A storyteller sits in a living room with a dining table and framed photo of his late wife in the background. He is wearing a grey shirt.
Channeling Grief Into Power: Terry’s Story
After being hit with high medical bills and unfair collection practices during his late wife’s and his own cancer battles, Terry is leaning into his power to advance a national movement to end medical debt.  

Channeling Grief Into Power

Terry Belk was by his wife’s side during her breast cancer battle. While he should have been able to devote his time and energy to caregiving and enjoying his last moments with her, he was instead on the phone with aggressive debt collectors due to the medical bills the couple garnered while she fought cancer. 

After Terry’s wife succumbed to her illness, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer himself – now faced with another round of medical bills, he does not have the money to pay. 

Terry uses his experience to help others, raise awareness about the harms of medical debt and aggressive collection practices, and push to make change. In honor of his wife, he wants to propel forward a national movement to end medical debt. 

Terry shared his story with Community Catalyst and the NC Justice Center to highlight the devastating impact of medical debt. Shortly after his story was featured on NBC News and in local media, Atrium Health announced it would forgive the debt and remove liens on over 11,500 homes, while also revamping their financial assistance policies. 

This is a significant progress for Terry and others in North Carolina whose lives have been disrupted by medical debt and corporate greed. It also highlights the power our stories can have to end medical debt and build positive changes within the health system.