This past month team members dedicated every weekend to sorting, organizing, and packing our cargo to meet the shipping date for our upcoming mission to the Philippines. These volunteers came out every weekend to make sure all bases were covered and we met our deadline. 

Many thanks to Dr. John and Shelly Kumar, Mary Ellen Sieben, Stacy Kelso, Theresa Murphy, Ana Vasquez, and Rudy Costales for leading the charge!

Westside Neighborhood School seventh-grade students, Madison Yamaguchi, Ethan Chang, Haley Ahir, and Alex Melendez, also chipped in to help us pack and learn more about our organization. While working at the warehouse they interviewed several volunteers for a documentary they are creating as a group for their SPLASH project that will help increase awareness for Operation Walk Los Angeles. These amazing students also donated 3 large boxes of toiletries collected through a collection drive at their school. They will assemble toiletry bags for a future upcoming mission with these items. 

Thank you all for your hard work! We couldn’t do it without the TEAM!

Hip and knee replacement surgeries are often thought of as procedures primarily for the elderly, but this perception overlooks the significant number of younger individuals who require them due to conditions such as congenital dysplasia, osteonecrosis, post-traumatic arthritis, and inflammatory diseases. We’re screening several young patients for the upcoming mission who are in need of these surgeries to be free of pain, regain functionality, return to work, and take care of their families. 

Our recent focus in a previous newsletter was on a 41-year-old with hip dysplasia, Mr Jeffrey Busog. He has been enduring the pain since his youth. 

We are now featuring a story about a 33-year-old woman, Ms. Ruby Amar, who has steroid-induced hip osteonecrosis. She reached out to Operation Walk Los Angeles in hopes of being chosen for this life-changing surgery. For Ruby and the other potential candidates, this opportunity represents a miracle, as without our assistance, their mobility and quality of life would remain severely compromised. 

As we draw closer to the Philippines mission, we are excited by the opportunity to transform lives through the true act of giving. 

Lisa Fujimoto Yamaguchi PA

Operation Walk Team Leader

“My name is Ruby Jane Amar, I'm from the Philippines, and I'm 33 years old. I didn’t earn a degree in college, but I studied theology and now my husband and I are pastors. I work as a freelancer to support my husband, who is a teacher. I can't work outside the house for long because I had hip replacement surgery on my left hip in 2017, thanks to a free operation in our area done by doctors from Michigan (OPERATION CARE ABROAD MISSION). We were grateful for the opportunity, even though I could only have one hip operated on.

In 2019, the doctors diagnosed that my right hip needed to be replaced, but since we lacked the financial means for the operation, I ignored it and took extra care to alleviate the pain. I remember my diagnosis was AVN, Avascular Necrosis, which is the death of bone tissue due to the lack of blood supply to the area. I also heard it was Osteonecrosis - bilateral, so I was advised that replacement was necessary eventually.

My AVN started in 2016. That was two years after I recovered from my Optic neuritis. I became blind (2 eyes) so I took a lot of medication, had steroids, and more medications. My liver was safe but my bones were affected.

Now, my husband and I have two kids (1 year old and 4 years old). I ignored my right hip until one day, while carrying my 1-year-old daughter, I felt unbearable pain. The next day, I went for a check-up and found out my femur was in bad shape. I need surgery as soon as possible. I want to have a normal life for my kids because they're so young and they need me. My husband needs me too.

I looked for a solution with God's guidance. I did some research and joined a private Facebook group for THR (total hip replacement) patients. Someone there mentioned the Operation Walk website, so I checked it out and messaged them on social media, hoping someone would reply. I am glad you noticed me and are giving me the opportunity to be part of those dreaming of walking normally.”

Ruby Jane Amar

Potential Patient

Philippines

We are pleased to introduce you to long-time supporters and first-time Operation Walk Los Angeles volunteers, Dr. Laura Doan and her husband Dr. Nate Heckmann. Meeting in medical school, these doctors have a history of volunteering and service to others. Read why being a part of our 2024 mission to the Philippines is important to them both.

