“I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in right now if I hadn’t been graced with the program. I’m blessed and glad to have had the help.”

James has called Mendocino County home since he was nine years old, when he first entered the foster care system. He has spent his career in the trades, doing everything from operating heavy equipment to construction, and now training to become a truck driver. Outside of work, James is a grandfather. He has a 28-year-old daughter and two granddaughters, and being present in their lives is one of his greatest joys.

Despite his years of work, James has navigated most of his life without health insurance. In 2018, he began suffering from extreme urinary pain. The pain eventually became so unbearable that James, in desperation, stopped drinking water and coffee altogether, choosing dehydration over the pain of having to use the restroom. He spent the next few years seeking help at clinics, but without access to specialists, he was stuck in a cycle of trying antibiotics that never solved the underlying issue.

When he connected with primary care provider Nicoya Pucci, CNM at Planned Parenthood, she identified significant urethral scar tissue causing chronic urinary complications. She recognized James needed specialty care and referred him to our program where we matched him with Dr. Joseph Lee at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael.

Dr. Lee first evaluated him and then requested an opinion from Dr. Nadya Cinman, a colleague at Kaiser Permanente Oakland, who found his condition was complex and could require a two-part surgery for a complex urethral stricture.

We matched James a second time with Dr. Yuka Yamaguchi, a urologist at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Dr. Yamaguchi, a world-class expert in the field of urology, explained two surgical possibilities. Her honesty and support helped James choose the best option for him: a perennial urethrostomy.

In July 2025, James had a successful surgery at Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital. James experienced a major improvement in his daily life. He longer fears hydrating himself or having to brace himself for pain. His comfort, hydration, and overall quality of life have improved, and he has been able to return to his routine without discomfort.

James expresses deep gratitude for Operation Access, and Dr. Yamaguchi and her team. He shares that without our program, he would likely still be searching for a solution and struggling to afford the care he needed. “I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in right now if I hadn’t been graced with the program,” he said. “I’m blessed and glad to have had the help.”

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