now we’ve got you too.’ That felt good to hear.
Diallo began seeing Dr. Ma Lwin Moe, his mother’s primary care provider. With coordinated support and a personalized plan, Diallo was taken off insulin and placed on a new treatment that stabilized his blood sugar and improved his overall health within a few weeks of becoming a new patient.
“Everything is good to go now,” he says. “Everybody’s working together on one accord.”
Bishop Walker makes it easy to manage their different health needs. Diallo specifically said, “Everything is basically getting done at Bishop Walker now for the both of us.” He described it as a “one-stop shop” that makes managing their healthcare convenient and supportive.
Bishop Walker’s approach of knowing and caring for both him and his mother makes him feel comfortable and appreciated.

Both Denise and Diallo now receive medical care at Bishop Walker, and they attend physical therapy together three times a week. For them, it is more than a routine—it is shared healing.
“We joke that it’s our little workout date,” Denise says. “But really, we’re getting stronger together.”
And even beyond appointments, the staff show up with genuine care.
” You know, they’re more involved, even spiritually wise…” Denise says. “And to tell you the
truth, even if you don’t have an appointment, and they see you, they still talk to you— ‘How are you doing? What’s happening?”

When asked if she would recommend Bishop Walker, Denise doesn’t hesitate.
“I would,” she says. “They’re kind, they care, and they treat you like family, that’s why I keep going.”
For the Owens family, Bishop Walker Health Care Center is more than a healthcare provider. It is a home for healing, a trusted partner in their well-being, and a community that continues to walk alongside them every step of the way. To schedule an appointment at Bishop Walker call us at 718-613-6800 or visit onebrooklynhealth.org for more information.

About One Brooklyn Health
One Brooklyn Health (OBH)—comprising Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Interfaith Medical Center, and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center—is nationally recognized for high-quality care in heart failure, stroke, and diabetes, among other acute care.
The system includes 12 ambulatory care centers, two nursing homes, an assisted and independent living facility, a transitional housing program, an urgent care center, and a retail pharmacy.
OBH’s mission is to expand access to quality medical care for Brooklyn’s most vulnerable communities and beyond. For more information, please visit their website for more information, please visit their website at www.onebrooklynhealth.org.