We’re very excited to be volunteering for OpWalk Los Angeles’ mission to the Philippines this July. Dr. Lawrence Dorr, the founder of Operation Walk, was one of Nate’s mentors while he completed his orthopedic surgery residency training program at USC-LA County. Nate is honored to uphold Dr. Dorr’s legacy by providing life-changing joint arthroplasty care at no cost to those who cannot otherwise access or afford these services. Prior to this medical mission, Nate volunteered with UC Irvine’s Medical Initiative Against Homelessness student-run organization to provide tutoring and medical assistance to those experiencing homelessness in Orange County.

Volunteerism has been a core component of Laura’s life since high school. Through her involvement with Rotary International, Laura helped raise $45,000 for the Wheelchair Foundation to sponsor the delivery of over 600 wheelchairs to individuals in need and $35,000 for PolioPlus to aid the efforts to eradicate polio globally. She has organized three international humanitarian missions to the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and South Africa with Rotary International, completed a clinical experience in Vietnam with Project Vietnam Foundation, and volunteered on two medical missions to Jamaica with Integrative Clinics International.

“As a family medicine physician, there are numerous opportunities to provide assistance to underserved communities, both locally and abroad,” Laura states. “It’s more challenging to provide surgical services in low-resource countries due to insufficient infrastructure, facilities, equipment, supplies, and trained workforce. To be able to share global health experiences with my husband, who is a surgeon, is a rare opportunity that would not be possible without the exhaustive planning and extraordinary dedication from the OpWalk team leaders.”

Nate and Laura, who met as medical students at UC Irvine, are excited to continue their medical journey together as first-time volunteers with Operation Walk Los Angeles. They’re anticipating the mission to the Philippines will be exhausting, but extremely rewarding, much like parenthood. As parents of an adorable two-year-old daughter, they are no strangers to fatigue, and plan to dedicate all their time and energy during the mission to help individuals remember what it feels like to walk without pain and suffering.

USC Keck Hospital Announces the Humanitarian Nurse of the Year

“Yesterday, my mom, Mary Ellen Sieben RN was awarded the 2024 Nurse Humanitarian Award at Keck Hospital during their annual Nurses Week Awards Ceremony. There is no more deserving individual to be honored for a life of service to others.”

-Jim Sieben

We couldn’t agree more with Jim and are incredibly proud of Mary Ellen. She has helped steer the OpWalk ship since our first mission to Havana, Cuba in 1997. Through the years, not only has she run the OR, surgery schedule, and was key in sterilizing and turning over instruments in Central Processing but has taken care of our inventory, supplies, and implants between missions. She's dedicated her life to making sure patients receive life-changing surgeries at no cost to them.

Join us in congratulating Mary Ellen on this extraordinary achievement. Her drive, focus, work ethic, and heart have helped to make Operation Walk the organization it is today.

Volunteers Making an Impact

We wanted to recognize volunteer, Paulina Andujo, for not only being an ambassador for Operation Walk Los Angeles but also for her involvement with the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses or NAON. 

NAON is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that enhances the lives and careers of orthopaedic nurses. Formed in 1980, NAON was designed to promote the highest standards of nursing practice by educating its practitioners, promoting research and encouraging effective communication between orthopaedic nurses and other groups with similar interests. Membership consists of more than 4,000 RNs, APRNs, LPNs, LVNs, student nurses and affiliate members from across the country and around the world who share an interest in musculoskeletal healthcare.

Paulina serves as Secretary for the Executive Board of this vital organization and participated in their annual National Congress held in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 500 nurses came from across the country to share research and best practices in orthopaedic nursing. Paulina submitted a poster featuring Operation Walk and its mission to restore mobility and won second place in the Health Equity Track division of the competition. Thank you Paulina for representing our organization and spreading the word on how we change lives one surgery at a time.

