One man has a hernia the size of a basketball. Another must wear a colostomy bag because he can’t afford surgery to repair his colon. Other people suffer from bad knees, inflamed gallbladders and tumors, among other things.

In all, safety-net health care providers have identified 65 people who need operations and can’t afford them.

Now a Colorado Springs woman known for helping the poor with health care is looking for surgeons who can help.

Marcella Ruch, who founded Mission Medical Clinic and earlier this year helped organize a free pharmacy, is coordinating an effort to provide free surgeries within the next month. The idea was inspired by a free-surgery day held last year in Pueblo.

So far, Memorial Health System, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, Audubon Surgery Center and Surgical Center at Premier have agreed to donate their operating rooms and related staff and equipment. Two anesthesiologists have volunteered.

Academy Women’s Healthcare Associates and Mountain View Medical Group have offered to help a combined 19 women who need hysterectomies. The Wright Eye Center is providing two cataract surgeries.

But hysterectomies and cataracts are just two ailments in a list that runs the gamut, and Ruch could use more experts — orthopedic surgeons, gastroenterologists, and others.

Colorado law protects doctors from being sued for malpractice when volunteering their services, she said.

Although the surgeries are considered elective, that doesn’t mean they aren’t medically necessary. Ruch said the suffering is immense, and in many cases keeps people from holding jobs.

“A major (gallbladder) attack will put someone on the floor writhing,” she said, noting that two of the patients need theirs removed.

One woman in need of a hysterectomy has bled so profusely she’s required transfusions. Some of the conditions that could be fixed for good with surgery are chronic if left untreated, which could lead to repeat emergency room visits or emergency surgeries later.

Ruch is confident she’ll find the doctors she needs, because Colorado Springs has a strong track record when it comes to helping hands. She pointed to the recent charitable effort by local medical workers to operate on Rafiki, a gorilla at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo suffering from a bone infection.

“I’m hoping when people realize there are so many people (in need), their hearts will be moved to help.”

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Call Newsome at 636-0198. Visit the Pikes Peak Health blog at www.pikespeakhealth.freedomblogging.com and the Gazette’s Health page at Gazette.com/health

Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter eluded the grasp of Raiders safety Rashad Baker (32) during Denver’s win at Oakland on Sept. 27. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE