TAMPA, Fla. — The work of "Operation Walk USA" came to Tampa Bay for the first time this month as four uninsured patients received knee and hip replacements at AdventHealth Carrollwood. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian Palumbo performed the procedures. Palumbo first got involved with the charity in 2018.

"I visited Vietnam, and we performed 32 joint replacements for people who weren't fortunate enough to have the resources to have surgery. I really had a passion to bring that same service here to Tampa," said Palumbo, who's a surgeon with AdventHealth Carrollwood and the Florida Orthopedic Institute.

Palumbo said a partnership with AdventHealth Carrollwood and Pioneer Foundation made it possible to bring the program to the region. Operation Walk USA's website describes the organization as an independent medical charitable organization that provides hip and knee replacements to uninsured patients and underserved communities. According to the charity, it's provided 802 patients with joint replacements valued at more than $21.6 million since it was founded in 2011.

"I think when you see those folks who don't have resources, arthritis is crippling," said Palumbo. "They have hip or knee arthritis, they can't work, they can't walk."

Rodna Smiton, 54, of Clearwater, was one of the four patients to receive one of Tampa's first Operation Walk USA surgeries. Smiton was just eight years old when she was injured in an accident at school. She was operated on as a child, but she was left with a limp and pain that got worse as years went by.

"Not only was I having pain in my hip, I was having pain in my knees because I had to compensate the way I walk to get the pressure off my left hip," Smiton said. 

Smiton said that left her legs uneven. Before her December 4 surgery, she said her left leg was essentially three inches shorter than her right because of how she had to adjust due to the pain. She said she noticed while doing exercises following the surgery that her legs are now even.

"I can't wait to eventually not need the walker and start walking and see how, since eight years old, I'll be walking without any assistance," Smiton said. "It's like an early Christmas gift."

Palumbo said he plans to make "Operation Walk USA" an annual program in Tampa. 

"I really see this as an opportunity to provide this service long-term for the years to come," said Palumbo.

He said he wants to recruit more surgeons to allow more patients to take part.