“As I continue to see Dr. Hughes, his team, and my physical therapists, I feel I am making great progress [in my recovery] and everyone is rooting for my success.”

Andrew, a 39-year-old immigrant from Guatemala, has called Alameda County home for over a decade building a better life with his wife and one child, while his older child remains in Guatemala. 

For years, Andrew worked long hours in construction, enduring the physically demanding tasks of lifting heavy materials day after day. Over time, persistent shoulder pain set in, gradually worsening until it spread to both sides. The pain became unbearable, making it difficult to move and lift heavy objects. The unrelenting pain ultimately forced him to stop working. This change placed enormous financial strain on his family. 

His wife grew increasingly worried as she watched him struggle with daily pain, unable to find relief. She traveled with Andrew to Hughes Orthopedics, where she was receiving care from Dr. Paul Hughes following an accident. At her appointment, she shared with Dr. Hughes her concerns about Andrew’s shoulder pain. Dr. Hughes suspected a torn rotator cuff, a serious and debilitating problem, and recommended an MRI. However, with no access to Medi-Cal, unable to afford private insurance or the out-of-pocket cost of the imaging on his own, Andrew had no clear path forward. 

As a dedicated volunteer with our program, Dr. Hughes knew he had another way to help. He referred Andrew to our program with the goal of getting Andrew an MRI. After that, if Andrew needed surgery, Dr. Hughes planned to take his case so he could personally donate surgical care. 

Andrew qualified for our program and received a donated MRI at Mills Peninsula Burlingame Medical Center, which confirmed multiple issues in his right shoulder.

Soon after, Dr. Hughes and his team performed a series of procedures—shoulder arthroscopy, sub acromial decompression, distal clavicle excision, debridement, synovectomy, open bicep tenodesis, and rotator cuff repair. These interventions during the surgery aimed to repair torn tendons, treat joint damage, and restore Andrew’s mobility.

A few weeks after surgery Andrew began physical therapy at Mills Peninsula to regain strength and mobility in his shoulder. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “Thank you to Operation Access and everyone involved in my care. I have significantly improved thanks to your support.” He expressed gratitude for the kindness and respect he received throughout the process. “As I continue to see Dr. Hughes, his team, and my physical therapists, I feel I am making great progress [in my recovery] and everyone is rooting for my success.” 

Andrew’s treatment is not complete. Dr. Hughes will soon evaluate his left shoulder to determine the next steps. But Andrew is optimistic about the future because of the excellent care he received from Dr. Hughes and the team at Mills Peninsula. There is still a long road ahead, but Andrew knows he is closer to living a pain-free life and providing for his family once again. 

Story and photo shared with patient’s permission.