Selena
For years, Selena quietly endured a condition that disrupted her daily life, leaving her feeling embarrassed and self-conscious. Due to her condition, laughing, sneezing, and even leaving home were a challenge. Seeking a solution, she turned to her primary care provider at Marin Community Clinics where she saw Dr. Bennett, a urologist at MarinHealth Urology, who also volunteers with our program.
To learn how Selena found relief and renewed confidence thanks to the help of our volunteers, read more.
Martin
Martin always puts his family first. As a hardworking mechanic and caring father, he pushed through years of worsening pain in his hands, determined to keep providing for his wife and daughter. But when the pain became unbearable, making even the simplest tasks hard, he faced an impossible choice—seek care he couldn’t afford that would put his family under financial stress.
Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Ario Barzin and his team, Martin didn’t have to choose.
Andrew
Years of construction work took a toll on Andrew’s shoulders, leaving him in constant pain. As his condition worsened, he was forced to stop working, putting financial strain on his family. Without insurance and unable to afford the high cost of care, he had no clear path forward.
His wife, already receiving treatment from Dr. Paul Hughes after an accident, shared her concerns about Andrew’s pain during an appointment. Dr. Hughes evaluated Andrew himself and suspected a torn rotator cuff, which required an MRI to confirm. As a dedicated volunteer with our program, Dr. Hughes referred Andrew for a donated MRI, and when the results confirmed the need for surgery, he stepped in to provide it at no cost.
Maria Luisa
“I had this miracle happen to me: this program supported me and had the patience to match me with a second specialist who could help me. I worry what would happen to my boys if something were to happen to me.”
Irais
Irais’s journey to motherhood seemed impossible when she was diagnosed with a condition that threatened her dreams. Despite unbearable pain and a grim prognosis, Irais did not give up. She sought a second opinion and found hope. Thanks to the donated care of Dr. Emma Jamison, Irais’s dream of becoming a mother finally came true when she gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
Liliana
Liliana spent years battling chronic ear infections that left her in constant pain and struggling to hear. Her condition forced her to quit her job in the vineyards, where the dust made things worse. With no insurance and worsening hearing loss, Liliana felt hopeless—until she was connected with our program. Thanks to Dr. Alexander Battaglia at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, Liliana underwent a successful tympanoplasty, which restored her hearing and eliminated the infections. Liliana’s back to living pain-free, grateful for the care that changed her life.
Yovany
Health challenges have followed Yovany since childhood. At just eight years old, he needed a GI procedure. At that young age, he didn’t fully understand the details but sensed his health problems could return one day. That early warning turned into real concern as an adult when he began suffering from severe stomach pain and bleeding, which left him struggling to keep up at work and at home with his five daughters. During this time, he was also demoted and had trouble supporting his daughter, who was facing bullying at school. This all took a greater toll on his health and led to depression. Uninsured and unable to afford the care he needed, Yovany’s doctor at Marin Community Clinics referred him to our program.
Rosa
“I am so lucky that I was connected with him. I hope everyone has the fortune I had to find a doctor like Dr. Wagner. It is amazing that programs like Operation Access exist to help people; I am speechless. I don't know what so many of us would do without you and all your volunteers. I would still be in the same situation had I not been accepted into your program. Thank you!”
