Operation Walk

TANZANIA 2023

The countdown for our mission to Tanzania is on! The Operation Walk Los Angeles team will be screening over 70 patients and is planning to perform 50 joint replacements.

CAMI WARD

Hello everyone, I’m Cami Ward and I am the Social Media Coordinator for Operation Walk Los Angeles. I’ve been participating in missions since 2011 and my role has expanded greatly since my first trip to Nepal. I’m gearing up for my 16th mission trip this August to Arusha - Tanzania and can’t wait to return.

I have the opportunity to correspond with social media followers across all platforms as well as follow patients through their joint replacement surgery experience. I’m thrilled to collaborate with Pablo Ortega, creating our newsletter, and giving insight and a unique perspective into our organization and what makes it so special. 

PABLO ORTEGA

I'm delighted to be part of the Operation Walk newsletter team along with Cami. My name is Pablo Ortega and I've been collaborating with OpWalk LA since 2015. My first mission to Honduras changed my life and I've been working with this amazing team ever since.

I'm in charge of keeping the website up to date and coordinating digital fundraising efforts with Cami. I've been in three missions with my fourth one taking me to Tanzania for the first time this summer. I love to travel and this gives me an incredible opportunity to help people while getting to know their cultures and lifestyles closely. It's an experience that I can't recommend enough.

Trish Lindsey

Hello everyone, I’m Trish Lindsey and I work as an Operating Room Registered Nurse, specializing in the field of orthopedic surgery.

My commitment to improving the lives of those in need of joint replacement surgery is evident in my work with Operation Walk. During these missions, I volunteer my time and share my skills to help provide free surgeries to patients in developing countries. I’ve focused on working as an operating room nurse, particularly in the areas of orthopedics, neuro/spine, and behavioral health. The passion I feel for working in orthopedic surgery is matched only by my compassion for others. My life’s mission is to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Currently, I work as an Operating Room Registered Nurse at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. Prior to this, I worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. With a career spanning over two decades, I have an extensive background in orthopedic surgery and an unwavering dedication to this field. My goal is to help to advance our organization's mission of improving access to joint replacement surgery for those in need. 

I’m inspired by Brian Williams’ quote “You may find that making a difference for others makes the biggest difference in you.” I’ve always believed that it’s not what you have or even what you’ve accomplished that matters most. It’s about giving back by contributing what you can, may it be your time, skills or any small way possible to make a difference in someone’s life. 

Thank you,

Trish Lindsey RN BSN CNOR

Yolee Casagrande

Yolee has been a nurse for 33 years. She began her career at Kaiser Permanente and in 1991, joined USC Norris Cancer Center where she continued her love for oncology nursing. In 1995 she joined the USC Department of Colorectal Surgery. There she expanded her nursing career and eventually became the Clinical Practice Manager of the USC Colorectal Cancer Program until 2009. Yolee continues her career at Keck Medical Center of USC in a Nursing Leadership position as Associate Administrative – Nursing. She joined CSUF as a part-time lecturer in December 2018 and teaches Population Health. 

In 1995, Yolee and Jeri Ward met and became friends and collaborators. Yolee has traveled with Operation Walk to Vietnam, Cuba, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. She’s been involved with several of the Gala events and spends many hours supporting Jeri in optimizing administrative operations for the organization.  

Affiliations: 

• Padres Contra El Cancer – Medical Advisory Committee 
• Stennis Family Foundation – Board Member  
• Operation Walk Organization – Nurse Volunteer  

Special Awards: 



• 2022 Marquis Who’s Who Top Nurses in Health Care 
• 2022 Nurses of USC – Nurse Mentor of the Year 
• 2022 Women of Influence Health Care – Los Angeles Business Journal  
• 2021 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Champions of Humanistic Care Recipient 
• 2020 COVID All Star – Keck Medical Center of USC  
• 2020 Daisy Award Nomination – Nursing Faculty  
• 2013Nurses of USC – Nurse Humanitarian of the Year  
• 2010 Padres Contra El Cancer – Awarded Volunteer of the Year  
• 2008 Anaheim Ducks – Community Hero  
• 2003 USC/Norris Hospital - Bob Chandler Courage Award

How do you spend your Saturday morning? Our group of dedicated volunteers donated their time to help us pack up supplies for our upcoming trip to Tanzania. They sorted medicine, equipment, soft goods, and prepared instruments for transport. Many thanks to everyone below who continues to help us restore mobility!

• Lisa Warren ST
• Kristian Medina ST
• Ploi Dejsubha ST
• Michael Weller RN
• Cecilia Cayton RN and her husband, Alan
• Amy Hirata PT
• Lisa Fujimoto Yamaguchi PA
• Matt Sandusky
• Dr. John Kumar
• Dr. Aneesah Smith
• Dr. Steve Owens
• Trish Lindsey RN
• Mary Ellen Sieben RN
• Jim Sieben 

Venice Ravens Basketball team (accompanied by their parents):

• Anya Patel
• Ella Francisco 
• Lindsey Morimoto
• Chloe Yoshikawa
• Madison Yamaguchi 
• Natalie Nakasuji 

Photo credits left to right: Anya Patel, Ella Francisco, Lindsey Morimoto, Chloe Yoshikawa, Madison Yamaguchi, Natalie Nakasuji.

