A reminder that our Operation Walk Angels luncheon will be on September 10 from 11-2 PM at Annandale Golf Club.

The afternoon features guest speaker Sarah Charton, MBA, RD, from Keck Medicine of USC. Ms. Charton will discuss the importance of good nutrition, including proper hydration. In addition, she will discuss how our diet can influence overall health and well-being.

Dr. Paul Gilbert will also give an update on Operation Walk, focusing on upcoming missions for 2025 and 2026.

Raffle opportunities, including our Grand Prize Basket, will be drawn at the conclusion of our time together. Learn about the raffle, renew your membership, or RSVP for the luncheon below. We can’t wait to see you!

We’re excited to announce a special opportunity to support our upcoming mission to Cuba.

Our Grand Prize Basket offers a unique opportunity to explore the best of San Diego. Available to both our guests at the luncheon, those unable to attend, and all our supporters. Tickets are available now through Tuesday, September 9th, and you need not be present to win!

Our San Diego Getaway Basket, donated by Jeri Ward, RN, includes:

• 2 tickets for the Early Morning Panda Walk
. Get up close and personal with a guided tour dedicated to pandas, Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. Enjoy an exclusive tour with access to these lovable bears before the zoo opens to the public. A knowledgeable guide, 30 minutes of viewing time, and a Q&A session are included.

• Day Passes for 2 to the San Diego Zoo with guided Discovery Tour

• Gift Card for $300 towards accommodations

• Vineyard Tour, tasting and charcuterie for 2 at Speckle Rock Vineyards

This basket is an amazing getaway with a combined value of over $1,000. Pricing is $20 for 1 opportunity, $50 for 3, and $100 for 6. Purchase tickets below or call Marion at 424-465-3600. A winner will be drawn at the conclusion of our Angels Luncheon. All money raised will go directly to help our patients in Havana. 

Click below for your opportunity to win today.

Our team preparing supplies for Cuba

Have you ever seen 50 + surgeries' worth of orthopedic equipment and recovery supplies all at once? Imagine collecting, organizing, and packing it!

In August, our dedicated team of volunteers spent their Saturdays doing just that. Soft goods, medical and anesthesia supplies, durable medical goods, labels, files, implants, surgical trays, and more were carefully sorted, packed, sterilized, and wrapped for our upcoming mission to Cuba.

A big thank you to Julie Anderson, RN, Paulina Andujo, RN, Lisa Fujimoto, PA, Alan Gutierrez, RN, Zach Jones, Stacy Kelso, John Kumar, MD, Ray Lopez, Brian Marshall, Jeff Parks, MD, Joe Rangel, Matt Sandusky, Paul Shortt, Jim Sieben, Mary Ellen Sieben, RN, Cami Ward, and Sharron Whiteley, RN, for your help. We couldn't restore mobility without you!

Continuing our series on potential patients being screened for joint replacement surgery during our 2025 mission to Havana, Cuba. Frank was a prospective patient last year. Now eighteen years old, he has his whole life in front of him and is waiting for his second chance at a life free from pain and restriction. Thank you, Frank, for sharing your story.

“My name is Frank Antonio and growing up, my life was a normal life. I played, ran, jumped, all the normal things, until at age 12, when I was diagnosed with a disease called spondyloarthritis, which is a disease that affected my spine and joints. From one moment to the next, my joints would hurt. Practically all of them (elbows, knees, cervical, ankles, and especially hips) would cause me great pain. When I was younger, the disease was concentrated in the head of my right and left femur, causing pain in such a way that I had to be in a wheelchair. 

Time passed and when God allowed it, I was able to start walking again. Unfortunately, without the head of my right femur, avascular necrosis invaded my right hip, causing great limitations. I can’t walk long distances, it causes contractions in my hip. I can’t bend down, sleep in certain positions, ride a motorcycle or even walk very well (I have a limp.) Because of all these things, my spine is bending, causing me even more pain and restriction.

Honestly, after surgery and recovery, I would like to be able to stand on my own two feet and, above all else, be able to preach the gospel of Christ. I want to bend and flex my leg again, begin university studies, and continue my life as God determines.

I just recently had my birthday in June and now I’m 18. I can’t wait for you all to return, have my surgery and to see what life has in store for me.”

-Frank Antonio Martinez Vargas

Scholarship winner Temidayo Aderibigbe, MD

“My name is Temidayo Aderibigbe (Temi for short) and I was born in the UK to my two Nigerian parents but raised primarily in Simi Valley, CA. I grew up playing soccer religiously and still have a massive passion for the sport, though I’m mostly just watching these days. 

I went to Yale University for my undergraduate degree and New York Medical College for medical school. I always had a big interest in medicine growing up, discovered orthopedic surgery early in medical school and went on to complete an orthopedic surgery residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. 

I’ve always had a big interest in medical missions, and I’m thrilled to have received the Dr. Lawrence Dorr Operation Walk Scholarship instituted by Paula Paulus. This opportunity will allow me to join Operation Walk in Havana. 

I’ve been blessed with an education that’s given me the skills and tools to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. At the same time, growing up with the mentality of an immigrant has instilled in me a drive, resilience, and sense of responsibility to serve others who may not have the same opportunities. That combination—privilege balanced with perspective—fuels my commitment to using medicine as a vehicle for impact and service. 

I’m currently doing an Adult Reconstruction surgical fellowship at Keck Hospital at USC, where my training is focused on complex hip and knee arthroplasty. My long-term vision is to build a career that balances excellence in clinical practice with opportunities for mission work, so that patients—whether in my local community or in underserved areas across the world—can regain the independence and dignity that mobility provides. Can't wait to get started!”

Temi Aderibigbe, MD

Mary Ellen meets with Tanzanian colleagues during our 2023 mission

"One of the joys of OpWalk is experiencing different cultures in hospitals around the world. Every country we’ve visited, no matter how poor, has adapted to the way we care for patients. It's a great feeling working with healthcare workers in other countries. I love sharing information with doctors, nurses, and technicians. Working as a team to overcome obstacles and assure the best patient care possible gives a great feeling of accomplishment.”

Mary Ellen Sieben

Director of OR Services and 29-year Veteran Volunteer

Over the years, Operation Walk has had hundreds of dedicated volunteers give of their time, talents, and heart to make us into the organization we are today.

In preparation for our 30th Anniversary, tell us your story. We’d love for you to share a memory from a past mission, packing party, or gala. Let us know when and where you volunteered and how the experience has made an impact on you and/or your community.

All submissions will be featured in an upcoming newsletter as well as at our 30th Anniversary Gala next May.

Send submissions to Cami Ward at cami@operationwalk.org. Thank you for helping us tell the OpWalk story and how joint replacement surgery changes lives!