Operation Walk Pittsburgh Mission 2021: Against All Odds

Every year, the Operation Walk Pittsburgh team spends months preparing to embark on its mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala. After postponing the mission last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team behind the scenes worked diligently to structure a 2021 Mission that would deliver the same mobility-restoring procedures to patients in need while ensuring safety for all involved.

Leading up to the 2021 Mission, there were many changing restrictions, protocols, and modifications required.

The first and perhaps most significant of the changes this year was Operating Room (OR) capacity. While on past trips, we have been able to run 4 ORs concurrently, allowing us to serve upwards of 40 patients, this year the capacity lowered to 3 ORs. Because of the reduced OR capacity, we recalibrated our plans. We lowered our planned patient census, and our Travel Team member numbers. We instituted rules and regulations to ensure that those in attendance would be safe: vaccination requirements, heightened PPE, and negative COVID-19 tests immediately prior to travel.

Despite all of these and other challenges to planning the trip this year, the team, and in particular, Program Director Nick Langston, remained undeterred –– continuing to persevere, navigating any challenges or curveballs thrown our way.

The Advance Team, a small group carved out of the larger Travel Team, arrived in Antigua a few days ahead of the rest of the group to conduct a clinic and confirm all scheduled patients.

Then, on Oct 2, 2021 the Travel Team arrived in Antigua, Guatemala to begin Mission 2021 –- a trip like none prior. The total crew of 45 gathered on the first night for a group dinner to set expectations for the week. With a lean team and a fair number of fresh faces in the mix, the #OpWalkPGH21 Trip kicked off the next morning with OR Day 1 –– the first day of surgery.

Each surgery ranges from one to two hours long. Patients then spend up to four hours in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), where they are monitored as the anesthesia medications wear off.

They then head to the floor where nurses and physical therapists get them up and exercising right away. The floor team has the opportunity to really get to know the patients as they begin to recover and get used to their brand-new joints.

A standout patient on the floor right away was Manuel. A charismatic and friendly face, Manuel quickly charmed the floor team. Back in the PACU, Manuel promised our nurse, Chrissie DiVincenzo, he would dance with her once he could get up on his feet. Chrissie held him to this promise and met him in the recovery ward. With the help of our physical therapists, Manuel shared a dance with Chrissie. It was a special moment for Chrissie and Manuel and brought smiles to the whole team’s faces.

Another patient was a ray of sunshine. Lilian, who received a total knee replacement surgery, brought joy to the entire recovery ward with her room-filling laugh. Lilian was particularly joyous, as she was one of the alternate patients, who was added to our surgical roster at the last minute. As we bid farewell to Lilian, she tearfully said that there was no way she could repay us, and instead offered a song in gratitude. In perfect harmony, Lilian and her daughter broke out into a song titled, “Dia Grande.” As they sang to the small group before them, Lilian and her daughter radiated joy and gratitude.

Mission 2021 included twenty-five patients and thirty-five total joint replacement surgeries. We had a diverse group of patients ranging in age from 44 to 77. All were energetic, resilient, and unforgettable. It never ceases to amaze us how brave and trusting our patients are as they prepare for surgery, and how hardworking they are post-operatively during physical therapy. Through our connections to patients and their families on WhatsApp and Facebook, we hope to continue witnessing and sharing the moving stories of our beloved patients as they continue to conquer all odds.