Our mission to the Philippines would not be possible without support from industry donors. We wanted to take a moment to thank Zimmer Biomet, Stryker Orthopaedics, Next Science, and Mölnlyke for donating vital supplies for our upcoming mission. 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Zimmer Biomet

“On behalf of Operation Walk Los Angeles, we extend our gratitude to Zimmer Biomet for their unwavering support over the many years. Their exceptional efforts during this mission to the Philippines ensured we had the crucial implants needed for our patients.”

Lisa Fujimoto - Team Leader

Zimmer Biomet has demonstrated industry leadership through their corporate giving, benefiting patients who would not otherwise receive orthopedic care, including support for charitable organizations and professional medical education.

We're proud to have Zimmer Biomet as a partner in helping us on our mission to relieve joint diseases and restore mobility both around the world and here at home in the United States. Zimmer-Biomet works with Americares to supply hip and knee implants to the teams of Operation Walk and other organizations that provide joint replacement surgery to those who otherwise could not afford it. All implants donated are equal to those used in our own hospitals and will last our patients for many years.

Thank you again for your long-term support and look forward to many more years of providing mobility.

Visit website

Stryker Orthopaedics

Stryker Orthopaedics provides Power Systems that are crucial in our mission to provide joint replacements. These systems each contain two multipurpose saws and drills along with battery packs that will be used in the OR during our upcoming mission. 

Visit website

Next Science

Next Science generously donated their product, Xperience for our upcoming mission. This solution is used during surgery to help decrease microorganisms and prevent infection.

Visit website

Mölnlyke

We would like to acknowledge Mölnlyke for their generous donation of biogel gloves for the Philippines mission. These all-purpose natural rubber latex surgical gloves are secure, easy to put on in the operating room, and reduce the chance of dermatitis and allergic reaction.

Visit website

In honor of Father’s Day and fathers everywhere, we continue our “All About Family” series by featuring the father and son team, Jonathan and Drew Weiss. Dr. Jonathan Weiss has been volunteering with Operation Walk as an anesthesiologist for the past several years. When the opportunity came about, he jumped at the opportunity to share the experience with Drew. Read their thoughts about volunteering together during our 2022 mission to Guatemala and the perspectives they gained through their experience. 

Ever since my Dad came home from his first trip with the Los Angeles team, I’ve wanted to go on an Operation Walk mission. Each year upon his return, he’d talk about the patients he cared for, how he changed their lives, and how they changed him. I wanted to be able to experience what he felt and to share that experience with him. I feel like I really saw a different side of him the week we were in Antigua. From observing him in the operating room to watching him interact with patients, I gained a new respect and appreciation for what he does for a living and the impact he is able to make on these missions. Since returning from Guatemala, I’ve decided to become a Physician Assistant, with the hopes of one day being able to volunteer my time to impact the lives of others on medical missions.

In August 2022, my son Drew and I had the opportunity to travel together on an OpWalk mission to Antigua Guatemala. Drew saw me over the years return home from trips and felt how excited and fulfilled I was after helping others on these missions. Years ago, he expressed an interest in coming with me and we were scheduled to go together in 2020 but Covid postponed our trip. 

This experience was special to me as I got to spend a week with Drew, but also because I was able to share an important part of my life with him. I loved watching him get the same sense of fulfillment that I have on missions and enjoyed seeing him become part of our team and helping others. 

Thank you Operation Walk for this unique opportunity for us both. 

Jonathan and Drew Weiss

This month we honor the men who have supported, taught and loved us as we’ve grown from children into adults. Our team wanted to take this opportunity to honor volunteers who brought their children and grandchildren to participate on a mission to show them what dedication, determination, and hard work look like in real-time. 

Wishing all dads out there a wonderful Father’s Day. Thank you for your love, your humor, and your wisdom. 

This month’s Time Machine takes us back twenty-four years ago to our very first mission in Nepal. In 2000, Operation Walk Los Angeles traveled to Katmandu, replacing 23 joints and giving those patients a second chance at a life of mobility, free from pain.

Do you have a photo or memory to share about a past trip? Send your thoughts and images to cami@operationwalk.org and you could be featured in our next newsletter!

2024 Operation Walk Los Angeles Angels