To all our Donors, Angels, Suppliers, Board Members, & Volunteers
THANK YOU
& Happy New Year!
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- New Year, Reset, Renew, & Rejuvenate
- Ask the Doctor, By: John Kumar, MD
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Save-the-date! Annual Angel Luncheon April 26, 2023; Let's grow our Angel Network
- Onward to Tanzania
- Shake it up Baby! EZ ways to fill up rather than OUT!
- Show some LOVE
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2023
Reset-Renew-Rejuvenate
By: Ava Baldwin, Administrative Coordinator
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January 1st is on a Sunday this year. How fitting that 2023 starts on the 1st day of the week! So let's start the week and year off on a positive note!
Avoid letting the post-holiday doldrums prevent you from embracing the New Year with zest & zeal & a healthy dose of gratitude. Researchers report that grateful people are happier & live longer healthier lives.
RESET-RENEW-REJUVENATE
Let's start the New Year 2023 with a few simple good habits that will yield great results:
- Before you fall asleep, remind yourself of all the good things that happened to you that day. The list can be short and simple or endless (for example, I'm grateful I woke up today, that the sunrise was majestic, that my husband turned on the coffee pot for me... you get it)
- Make a plan for healthier habits during the day. "Baby steps" into healthier habits. According to M. Kelly, who we become is based on our habits. So, make your habits good ones: make your bed, walk, eat breakfast, call a friend/family, & read something inspiring.
- Take Brisk walk every morning, not a morning person? Try going to bed 15 minutes earlier.) Enjoy the sunrise (& yes wear a warm hat/coat).
- Practice Deep breathing-- really clear your lungs. 3 second inhale 3 second exhale.
- Practice Random Acts of Kindness: simple small ways to keep joy in your heart; giving is far better for us than receiving. (ex. smile more, hold the door open, bake for a friend, send flowers, write a note of kindness & leave on someone's desk, windshield, or door, pay for the coffee/lunch of the person behind you.).
- Join a philanthropy (I know of one :) Help your favorite cause with your time, talent or treasure. Visit: www.operationwalk.org
- Try to be forgiving of yourself and others. Remember each day is a reset.
- Get some GOOD rest. It'll change your whole outlook. Naps are awesome!
- Practice good sleep habits. Exercise during the day increases our need for sleep.
- Eat better-- you know how to do this, do it! Baby steps. One less everything!
- Finally rejuvenate your soul. Treat yourself to what you love. A good movie, a trip to the beach, a gorgeous sunset, being with family & friends, a retreat, a yoga class. Doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming.... it just needs to please you!
Renew your Zeal and Zest for Life, Live with gratitude, practice kindness, reset your outlook & feel Rejuvenated in 2023.
Cheers!
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ASK A DOCTOR:
By Dr. John Kumar, Orthopedic Surgeon @ Kaiser Permanente, Downey
Operation Walk Board Member & Team Surgeon
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Q:I was advised to get a hip/ knee replacement- how long will the implant last?
A:You should expect the current implants to last 20 years or more.
Q:How do I know WHEN I need to get a joint replaced?
A:Consider a joint replacement when your pain is limiting your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. If you have arthritis, find yourself avoiding activities because of pain, and no other treatments are working you should consider joint replacement surgery.
Q:Should I try physical therapy first?
A: It would be recommended to try multiple modalities to decrease your pain prior to surgery. These will be based on your individual medical condition. Treatment options include medications like Tylenol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (Motrin, Alleve and prescription variations of the same and similar drugs), physical therapy, topical ointments (icy hot, Ben-Gay or Voltaren gel for example), bracing and injections are all modalities that can be used prior to surgery. Common injections include corticosteroids and visco-supplementation with hyaluronic acid. Other injections like platelet rich plasma, aka PRP, and stem cell injections are being offered by some providers. There is limited data on the efficacy of these injections. Injections in the knee can often be done in your surgeon's office, injections in the hip may require fluoroscopic guidance and are usually performed less frequently.
Some patients do well with alternative medications like glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM another "natural medications" these have not been studied and are not regulated by the FDA. They are usually safe, but you should consult your primary care physician prior to trying these to make sure they will not interact with another medical condition you may have.
Q:How do I choose the right surgeon? Where can I check his/her qualifications?
A: You should choose a surgeon who does a high volume of cases. Many reports suggest that the complication rate is lower in surgeons that do more than 200 implant cases per year. The surgeon should be orthopedic board eligible or certified. Websites you can use to check the surgeon' credentials are healthgrades.com, vitals.com, and webmd.com. You can also check your state medical board website.
Q:What happens after my surgery? How long do I stay in the hospital?
