What began as a one room clinic at a church in Tomball, and was once declared the "best keep secret in town," has now grown to become the leading healthcare provider for the underprivileged in the Tomball, Magnolia and Waller communities.

In November, the TOMAGWA Clinic moved to its new location at 455 School St., suite 30, a new two-story building that provides its staff, volunteers and directors a facility they have long dreamed of.

"This building is beautiful, we love being here," Executive Director Judy Deyo said. "But what we do here is what's important."

Last year, TOMAGWA attended to more than 8,700 family member visits, providing low cost health care to those who would otherwise not be able to afford it from a small clinic on Medical Complex Drive. For years, TOMAGWA's Board of Directors has thought bigger and a little over a year ago made the decision to purchase the facility on School Street. TOMAGWA volunteers and administrators undertook an aggressive fundraising campaign and in a little over a year were able to move in.

Now, patient care rooms have more than doubled, from three to seven. Dental offices will soon be available and the clinic now features an eye exam room, a fully-functioning pharmacy, a sanctuary, offices for its staff and a meeting room with kitchen.

"We see God at work here everyday," Susan Blanchard said. "We treat the whole person, not just their illnesses."

Perhaps the facility's most significant contribution came from one of it's most ardent volunteers and supporters, Paula Whitaker.

Three years ago, on Jan. 29, 2007, Whitaker lost her only son, Ryan. Ryan had told his mother that he wanted to enroll in Lone Star College-Tomball to study to become a nurse. His plan, as he told Whitaker, was simply to help people.

In part to preserve his memory and to continue her son's goal of "helping hurting people and those in need," Whitaker made a "significant" donation to TOMGWA so that the new facility would be named the "Ryan Paul Whitaker Memorial Center."

Whitaker wanted to leave a legacy for Ryan and to honor the mission he looked to undertake.

"Everyone leaves a legacy in their life by the goals and the things they do," she said. "Nothing we do in our life is as important or as lasting as the things we do for God. Ryan has a ‘Life With A Legacy’ and as his mother, I will continue to work toward Ryan’s goal and leave a legacy of helping people and promoting the love of Jesus in helping others in many other ways."

Whitaker's donation, and countless others TOMAGWA has received, has helped the clinic reach nearly $3 million of its $6 million goal as part of its current capital campaign.

More than 40 percent of its funding in 2008 came from in-kind donations and volunteer hours. The need for the services TOMAGWA provides is growing significantly. In 2008, TOMAGWA saw 3,637 patients. That number nearly doubled to 6,766 in 2009. The clinic saw a 272 percent increase in new patients in 2009, as well. TOMAGWA receives no federal funding and relies on the more than 30 doctors who volunteer their time to see its patients.

TOMAGWA administrators expect their new facility to more easily better serve the patients they see. Among the services TOMAGWA can now provides includes a cardio room that will allow for screening and diagnostic testing. Procedures such as echocardiograms and stress tests can be performed in the office.

The clinic will now provide counseling and community education classes.

"We really were the best kept secret in the area," Deyo said. "Unfortunately, we didn't want to be."

Now, with an impressive new facility and the ability to provide services they once only dreamed of, TOMAGWA's anonymity will soon be short lived.

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