Volunteers With Our Cuban Patients

“In 1996, a partnership was forged with our Cuban colleagues. That partnership makes us family, and little things like hurricanes and earthquakes don’t keep you away from your family. Every volunteer on this mission knew what challenges we faced, and they still came. Together with the staff at Hospital Fructuoso, we were able to complete 55 joint replacement surgeries. Despite the weather, the travel complications, power outages, and transportation delays we came together and changed 51 lives in one week. That is what I call an epic mission.”

These were the words that Dr. Paul Gilbert shared to sum up our latest mission. It was truly an epic journey for our team to arrive in Havana and a herculean effort for the Cuban team to prepare the hospital for us after the arrival of Hurricane Rafael just 24 hours before our mission was to begin.

Teamwork was the definition of this mission. Our volunteers were playing catch-up the first day due to our delayed arrival, but with the help of the Fructuoso staff were able to hold our patient screening and complete the first four surgeries as scheduled. Together, we navigated power outages, the lack of reliable air conditioning and elevators, delays, schedule changes, and long days. Working from an unprecedented five ORs, it was all hands on deck for three and a half days of surgery and patient recovery. 

This mission is one our team members will not soon forget. Thanks to them and to you, our supporters and donors, 51 individuals now have a second chance at a life with unrestricted mobility and freedom from pain.

Many thanks to our friends and families at home who supported us with calls, texts, and prayers for a safe arrival; thanks to the donors who supported us with funds, supplies, implants and instruments, thank you to our hosts at Fructuoso for making sure we were taken care of during our stay and thank you to our patients for traveling in unfavorable conditions, waiting up to 10 hours to find out the results of our patient clinic, and for their trust in us. Most of all, thank you to team leaders Dr. Paul Gilbert, Mary Ellen Sieben RN, Julie Anderson RN and Paulina Andujo RN for their flexibility, leadership, and commitment to our volunteers, our patients, and the mission. Together, we can move mountains.

This is a tale of two patients who each received bilateral hip replacements. Our first patient, Liony Aguilar, is just beginning his journey of rehabilitation. The second, Viviana Velazquez, is a two-year veteran of the surgery. Read below how Operation Walk continues to change both of their lives.

LIONY AGUILAR

Ten years ago, Liony Aguilar was a healthy, outgoing young man who was into all types of sports: karate, handball, baseball, and played soccer daily. At first, he focused on baseball, aspiring to compete in the Provincial Team League but encountered pain in his throwing arm and had to shift his focus. Although he still played soccer, he knew he had to find a profession to support himself. Liony tried a few things until he found barbering and liked it. He learned and practiced every day to improve his skills.

Life seemed to be on track until he contracted a virus and was bedridden for four months with extreme pain in his hips. Liony described the progression of his disease. “At first, the pain in my hips was mild, and over time, it got worse, until I had to stop what I liked doing most and endured limitations even to walk. That's when I started using crutches, around 2020."

Gone were the days of playing soccer with his friends. He continued in his profession as a barber but needed to cut hair sitting on a tall stool because his hip pain made it too agonizing to stand. He longed for a chance to regain a normal life, his old life. 

He heard about Operation Walk from a report on television and, from there, went to Hospital Fructuoso to register for the prospective patient list. His girlfriend brought him to patient screening and the team decided in order to give this 27-year-old young man the best possible outcome, he needed bilateral hip surgery. On the second day of surgery, he received his hip replacements. By that afternoon, he was standing on his own and taking a few steps. The next day, he was walking further, even attempting to climb stairs.

Liony shared his thoughts for a future free from pain and restriction, “When I am completely recovered, I will go back to my normal life and focus on growing professionally. I have my own barber shop in my house, and I want to grow my customer base. Although I would like to play soccer, I think that it is safer that I take it easy for a while as I recover. I am extremely thankful for you, donors of Operation Walk, for giving me a chance, a chance at a better life. Know that I will always carry you in my heart. I will never forget the gift you have given me.”

Viviana volunteering in 2024

VIVIANA VELAZQUEZ

Some people may ask, how great a difference can joint replacement surgery make in a person’s life? In two years, what really can change so profoundly that it affects a person’s entire path, the people around them, and their community?

Viviana’s story is a story that answers both of those questions and more. In 2022, Viviana came to us, unable to walk unassisted and unable to have a productive life where she was an active part of her community. After undergoing bilateral hip surgery and dedicating the following two years to her rehabilitation, we had the honor of Viviana returning to Hospital Fructuoso, not just to visit but to be a volunteer with our team. Living the experience that our prospective patients were about to have, she was an invaluable instrument of knowledge, comfort and inspiration. 