A:The length of stay after the surgery will depend on your medical condition, and your recovery. Many patients can go home the same day after routine primary hip or knee replacement. Some patients have medical conditions that require them to stay longer. You should be safe getting in and out of bed by yourself, walking at least 50 ft with an ambulatory aid, traversing stairs, and getting on and off the toilet.
Q:How long until I can return to work? Will I need a walker? cane? crutches?
A:The time return to work will vary based on what type of job you perform. Some patients can work from home and return to work sooner. Some patients work in high demand fields like construction and may need longer before returning to work. Your surgeon can guide you and give you a reasonable expectation on when you can return to work. If you drive a long distance to work, you will need to be safe driving before you can return to work.
Q:How much does a typical surgery cost if I have Medicare?
A:The cost of the surgery can vary depending on your insurance plan, length of stay in the hospital, and whether you will are in or out of network. Someone in your surgeon's office, or at the hospital where you are having surgery should be able to estimate the costs for you.
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SAVE-THE-DATE
APRIL 26, 2023
ANNUAL OPERATION WALK
ANGEL LUNCHEON
Special Surprises in store!
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Have you been thinking about how to get more involved, make a difference, change something in your life? Why not volunteer with Operation Walk?
We have a few spaces available for volunteers for Operation Walk's Angels Luncheon on 4/26/2023.
High School Students in need of volunteer hours are welcome to apply.
Contact Ava@operationwalk.org
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-TANZANIA-
Inspired by her commitment to help others,
the medical student becomes a doctor.
Thank You, Dr. Katie Callaghan
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Photo: Dr. Katie Callaghan, MD. in Arusha, Tanzania 2012. At the time of this photo, she was a medical student.
Dr. Katie Callaghan is the daughter of Operation Walk's Chairman of the Board, Dr. John Callaghan.
We are grateful for their contributions to ensure the continued success of Operation Walk's mission: To provide hope, and to change lives through the gift of mobility.
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In 2023, Operation Walk Los Angeles is making the plan to return to Arusha, Tanzania. After ~11 years, Operation Walk will send a 50-member team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, techs, physical therapists, and volunteers to help approximately 50 Tanzanians walk again, pain free, and free of charge thanks to your generosity.
Our volunteer team is preparing to take unpaid time off, or use vacation time, & travel at their own expense over 9,773 miles to help those in need.
We do have the Dream Team, but we need your help. Please donate today.
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Forgot to make your end of year donation to Operation Walk? |
It's never too late to donate to a worthwhile cause!
Click the link above. Donate & stay updated on all the Operation Walk news by following us on social media and subscribing to our newsletter.
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New Year, New & Improved YOU!
Commit to replacing one meal with one smoothie shake per day. Fruit or Vegetable but veggie smoothies are healthier*. If you use fruit, water it down 1/2 juice 1/2 water.
Ingredients:
1/3c low-nonfat non sweetened yogurt
1/3c crushed ice (optional)
1 tsp protein powder (optional, but if you are exercising regularly--you need your protein) Good Substitute: peanut butter
1/4c green leafy anything-- (I like spinach leaves/kale)
1/4 frozen berries (this is a great way to use the mushy ones)
1/8c veggie juice/diluted fruit juice or water is best
1/8c frozen banana, watermelon, mango, pitted-cherries, kiwi ( hint: don't toss out mushy fruits, freeze them and use them in your shakes).
Option: you can do all veggies here: (or sneak some in)
wheat grass
collard greens
zucchini
sweet potato
beets
shredded carrots
spinach
squash
avocado-can be frozen
Use banana, kiwi, or grated ginger to sweeten veggie smoothies. I add protein powder or peanut butter to increase my protein intake.
Directions:
Toss all into a blender-- I use a Ninja single serving- one cup one cleanup and done! Avoid over-stuffing.
*Before changing up your diet, it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor.
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Send us your stories & pictures of loving acts of kindness for our February Newsletter
& Let LOVE Grow!
Get inspired, DO acts of kindness & tell us about it.
Submissions & pictures (pdf or jpeg) to Ava@operationwalk.org by February 5, 2023.
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DONATING MADE EASY:
TO USE OUR NEW QR CODE- HOVER YOUR PHONE'S CAMERA UNTIL YOU SEE THE YELLOW OUTLINE THEN CLICK
YOU CAN SEND YOUR DONATION DIRECTLY TO OPERATION WALK.
SAVE TIME & HELP CHANGE LIVES!
To stay up to date with us daily, please subscribe to our newsletter @
www.operationwalk.org
and follow us & like us on social media pages
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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR OPERATION WALK
BOARD MEMBERS
ANGELS
DONORS
VOLUNTEERS
& SUPPLIERS
Without their generous and continued support, we would not be able to do the good works.
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www.Operationwalk.org | (424) 558-8076 | ava@operationwalk.org |
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