LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Helping Hands Surgical Care will provide free surgeries this coming week to an uninsured 27-year-old man who is unable to work full time due to chronic pain from a hernia condition, and an uninsured 54-year-old maintenance worker.
The surgery will be performed by Dr. Petersen at Medical District Surgery Center.
Dr. Petersen waives his fee, and HHSC covers all of the other costs associated with surgery.
HHSC currently has more than 150 applications from uninsured Nevadans who do not qualify for government assistance and do not have the means to pay for surgery.
A medical advisory board screens the applications to select patients to receive no cost surgeries.
HHSC's mission is to fund and facilitate surgeries for uninsured and underinsured Nevadans to restore their health, help them return to work and regain hope.
The patients chosen this year are Jose Torres-Arreola. The 27-year-old will receive surgery Friday, June 22 at 2 p.m. He is only able to work one or two days a week due to chronic pain. He is eager to get his hernia repaired to he can start his life.
Augustin Cervantes will also receive surgery. The 54-year-old has been unable to work a full-time job for many years because of his condition. His surgery is scheduled for June 25 at 2 p.m.
These are the 17th and 18th free surgeries performed by HHSC since its inaugural Charity Surgery Day on Nov. 10, 2011, when 10 medically necessary surgeries were provided at no cost to qualifying patients.
A total of 10 free surgeries are planned throughout the summer.
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