Larry’s story
In early 2009, Larry noticed a sore spot on his tongue. Thinking his denture had caused it, he gave it little further thought. But when the sore grew and the dentist said it wasn’t the denture, Larry got worried. With good reason: he said, “the biopsy came back positive for cancer.”
Having no health insurance or the thousands of dollars to pay for the necessary care, Larry’s dentist, Dr. Anderson referred him to Project Access Clark County. Soon, Larry got approved for further tests and eventually a surgery with Dr. Mitchell.
Losing a quarter of one’s tongue meant Larry found it difficult to talk for a while. “I was babbling a lot,” he said. “But doctors said the tongue will figure it out. We’re still working on it.”
At the end of his 6-month enrollment in Project Access, circulation in Larry’s legs got worse. He’d had stents put in them, and it seemed they were no longer working properly. Care Coordinator Julia Ross helped him get renewed for another 6 months.
Dr. Matthew Foley, vascular surgeon at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, determined Larry needed new arteries.
“I have brand new arteries in each leg,” Larry said. “I used to be able to only walk for a block and then have to sit for 15 minutes. Now I can walk as far as I need to walk, and do what I need to do. It’s amazing to walk.”
Since his surgeries, Larry changed his habits. “I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes for 47 years. I used to eat fast food and greasy bacon that I just love. I will never smoke again. It’s not worth getting cancer over. I eat extremely healthy today. There’s no fat in my diet. I’m grateful to the doctors, it would be unfair to go back to them with the same problems.”
Larry felt overwhelmed. He said, “I’m so very grateful to Project Access, all the volunteers, doctors, hospitals for donating the care. I wish there was something I could do to show my gratitude for the lifesaving surgeries and all the work everyone did. It’s a big deal. Simply amazing.”
(February 2010)
