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.

Liony using a walker one day after his surgery	Liony two weeks after his hip replacement

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.”

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.

Viviana, in 2022, after bilateral hip surgery

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.”

We were all surprised when my mother underwent a right hip replacement instead of a knee replacement this past July. We were thinking that since both of her knees were in pain, she would have them replaced. We were really amazed how Dr. Vo and Dr. Malik diagnosed during the physical examination in the final screening that my mom had a problem in her hips and they explained to us why it was important to correct this condition first.

We left General Santos City and traveled back to Manila last August 7 (three weeks post-op). She is now doing well and is continuing her physical therapy. After the surgery, she did not feel any pain in the surgical site even up to now.

We understand that her case is different. Dr. Malik advised us that her recovery will not be as fast as the other patients, since she also has knee arthritis. For the first six weeks, she was instructed to do touch-down weight exercises with gait aids. Just last Wednesday, 28 of August (six weeks post-op), she started 25% partial weight bearing as part of the instructions given to her and this will progress every week depending on the pain. I asked her if she felt any pain in her right hip and knee after the weight bearing, and she said that there was none. We hope that this will continue until she can finally put the normal weight into her right limb when she’s walking.

So far, the only pain that she is feeling now is in her left knee. My mom has traveled far compared to her situation last year where was just lying in bed and really depressed due to the pain brought by osteoarthritis. Thank you for giving her hope again. We thank God for making the foundation an instrument in helping people who have problems with their mobility.

We are forever grateful to the whole team for everything that they’ve done in General Santos. Thank you to all the volunteers, donors and everyone who is part of Operation Walk. You give hope to the patients. Your vision is truly life-changing. May God bless you all even more.

Best regards.
Marilyn Villaflor
Daughter of Leonida Villaflor

“My name is Mylene Amor Pañares Fulgencio and I am 38 years old and have been a public school teacher for 14 years teaching high school biology. In 2022, I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis but my pain began the previous year. It started as an inexplicable ache in my right leg.

As a teacher, my classes are on different floors, so I often had to travel up and down flights of stairs. I remember feeling embarrassed in front of my students because of the way I struggled to walk. I remember one of them saying, “Oh no, our teacher is limping!” That really hurt, because I used to be very athletic. I loved outdoor activities like mountaineering, river trekking, and I even fulfilled my childhood dream of climbing Mt. Matutum. I never thought I would develop a condition like this. When I first received my diagnosis, I couldn’t believe it. I cried right in front of my doctor.

As time passed, the pain and condition got worse, spreading to both legs. This January, it was confirmed that I was suffering from avascular necrosis and needed surgery as soon as possible. I wasn’t sure what I would do. In July, I saw on St. Elizabeth’s Facebook page that they were offering hip and knee replacement at no cost through coordination with Operation Walk Los Angeles. Without hesitation, I called the number and my prayers were answered, being chosen as one of the beneficiaries of this partnership.

My operation lasted two hours. When I woke up, I felt bandages on both hips. A physical therapist with OpWalk, Don Shimabukuro, approached me and said, ‘Let’s walk!’. I was shocked, I had just had surgery on both of my hips. To my surprise, I was able to walk, without pain. The next day, Don visited again and my surgeon Dr. Scott Ball checked in on me. I told them that I had no pain, so they discharged me.

At home, I started walking slowly, I could bend my knees. But the most remarkable moment of my recovery was when I accidentally forgot my cane and found that I could walk on my own!

I am deeply thankful and forever grateful to Operation Walk Los Angeles and St. Elizabeth Hospital. Soon I will be able to run because my dream came true. Thank you for helping me walk again.”

-Mylene

A Matter of Trust:
Dr. Mimi Cameron, Internal Medicine

I would like to share a story about a patient who really touched me during our mission to General Santos City. His name is Brendon Buenaflor, and he just happens to be not only a firefighter but also the arm wrestling champion of Mindanao as well. Brendon was shot eleven years ago by an AK rifle in his right knee. This injury led to having a rod, metal plate and pins implanted into his knee and femur. He suffers from severe arthritis in that knee and also in his left. He really wanted his right knee replaced, but our team didn’t have the proper equipment to remove the existing hardware, so we offered to replace his left knee instead.

Brendon drove two hours from his house to tell us in person he didn’t think a left knee replacement would improve his situation. I talked with him and then he talked with Dr. Aamer Malik. He went home to discuss his options with his children and then ultimately returned to have his left knee replaced.

It was heartwarming to see Brendon walk with less pain and with a big smile on his face. He said he was glad he had it done. Seeing someone like him get at least some better mobility returned makes these missions worth it for both the patients and ourselves. We’re privileged to be able to help someone regain their mobility.

A Look into Knee Replacement
Dr. Dang Khoa Vo

We are happy to share this look into knee replacement by orthopedic surgeon, Dang Khoa Vo MD. Thank you, Dr. Vo for taking time to share Mrs. Neri’s case and her outcome with us.

Mrs. Ninfa Congson Neri is a 65 y/o dentist who has suffered debilitating, left worse than right, knee pain for several years that has significantly reduced her quality of life as she can no longer walk long distances outside of the home without the use of a cane/walker. Even mere prolonged standing is now a challenge in her activities of daily living. She felt very fortunate to have been selected as a candidate for left total knee replacement on this Operation Walk mission to General Santos City, Philippines.

She underwent left total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia without complications. Remarkably, despite being the last case of the day, when I saw her on postoperative rounds before leaving the hospital that evening, I was astonished that she sat up in bed with a beaming smile on her face. I understood the joy! With her husband and daughter at the bedside, she leaped from her hospital bed, stood and walked to me, without the use of any cane, walker or other gait aids, just to show me how much her knee pain has improved…or rather resolved. Of all the joint replacements I’ve done (albeit there have not been many in the grand scheme), I don’t remember a patient ever getting out of bed, walking unassisted and pain-free on the same day. What a mix of emotions that jolted me…I was briefly frozen in fear that she might fall and hurt herself, though elated to see such a dramatic and immediate impact that an operation can have on someone’s quality of life. The excitement from her family was palpable. Her only wish is for Operation Walk to return next year and be able to replace her right knee.