Sunshine Ketchum continues to have ups and downs as she anticipates her eventual release from Taycheedah Correctional Institution, the state’s most secure prison for women.
One of those downs has been getting consistent medical care.
Ketchum said she had been on the same medication for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis for about 10 years, but the Wisconsin Department of Corrections stopped it in October.
Because of this, Ketchum said, she’s experienced serious flare-ups, including bleeding, pain and an inability to eat.
She said her medical provider made several requests to a medical manager to reinstate the medication, but all were denied until recently. As of mid-April, she said, the medication was re-prescribed and is helping.
Ketchum credited her provider for consistently advocating on her behalf.
Listen to Ketchum update NNS on her progress.
“Apparently, she requested this medication every time I saw her.”
The Department of Corrections did not respond to requests to explain the medical review process it uses to approve or deny long-term medication for chronic illnesses like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Another down for Ketchum has been the deaths of two women with whom she was incarcerated and had grown close.
Ups despite the downs
Despite these downs, one up – a serious one – has been her ability to remain sober, something that she said will help set her up for success once she is released.
Her release timeline is not perfectly clear, though.
She’s hopeful she’ll qualify for an early-release program offered by the Department of Corrections, which could reduce her time in custody.
She was recently reclassified as “minimum,” which means she can be transferred from Taycheedah to a less restrictive facility. She also expects to begin working with a social worker once there to plan her reentry.
Ketchum attributes her sobriety-related up to her 16-year-old daughter, who lives in Racine with family.
“Since I’ve been back in her life, I talk to her almost every day. We have a really good bond,” Ketchum said. “She tells me everything.”
In case you missed it
Listen to the most recent entry in the “diary” of Ketchum, a series following her as she moves toward release from incarceration.
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