Besides being our first trip since the pandemic, our upcoming trip to Guatemala will serve as a training experience for volunteers Tricia Lindsey, R.N. and Marilu Gonzalez, R.N., who will be stepping up as volunteer leaders in the OR and the floor, respectively. They are in good hands, as they will be learning from Jeri Ward, R.N. and Mary Ellen Sieben, R.N. who have been leading the Operation Walk Los Angeles team for over 20 years. Tricia and Marilu would like to introduce themselves below.
TRICIA LINDSEY, R.N.
My name is Trish Lindsey. I have been a Registered Nurse for more than 25 years. My early Operating Room R.N. days were at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. It was there that I learned and loved doing Orthopedic Trauma, Sports and Total Joint surgeries. Nowadays, I work at the Main OR at Keck Medicine of USC. On my 1st week at USC as a travel nurse, I worked with Dr. Dorr and in between cases chatted with him. I was delighted to discover that he was the founder of Operation Walk. I was familiar with the organization through Operation Walk Chicago. Dr. Dorr’s enthusiasm about OpWalk was infectious. At the end of our talk he said to me, “You’re alright. You should come help us on our next trip.” And I did! I was blessed enough to join OpWalk in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Cuba twice. This year, I am excited and looking forward to going to Guatemala. I appreciate all the efforts of Operation Walk Los Angeles to make this trip happen despite all the uncertainties.
When I am off from work, I enjoy exploring new places or planning to travel. I am curious about different places, cultures and people. I believe that people’s differences make all of us unique and beautiful. I am eager to see what’s out there in the world, and how I can make the lives of others better. I also like being active, especially hiking and outdoor activities. I love helping Operation Walk out whenever there is an opportunity.
Growing up in the Philippines, I observed how some families have serious difficulties affording basic medical care. It made an impression on me very early. A simple disability that could be cared for by surgery in the U.S. was, in some cases, a major issue that caused hardship for families. That’s why I greatly admire Operation Walk’s mission and commitment to helping restore mobility around the world and I volunteer because I want to contribute even a little part to its success.
MARILU GONZALEZ, R.N.
Hello, my name is Marilu Gonzalez. I am a registered nurse working at Kaiser Permanente in Downey, California. I work in the ambulatory orthopedic department. I am the person who begins preparing patients for a hip or knee replacement from the moment they agree to have surgery. I also instruct them on how to prepare for a proper recovery at home—this is something we stress to the patients and family now more than ever since the start of Covid-19. I work with four surgeons and unfortunately, due to the pandemic many surgeries were cancelled. Patients had to wait longer than expected due to the delays caused by the pandemic.
We are working hard to get the wheels rolling again and are attempting to catch up.
I was recently approached by Dr. Kumar, who inquired if I was interested in joining Operation Walk. He made it clear that this would be all volunteering hours and traveling to a foreign country might not happen for me this year. But much to my surprise, here I am, booked to be a part of the scheduled mission in Guatemala this year. I am so excited to be exposed to the endless details that make a trip like this happen. I have so much more to learn from Jeri Ward and Alejandra Castillo. I am looking forward to the future of Operation Walk Los Angeles and I am truly honored to be a part of this great cause.