Electronic Newsletter: August 2022 |
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Operation Walk says farewell to Alejandra Castillo |
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1 - Alejandra's Farewell Note
2 - Operation Walk Welcomes Ava Baldwin and Marion Moser
3 - And Off Goes the OpWalk Cargo
4 - Save the Date: Operation Walk Annual Gala
5 - Q&A: "Ask a Nurse"
6 - Yasmany's Story
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Alejandra's Farewell Note |
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Alejandra, patient Ana, and Sandy Holsbeke, PT
in Havana, Cuba
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As I was looking for photos to use for this newsletter, I felt very emotional to see all of the different adventures I’ve been on with Operation Walk. I cannot say anything other than THANK YOU to Jeri Ward, RN and Mary Ellen Sieben, RN for taking me under their wing and trusting me with their extensive knowledge. I always felt safe traveling with them to countries like Cuba and Guatemala. Everywhere we went, people were happy to see them again and welcome them back and now I know why. These great leaders have a heart of gold, as did Dr. Lawrence Dorr. It is no coincidence that an organization like Operation Walk can thrive for decades, it is because of the kindness and passion of the people behind the mission. I will always cherish all of our OpWalk adventures and all the amazing doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and volunteers I met on these trips. You are truly some of the most humble and generous people I’ve ever met.
As I leave the Administrative Coordinator role to pursue my academic goals, I am eager to continue to see the growth of the LA chapter and will continue to support the team as much as possible. I ask that you please donate to this cause and continue to volunteer your time to Operation Walk, because this organization truly changes lives.
Sincerely,
-Alejandra
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Operation Walk Welcomes
Ava Baldwin, Coordinator
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Operation Walk Los Angeles is excited to welcome Ava Baldwin to our team as our new Coordinator. She will ensure the successful communication between the Board Members, the volunteer teams, the donors, and the hospital staff and coordinators both at home and abroad.
Ava is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside this great team. She has been an active volunteer for Operation Walk’s since 1997. Ava’s husband Kyle is a team physical therapist who has done several Operation Walk trips including the inaugural trip to Cuba!
Ava has a Master's degree in Communication. Her extensive background in event planning and fundraising makes her a great fit for our team. Her enthusiasm and energy invite participation and collaboration. In her free time, Ava enjoys staying fit while exploring the great outdoors with her family & Labrador Retriever: hiking, biking, skiing, gardening, & playing beach volleyball. She also enjoys quieter pursuits like playing piano (ear plugs required!) and reading.
Ava thanks the entire Operation Walk team for choosing her to work for this great organization.
Walk On!
-Ava
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Marion Moser
Administrative Coordinator
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Hello! My name is Marion, and I will be working in an administrative capacity with Operation Walk answering phones, maintaining the office paperwork, and taking donations. I have been working in a CPA office for the past six years where I continue to work part-time.
It will be my pleasure to answer any questions you might have, or direct you to the appropriate person to help. My normal office hours will be from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Friday. My email is marion@operationwalk.org. I am so excited to be joining the Op Walk LA team!
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And Off Goes the OpWalk Cargo |
Our warehouse is now empty after three months or procuring supplies for our August 2022 medical mission to Guatemala. A special thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to our warehouse in Torrance on July 9th, 2022 to help Team Leader Mary Ellen Sieben, R.N. pack, inventory, and shrink-wrap the 13 pallets that are now on their way to Hospital Obras del Santo Hermano Pedro. |
"Packing Day" collage created by Cami Ward |
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Special thanks to our packing day volunteers: |
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- Mary Ellen Sieben
- Jim Sieben
- Brian Marshall
- Dr. John Kumar
- Dr. William Long
- Stacy Kelso
- Alejandra Castillo
- Trish Lindsey
- Hasana Sos
- Vivenne Uytana
- Amy Hirata
These medical supplies and medicines will be used to rehabilitate 50-60 patients this August, and we are beyond grateful to the following companies for donating implants and medical supplies:
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Corporate Sponsors
for Guatemala 2022 Trip
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Donated surgical and
exam gloves
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SAVE THE DATE:
Operation Walk Annual Gala
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Save the Date and dust off your boogie shoes—Operation Walk's Live Music, Food and International Fashion Gala is set for October 22, 2022 at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, California. Two bands, international food stations, and our own Op Walk nurse/DJ "Paupau" will make this a most festive evening for all to enjoy!