Thank you, Viviana, for spending the week with us at Hospital Fructuoso and for returning to greet the patients this past week for their 2-week evaluations. Through you, we can extend the patient care we began on November 8th and continue to watch the miracles that joint replacement surgery can produce.

“My life has taken a 180-degree turn. Two months after my surgery, I started working online with a U.S. company that specializes in wellness, health, and weight loss, which allows me to generate income from home. I am currently a member of an animal rescue and welfare association, working to rescue and adopt stray animals and also supporting the care of the animals at the Havana Zoo.

I've created a WhatsApp group for patients who have undergone surgery or are waiting for surgery, where we provide emotional support and have had the pleasure of communicating with Operation Walk patients from other countries. One of the experiences I have enjoyed most in these two years has been spending these days with you all at Hospital Fructuoso. Being able to help as a volunteer and continue following up with patients has been incredible. I have a special connection with them because your team knows what a damaged hip or knee looks like, but I know how it feels. The pain, the fear, and the frustration of feeling trapped in your own body—I lived with that for many years.

If my story serves as a testimony for people to see all the good that comes after surgery, how life is recovered and enjoyed, and if it helps people understand the importance of donations so that dreams can continue to be restored, then all the waiting and pain endured will have been worth it.”

Viviana in 2022 after bilateral hip surgery

Introducing first-time volunteers Angelie Lorca RN and Keith Hirata.

Although both team members come from different backgrounds and areas of service, they shared a joyful energy and an ability to motivate and inspire patients and colleagues alike. From Angelie’s famous group selfies to Keith’s calming voice as he played his ukulele, both brought a wonderful presence to the floor. Read about their experiences and what made their time volunteering with Operation Walk so special.

“Hi, I’m Angelie and I’m a nurse at Verdugo Hills Hospital. On the first day, a fellow nurse, Nelly Alvarez, asked me, during patient screening, “How are you feeling?” My response was that I was overflowing with emotion! I felt sad because of the patients’ situations, being in pain for so many years. But then happy, because I knew we were here to help, but most importantly, grateful to be a part of this tremendous organization. 

One of the highlights of my trip to Cuba was working with the amazing Cuban nurses. I loved and appreciated them all. They worked non-stop, administering pain meds, changing dressings, and giving discharge instructions.

I am so grateful to have been given a chance to be a part of Operation Walk; I gained a new family this week. Thank you all so much for making me a part of the team.”

-Angelie Lorca RN

Floor Nurse

“First of all, thank you to Dr. Gilbert and the other team leaders for inviting me on this mission. Being here in Havana was a privilege I won’t soon forget.

I was blessed with the opportunity to view a surgery and beyond the technical aspects of everything, it was a beautiful experience. It was something I will truly never forget. What I was most impacted by was the level of teamwork I observed. I love sports, and being a native Chicagoan, I’m a big fan of the Michael Jordan era. Even though Jordan was a superstar, he never would have been a championship-level player without the other players on his team. Some of those players are coming off the bench.

Most of us in the real world don’t get to experience being a part of a team in that manner. A team that is coordinating, giving, and knows their individual roles. And it’s not limited to the operating room. It takes coordination, planning, and effort just to get the mission off the ground. I’ve seen my wife Amy, along with many of you here, go to the warehouse to pack and make preparations long before the mission takes place. Then there is getting the equipment and the team safely here. Upon arrival, everyone from the warehouse, the PACU, the ORS, and the floor has to coordinate as one unit so the team is successful. It's an amazing dance to witness and to be a part of. And that, to me, is what brings real meaning to life. 

So, when I go back home, I will challenge myself to bring with me the level of community, the level of giving and selflessness that I experienced here this week. To me, that is the next challenge. Thank you all for the life-changing moments that you have blessed me with. “

-Keith Hirata

Volunteer

By contributor, Lisa Fujimoto Yamaguchi.

8th-grade students Madison Yamaguchi, Ethan Chang, Haley Ahir, and Alex Melendez, through their school project, SWIM (Solutionary Work in Motion) at Westside Neighborhood School (WNS), continue to support Operation Walk Los Angeles. Together, they aim to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals suffering from hip and knee diseases both locally and in developing countries.

Earlier this year, the team contributed by organizing a toiletry collection drive at WNS and assembling post-op care bags for patients in Cuba. These post-op bags made a significant difference for the patients, as essentials such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and conditioner are in short supply in Cuba. This effort was especially vital as Cuba was recently affected by multiple power grid outages and hurricanes, leading to even greater shortages of basic necessities.

