Being able to return to our partner hospitals is crucial to patient care.
Meet Brendon Buenaflor, a firefighter and the arm wrestling champion of Mindanao. He was shot eleven years ago, causing damage to his right knee. This injury led to having a rod, a metal plate and pins implanted into his knee and femur. He suffered from severe arthritis in that knee and his left as well.
Brendon wanted his right knee replaced, but our team didn’t have access to the proper equipment to remove the existing hardware during our 2024 mission, so they replaced his left knee.
During our pre-trip to General Santos City last October, team leaders had a chance to reconnect with Brendon and examine both his operated knee and his right, still needing replacement. Next summer, Operation Walk returns to the Philippines and will bring the equipment needed to give Brendon the knee he has waited for and completely restore his mobility.
“I am very grateful to be free from pain in my left leg now. I can do so many things I could not do before this operation. I will wait for you to return this summer and am very thankful to OpWalk for helping me walk again.”
Operation Walk LA pre-team with Brendon in October 2025