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If you would like to sign up as a volunteer for this event, please contact
Ava Baldwin at ava@operationwalk.org
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Q & A: "Ask a Nurse"
by : Jeri Ward, RN
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Question: How do I know when I need to see a doctor regarding a hip/knee replacement?
Answer: Joint pain becomes more common as we become more active and with age. If you have hip or knee pain, there are steps you can take to help resolve it. After taking these steps, if there is no improvement, you should see an orthopedic surgeon for an evaluation.
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Jeri Ward, RN speaking at a symposium |
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Simple things you can do for an ache in the hip or knee are:
- Use ice packs for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times per day. Apply ice directly to the joint, using a soft cloth as a buffer between the ice and your skin. Ice is best used after exercise or activity to reduce swelling (swelling causes pain!).
- Use a heating pad to the joint for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day. Heat is best used when you are resting. Heat bring blood into the sore area and promotes healing.
- Take an anti-inflammatory if approved by your doctor. Anti-inflammatory medicines can be purchased over the counter (Advil, Aleve). They work systemically to reduce pain and swelling. People taking blood thinners can not take these medications, but Tylenol might be approved by your doctor.
- Cortisone injections may help. This is where your doctor injects a strong anti-inflammatory directly into the joint. This injection may give you relief for a long time. It also may only work for a few weeks or days. This will give the doctor information on how severe your joint disease is.
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Physical therapy may help strengthen the muscles around the joints, improving support and stability.
Finally, if those things don’t improve your hip or knee pain, your orthopedist will determine, with x-rays and examination, if you need the joint to be replaced (or resurfaced). If the cartilage in the joint is worn away, and you don’t have anything protecting the bony surfaces, joint replacement can bring you relief and mobility. Over the years I have seen many improvements with hip and knee replacement surgery. What used to be a two-week hospital stay and months of rehab, is now done on an almost outpatient basis, with a rapid return to activity. If you think you need joint replacement surgery, contact our surgeons:
Dr. William Long at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center: (213) 413-3000
For Kaiser patients, Dr. John Kumar at: (562) 657-9000
-Jeri Ward, R.N.
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Yasmany's Story
by Cami Ward, Social Media Coordinator
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What we do in life, we often do for our children. |
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This was 34-year-old Yasmany Arcia’s motivation to seek help. Yasmany works as a rancher and for the past three years, he’s been unable to fully tend to his ranch because of the piercing pain in his right hip. A typical day has him on horseback for hours and recently he hasn’t been able to ride. Not being able to ride, tend to his cattle, and take care of his ranch has been a great setback. His hip greatly affected his sleep. Due to the pain, it was difficult to lie down and rest, which is crucial do being able to perform his duties on the ranch. The worst part to Yasmany was that he was unable to play with his little girl. At age five, Astri didn’t understand why her father couldn’t play with her and was in constant pain. Desperate, he looked to Operation Walk for help.
Walking into patient screening, Yasmany had a shy smile. He was very nervous and that sent his blood pressure up. Our team was worried that he might not be able to qualify for surgery, but our nurses sent him in to be examined by our screening team and said they would retake his vitals after he had spoken to our doctors. You could see relief spread across his face as he walked with the aid of crutches into the screening room. After speaking to our volunteers, he was more at ease and was medically cleared for surgery. In fact, he was our first patient in the operating room.
Yasmany’s surgery went flawlessly. Not only was he the first patient operated, he was the first patient up and walking, and the first to request to write a thank you to the Angels that made his operation possible.
“I want to let my Angel know that they have changed my life. My pain is less and I have hope for the future. Thank you to Operation Walk, to the doctors and nurses, and to those who give to help people like me.”
Another first, Yasmany was the first patient to be discharged to return home from the hospital. Thank you for helping Operation Walk to restore mobility to Yasmany and return his mobility, his independence, and his life.
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Yasmany walking with Don Shimabukuro, PT
and Sandy Holsbeke, PT
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To stay up to date with us daily, please follow our social media pages below: |
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Operation Walk Los Angeles | (424) 558-8076 |Ava@operationwalk.org | Website
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