For the past 20 years, Cathedral City-resident Jorgina Quiroz, suffered from debilitating pain caused by arthritis. It deprived her of playing with her own children and threatened to do the same with her grandchildren. Brian Chandler, a devoted husband and father, suffered from a rare degenerative hip disease that confined him to his home. Matthew Galbraith was born without a hip and could never afford crutches or a wheelchair.

Along with six other local patients, Jorgina, Brian and Matthew shared not only their emotional and physical scars from battling their afflictions, but a common dream that they could one day regain what they thought was lost – a normal life. And then they heard about "Operation Walk – Desert Communities."

"All nine surgeries could not have gone any better. One of the most rewarding experiences in my life was to see the smiles on those patients' faces when they were able to take their first steps following surgery," said Jonathan Braslow, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Arthritis Institute at JFK Memorial Hospital, which sponsored the "Operation Walk" event. "With the overwhelming help and support of the community, we were able to provide quality medical services to those who would not otherwise be able to afford them."

Jorgina, Brian, Matthew and their families could not be anymore grateful this holiday season. For the first time in years, they have felt relief from an incessant pain that has dramatically impacted their lives.

"The first thing I wanted to do after my surgery was to scoop up my grandchildren and play with them like I have wanted to for so many years," said Jorgina Quiroz, recipient of a free hip replacement. "Arthritis robbed me of the last 20 years. Thanks to this event and those who gave their time and talents, I am looking forward to making up for lost time."

According to Dr. Braslow, the Arthritis Institute, through its "Operation Walk" foundation will continue to help treat many individuals who suffer from hip and knee pain in and outside of the country. Most recently, "Operation Walk" carried out the same accomplishments in La Paz, Mexico in early November.

"There are so many people in the Coachella Valley who are living with chronic and severe pain," says Dr. Braslow. "By helping these nine people, we are just scraping the surface. As 'Operation Walk' continues to evolve around the world, my hope is that we will be able to provide many more patients the kind of medical services that will lead them toward the road of recovery."

"Operation Walk – Desert Communities" was comprised of more than 80 volunteers from JFK Memorial Hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center, Centinela Hospital Medical Center and Queen of Angels/Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital who donated their time and effort during the one-day event. Contributions made by local medical companies included donated supplies that were used during the surgeries, which helped made the event possible.