At the start of the New Year, the Venice Ravens basketball team joined together to assemble 60 post-op bags for patients in Tanzania. Each bag was personalized with the OpWalk logo. 

The girls were tasked with collecting toiletry items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. The team came together to participate during our packing day and along with their parents, assuring that these special items will arrive safely to patients in Arusha during our upcoming mission. 

Many thanks to these young volunteers for helping us to make that extra difference in our patients’ recovery!

Introducing our 2023 Angels as of the end of May. Our Annual Luncheon was attended by 70 generous Angels. We want to thank the staff at Annandale Golf Club, especially Violet Burns and Alex Lubin, for a beautiful afternoon. 

We also thank all of our Angel attendees and those who donated baskets & the Hope painting: Jeri Ward, Cami Ward, Marion Graeber, Lisa Fujimoto-Yamaguchi, Ava Baldwin, Rachel Beay (Cabi consultant), Marilyn Dorr, Dr. John Kumar, and Dr. John and Kim Callaghan. 

There is still time to join! Head to our website, call our office at +1 424-558-8076 or mail your check to:

Operation Walk Los Angeles

381 Van Ness Ave. #1514

Torrance, California, 90501

Mail or send your donation by June 30 to be a part the 2023 Angels and a member of this amazing group of philanthropists!

By Cami Ward

It began in the imagination of Southwestern Australian artist, Marion Graeber. An idea fulfilling a request to create an Angel to represent the spirit of Operation Walk and the women who support its mission to restore mobility. What followed was a painting that soon became known as “Hope”.

This was a fitting name because that’s what our organization is all about, restoring hope and mobility through joint replacement surgery. The spirit of hope is what helps us year after year to bring together a diverse group of volunteers who give their time and talent to improve the lives of others.

“Hope” had an amazing journey of her own, traveling almost 10,000 miles from Margaret River, Australia to San Diego California. Our Director Emeritus, Jeri Ward, welcomed her with open arms and then carefully transported her to Pasadena for our Annual Angel Luncheon. Together, with the help of Co-Medical director and surgeon, Dr. William Long, we opened the box to reveal her true beauty.

Southwestern Australian artist, Marion Graeber

Hope served as the centerpiece of our Luncheon, on display at the front of the room. As the end of the event neared, it was time for the live auction. I told the process of commissioning “Hope”, Marion’s volunteer experience with Operation Walk, and what inspired her to be a part of our luncheon, although she was half a world away. I then spoke to what joint replacement surgery means to our patients; individuals that live with pain that contorts their daily lives, conditions that confine them to a wheelchair, that limit their ability to work and support their families.

Realizing that a generous bid could change a life, donors Bea Bennett and Adele Binder joined together and offered an amount that will provide a complete surgery for a patient during our upcoming mission to Arusha, Tanzania. These two dedicated supporters of OpWalk will give Hope a new home and a patient a new lease on life.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make “Hope’s” mission possible. It’s a reminder that together we can change lives.

To learn more about Marion and what inspires her paintings, please visit her gallery.

Carolyn Clark, Diane Lindeman, Betsy Purcell and Cristi Roberts

By Rachel Beay

I was honored to be invited to put on a cabi Spring '23 fashion show for the Angel Luncheon at the lovely Annandale Country Club on April 26th. For those of you that are new to cabi, we are an innovative boutique designer line headquartered here in Southern California. Cabi was founded 20 years ago when a group of ladies realized there had to be a better way to shop, and boy were they right! Shopping in the comfort of your own home, my home or even a beautiful country club, sure beats going to the mall any day!

After I spoke of this season’s key trends, the Angels were entertained by four lovely models presenting a total of 26 perfectly styled outfits. While the models walked the runway, the Angels were able to get an upfront look at our beautiful Spring collection. Based on all the oohs and ahh, the clothes were a big hit!

Cabi offers two seasons a year and it is so easy to shop! I can help you pick the best pieces for your lifestyle. I have an online website that is available whenever and wherever you are -24/7. Or I can come to you either for a personal style session or a shop with girlfriends fashion experience.

Please check out my website www.rachelbeay.cabionline.com. Contact me at rbeay@yahoo.com or 562-787-2708 with any questions you have about the ordering process or the fit, size, or fabrication of any of the pieces. I look forward to connecting with you!

Betsy Purcell, Diane Lindeman, Rachel Beay, Cristi Roberts and Carolyn Clark.

Kaiser Permanente's Donation Empowers Operation Walk's Arusha Mission

Operation Walk Los Angeles received an amazing donation of 11 Stryker Power Systems from Kaiser Permanente Panorama City. These systems each contain two multipurpose saws and drill along with battery packs that will be used in our upcoming mission to Arusha - Tanzania. Thank you to Amy Wiese, Marvin Loera and Stephanie Bisson-Ortiz RN, lead nurse at Kaiser Permanente Panorama City, for helping Operation Walk to continue its mission to provide free hip and knee replacements to those in need. Walk On!