Most recently, inspired by the efforts of volunteer Sarina Parks, who organized durable medical equipment (DME) collections for the Philippines and Cuba missions, these students incorporated the DME collection into their project to support Operation Walk Los Angeles.

The team recently held a virtual meeting with Michelle Sullivan, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Amy Hirata, Inpatient Rehab Services Manager and Physical Therapist at Verdugo Hills Hospital. During the Zoom session, the students shared their goals, received invaluable feedback, and refined their plans for the DME collection.

Following the meeting, Madison, Ethan, Haley, and Alex visited Verdugo Hills Hospital to personally set up collection boxes and display posters in the Rehabilitation Department and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. With the guidance of managers Amy Hirata and Felicia Renty, they successfully initiated the collection and raised awareness. To date, they have already collected several walkers, crutches, and canes.

In addition, the students participated in Entrepreneur Day at WSN, selling cookies and other items to raise money for Operation Walk Los Angeles and their future missions.

Through their compassion, teamwork, and initiative, these students are driving meaningful change. Their efforts are directly supporting Operation Walk Los Angeles in its mission to restore mobility. This is truly inspirational work at such a young age.

We look forward to seeing more of their phenomenal work.

Wow, what a gratifying last few months we’ve had as we prepared everything for our mission to Havana, Cuba. We were met with some roadblocks along the way, but with the team we have there are no obstacles that we can’t conquer together. These missions are a puzzle, and each piece symbolizes every person who ultimately gets us there and allows us to give the gift of mobility to so many deserving individuals. 

Our team is 100% all-volunteer, from our surgeons and anesthesiologist to our OR team and nurses, general volunteers, and everyone in between. Our Operation Walk Angels, donors, and sponsors are the reason we are even able to volunteer our time, to begin with. It is because of our donors that our patients had brand new IV poles during their surgeries, that they were able to recover more comfortably and with ease because of hip kits, stay safe with vital OR equipment, and receive new joints that will lead them to a new beginning, and a world with new possibilities. 

Thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, volunteers, and the entire OpWalk team for making Havana 2024 a huge success. 

Nos vemos el año que viene, Cuba! 

-Roshy Khorsand 

Donations Coordinator 

Operation Walk Los Angeles thanks the following donors

for their support in our 2024 Mission to Cuba

Zimmer Biomet 

Carolyn Miller

Anonymous Donor

Medtronic

Dr. Roberto Balmaseda and the Staff at Hospital Fructuoso

Jill Baffert 

Paula Paulus

Barbara Jordan 

Secure Home Health, Burbank 

Grandcare Home Health, Pasadena 

Verdugo Home Health, Glendale 

Heavenly Home Health, Burbank

Learning and Behavioral Center, Tarzana 

Nurses at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital 

Nurses at Keck Medicine of USC 

Nurses at Cedars-Sinai

Operation Walk Los Angeles Angels 

Next Science and Xperience

BARCO Scrubs.

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital

And Our ENTIRE Operation Walk team! 

Imagine not being able to go to work, hold your child, clean your home, shop for necessities or even tie your own shoes. How would limited movement change your life? The life of your family?

More than 350 million people globally are afflicted by arthritis. Many are unable to receive treatment or much-needed joint replacement surgery. Arthritis is not a fatal disease, but one that wears away at your entire being. It affects your joints, your muscles, and your mental health. Left unchecked, it can lead to weight gain and immobility, which opens the door to diseases such as diabetes and heart and pulmonary diseases.

Operation Walk Los Angeles is committed to helping those who don’t have access to life-changing hip and knee replacement surgery. But we can’t do it alone.

This year, we met individuals suffering from arthritis and joint-related disease in both the Philippines and in Cuba. We saw their pain and struggle, but we also witnessed their tenacity and drive to return to a productive life.

#GivingTuesday is just a few short days away. Operation Walk Los Angeles asks that you join us in changing lives one surgery at a time. We wish we could take each of you on a mission so you could witness the transformation patients go through after receiving this gift. Joint replacement truly is a gift that keeps giving.

Ways to donate:

• Use our QR code above.
• Donate through our Facebook page.
• Visit our website.
• Mail your check to:

Operation Walk Los Angeles

1014 South Westlake Blvd

Unit 14-1313

Westlake Village, CA 91361

Call our office at (424) 465-3600

During this holiday season, there are many opportunities to give. We’re thankful for your consideration and donations to our mission. Together, we can restore mobility.

From our family to yours, wishing you a wonderful holiday season. May your days be filled with laughter, love, and peace.

All our best to you in the New Year,

The OpWalk Los Angeles Team