02/06/2026
Happy Friday! Today we are featuring a patients before and after Project Access!🌟
The mass had been growing for nearly three years. William didn’t know how much larger it would become, but as it grew, it began pressing on his throat and limiting his ability to turn his head to the right—making it difficult to check his blind spot while driving. Sleep was difficult, as the mass made it uncomfortable to rest and added to his daily fatigue. The visible size of the mass also caused emotional distress, drawing unwanted stares whenever he was out in public.
At 46 years old, William cares for his 81-year-old mother. During one of his mother’s primary care appointments, her physician—who had cared for William long before the mass began to grow—noticed the change and asked if she could help. William explained that he didn’t have insurance and wasn’t sure how he would ever receive the care he needed.
The physician told him about Project Access and referred him to the program. Through Project Access, William was connected with an ENT surgeon who donated the surgery. The mass was successfully removed and determined to be non-cancerous, and William was given a clean bill of health.
As seen in the after photo, William now carries a sense of peace, knowing that everything is going to be okay. He is deeply grateful to the doctors who gave him his life back, as well as the Project Access staff and program for providing him the opportunity to heal and move forward. He said, “I am happy to share my story and do what I can to bring needed attention to the program in hopes of helping others.” William is looking forward to when his driver’s license expires, and a new photo is taken but the photo does remind him of what he went through to get where he is today!
