“Dr. Barzin treated me like family and really cares about my well-being.”

Martin has always provided for his family. As a mechanic, he worked tirelessly to support his wife and daughter, making sure their needs were met. His daughter, who lives with disabilities, relies on him in many ways, and he takes pride in doing everything he can to care for his family.

Several years ago, he began experiencing pain in his hands. Over the past two years, the pain worsened and became unbearable, making tasks like gripping tools and lifting objects increasingly difficult.

At first, Martin was determined to keep working. His wife tried to ease his pain, massaging his hands every night after long days in the shop. But no matter how much he tried to manage it on his own, the pain only worsened. Hoping for relief from the unrelenting pain, he sought help at Order of Malta clinic, where he learned he needed specialized care. Care seemed to be out of reach, however, because he was uninsured. Martin faced a difficult reality: he earned too much to qualify for Medi-Cal but not enough to afford private health insurance.

Thankfully, his PCP at the Order of Malta clinic referred him to our program and he qualified. We connected Martin with Dr. Ario Barzin, a plastic & reconstructive surgeon at Sutter’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation, who diagnosed him with carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand.  Dr. Barzin also assured Martin that he would help him with the pain in his left hand once he fully recovered from the first surgery. At Fremont Surgery Center, Dr. Barzin and his team donated their time and expertise to provide Martin with the carpal tunnel release surgery he needed to relieve pain and restore function to his right hand. The surgery was successful and Martin fully recovered. “Dr. Barzin treated me like family,” said Martin, “and really cares about my well-being.” 

Now that he has regained full use of his right hand, Martin can care for his daughter more easily, despite still coping with recurring pain in his left hand. Tasks that once felt impossible, like lifting his daughter or carrying groceries, are now more manageable. Martin is optimistic that treatment for his other hand will further restore his strength and independence. He will soon see Dr. Barzin to evaluate his left hand and determine the best course of action for relieving his pain. Martin is grateful for the care he has received and looks forward to taking the next steps toward full recovery.  

Story and photo shared with patient’s permission. Patient’s name has been changed.