Mary Ellen, RN, and Dr. Roberto Balmaseda 25 years later, Antigua Guatemala.

Mary Ellen Sieben, RN

Director of OR Services

In 1996, I’d just started working with Dr. Dorr as a circulating nurse. Jeri and her colleague, Bud, had traveled to Cuba to see the possibility of bringing a team there, acting on Dr. Dorr’s vision of operating on patients and replacing hips and knees outside the US. There was a connection through a former patient, Buddy Litton, who helped us navigate the process of getting permission and a license to visit Cuba on a Humanitarian mission.

No one had ever done a mission like this before. I had an 18-month-old baby at home and was getting used to being a mother. When I think back to why I agreed to be a part of the team, the only reason I can come up with is that Dr. Dorr asked me to go. I trusted him and his vision. Another factor, I think, was that we were going to Cuba, a place I wouldn't otherwise get to experience.

When it was time to travel, there were no flights available from the US. We had to go through Mexico. I remember flying into the island; it looked completely dark. There were no lights to be seen. It made us do a double-take. I can say we were all apprehensive because of the political history between Cuba and the United States. Yet, everyone was very hyped up. This was the first time we had ever attempted a mission. The shared thought was ‘Are we going to be able to do this?’

On Wednesday, September 10th, Operation Walk Angels gathered for their annual luncheon. The afternoon was filled with friendship, collaboration, and the celebration of Operation Walk and its mission to restore mobility. Co-Medical director, John Kumar, MD, greeted the Angels, while the board president, Paul Gilbert, MD, shared an update on our 2025 mission to Cuba and plans continuing into 2026. Guest speaker Sarah Charton, MBA, RD, provided valuable insights on healthy eating, hydration, and maintaining a balanced diet.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made our Angel Luncheon a resounding success. Marilyn Dorr, the event organizer and host, ensured the event went smoothly. Marion Moser and Ana Vasquez assisted in checking in our guests, while Paulina Andujo, RN, Julie Anderson, RN, and Cami Ward managed our raffle. Pablo Ortega documented the event, capturing every moment. Your contributions made this afternoon truly special.

We would like to extend a heartfelt shout-out to our donors: Jeri Ward, RN, Russell Cohen, MD, John Kumar, MD, Julie Anderson, RN, Sharron Whiteley, RN, Paulina Andujo, RN, Nan Rae, Bark Box, The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, Kendra Scott, and Cami Ward. A special thank you to volunteer Roshy Khorsand for gathering sponsors and getting fabulous items for this fundraiser. We appreciate your hard work and dedication! We are incredibly thankful for everyone’s support.

We extend our deepest appreciation to all our Angels who attended our luncheon. Your presence and dedication are truly special and form the foundation of our mission to restore mobility.

If you’re interested in joining our group, it’s not too late. Together, we can make a difference by helping Operation Walk change lives through joint replacement surgery. Sign up below to become an angel today.

Dr. Kumar showing patient her new knee. Cuba 2019

John Kumar, MD

Co-Medical Director

During our Angels Luncheon, a key question was asked: Why is it important to go back to countries we’ve been to before? Dr. John Kumar explains the benefits and necessities of maintaining partnerships around the world.

First and foremost, it’s essential to follow up with patients whom we’ve already helped. Our team needs to ensure they are progressing in their recovery and assess any issues that may have come up post-surgery. Sometimes patients have questions or other issues with their implants that we need to evaluate, so continued care is invaluable. 

Oftentimes, our partner hospitals are in countries that are impoverished, and we need to continue to provide hope to local communities. Seeing their friends and neighbors regain their mobility and their lives helps to encourage the community that, often, the impossible is attainable. 

Another factor is that the cost of going to the country we’ve been to before is less than establishing a site in a new country. Each new site often poses added expense and a learning curve. There are many processes we go through to evaluate potential sites, such as ensuring hospitals will meet our surgical needs, interacting with the local government and infrastructure to ensure a smooth visit, and establishing new avenues to recruit patients. When we return to a hospital, a lot of the groundwork has already been established, and we’ve had time to develop relationships. This helps make the mission more fiscally responsible. In the current times, when our resources are limited, we have to make every dollar count to help as many people as possible.

Perhaps the reason that resonates with us the most is that we’ve made a lot of friends and extended family along the way. The people we work with and the patients we treat become part of our Operation Walk family. When we return to them, it feels like coming home.

When patients become family. Cuba 2017

My name is Varojan Dehbanian and this is my first mission with Operation Walk Los Angeles. I currently work as a surgical technologist for Cedars Sinai Hospital and have been there for over 30 years. I love my hospital, love my team, and the people that I work with. 

I met team leader, Paulina Andujo, RN, through another colleague, and she asked me if I wanted to join the upcoming mission to Cuba. With no hesitation, I accepted her invitation. I have participated in medical missions in the past, traveling to the Philippines. I am excited to join Operation Walk because I believe that doing good things for people is crucial to who I am. Working alongside fellow volunteers, I can make a difference to the patients we serve. 

Through partnership with my hospital, I was able to obtain and donate several trays of instruments, suction canisters, five operating table side rails and attachments for the OR tables in Cuba to be used during the upcoming mission. 

I am excited to travel to Cuba with Operation Walk Los Angeles and I hope I can continue to volunteer and make a difference for many years to come. Once again, thank you all for this opportunity. I am honored to be a part of the team.

Mary Perez helping patient, Zoila, through screening. Guatemala 2021

“I joined OpWalk to be a part of a group that gives back to communities unable to do it on their own. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that I'd be helping where they needed me most. What I discovered is that we’re not just helping our patients; they are reaching us on a personal level as well. The mission to Guatemala made a big impact on me. It renewed my purpose as a nurse and made me feel like a part of a team. I saw how every individual is bigger than themselves, that each volunteer is necessary to make these missions a success.”

Mary Perez RN

Guatemala 2021

Upcoming Mission to Cuba 2025

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!