Maurine’s story

Two years ago, Maurine was experiencing pain in her chest along with difficulty breathing. In her words, “I was having a really rough go of things.” When the pain worsened, she wondered if she were having a heart attack.

Although she had been told years ago that she had a heart condition, an echocardiogram performed in 2009 had shown normal results. Maurine has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high blood pressure, so her symptoms also raised the question of an inflamed esophagus or other gastrointestinal disorder.

Following visits to the Virginia Garcia Medical Center and the Essential Health Clinic as well as a trip to the emergency room, Maurine was ultimately referred to Project Access NOW and began a series of gastrointestinal and cardiologic tests to evaluate her symptoms. A repeat echocardiogram in February 2011 revealed a mitral valve prolapse.

Throughout all of this, Maurine had been working two jobs, but the pain became so debilitating, she ended up having to quit both. “I could feel myself deteriorating day by day,” she said. Surgery to repair the mitral valve prolapse was scheduled for Friday the 13th, which Maurine actually considers her lucky day.

She is so grateful to her surgeon, Dr. Andrew Tsen, of the Oregon Clinic, as well as to the Project Access NOW staff and the many volunteer providers she saw during the past two years.

“Project Access NOW was absolutely marvelous, with quick follow through. Jasmine (Graham) has been a darling. She is always so helpful whenever I call.” At a time when she felt she had run out of options, Maurine says she believes “Project Access NOW saved my life. I would not be here if not for them.”

(December 2011)