Operation Dez Strong

05/31/2026

May 31 is Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day!

Today, Operation Dez Strong is helping spread awareness about a rare but very serious illness called Necrotizing Fasciitis, sometimes known as a “flesh-eating bacteria” infection.

This disease changed the lives of our founders, Dez and Jonathin, who are both survivors. It took a lot from them, but it never took away their strength, determination, or desire to help others. In fact, their experiences inspired them to create Operation Dez Strong, a nonprofit dedicated to helping amputee children and their families.

While Necrotizing Fasciitis can sound scary, today is also about celebrating hope, courage, and resilience. We want kids and families facing challenges to know that difficult circumstances do not define who you are. With support, determination, and a strong community, amazing things are possible.

As we recognize Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day, we honor survivors, remember those affected by this disease, and continue our mission of helping children overcome obstacles and reach their goals.

From something so difficult came something powerful: a community dedicated to helping kids thrive.

05/28/2026

May is Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month!

Necrotizing Fasciitis is a devastating disease that changes lives in an instant. It took so much from Jonathin Perez, including part of his leg, but it never took his spirit, his strength, or his determination.

Jonathin is not just a survivor, he’s proof that resilience can outshine even the darkest moments. Instead of letting this terrible disease define him, he chose to rise above it and make something powerful out of his journey just to spite everything it tried to take away.

Jonathin’s story is also part of the reason Operation Dez Strong was created. The organization was founded because of two incredible necrotizing fasciitis survivors (and their parents) who turned pain into purpose and chose to help other children and families facing life-changing challenges.

Today, Jonathin continues to inspire others through his courage, confidence, and refusal to quit. His journey is a reminder that even after unimaginable hardship, there is still purpose, joy, and strength ahead.

Please help spread awareness about Necrotizing Fasciitis, support survivors, and honor the strength of those fighting battles most people have never even heard of.

💚💜

05/13/2026

Look at our girl!

“Kamni Del Barba of Stockton, California, is a wife, mother of two and retired Army combat veteran who works for Stockton Unified. Kamni, a native of India who has lived in Stockton since 1980, is passionate about supporting amputee children and their families after her son, Dez Del Barba, contracted streptococcus A during Army basic training. She spoke to us about what it means to be a mother, her son’s experience and her passion for helping others.”

Thank you Kamni Del Barba for all of your hard work and dedication!! 💚💜

I Love My Community: Kamni Del Barba

Kamni Del Barba of Stockton, California, is a wife, mother of two and retired Army combat veteran who works for Stockton Unified. Kamni, a native of India who has lived in Stockton since 1980, is passionate about supporting amputee children and their families after her son, Dez Del Barba, contracted streptococcus A during Army basic training. She spoke to us about what it means to be a mother, her son’s experience and her passion for helping others.

Q. Describe your career.
A. I served over 20 years in the U.S. military, holding a wide range of positions that spanned logistics, training, recruiting, military intelligence and readiness. I managed operations, ensured mission readiness and led personnel development. I coordinated training programs, supported critical missions under high-pressure conditions, and implemented policies to improve efficiency and effectiveness. My focus was always on preparing individuals to perform at their best and achieve objectives safely and successfully. Today, I work for Stockton Unified School District with their human resources department. I have been with them since my retirement from the military.

Q. Tell us a little about your family.
A. My supportive husband and I have been together for 30 years. We have one son and one daughter.

Q. What does it mean to you to be a mother?
A. It means loving more deeply than I ever imagined. It’s guiding, protecting and supporting while learning from them in return. I celebrate their joys, carry their fears and give a piece of my heart that lasts forever. It’s the most extraordinary love I will ever know.

https://www.herlifemagazine.com/centralvalley/i-love-my-community/i-love-my-community-kamni-del-barba/

04/11/2026

04/06/2026

April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, dedicated to supporting the over 2.1 million Americans living with limb loss or limb difference. Led by the Amputee Coalition, this month-long campaign promotes community, highlights stories of resilience, and advocates for equitable access to care, with a major focus on wearing orange to show support. Below is a list of just a few of the websites available with resources for children with limb loss/limb difference:

https://amputee-coalition.org/understand-limb-loss-and-limb-difference/
https://www.limbpower.com/resources/childrens-resources
https://www.whatcanhayesbe.com/resources?
https://www.armdynamics.com/upper-limb-library/resources-for-parents-of-children-with-upper-limb-differences-or-limb-loss
https://amputeelawyer.com/information-for-parents-children/resources-to-help-children-understand-limb-loss/

🎗️🧡

03/25/2026

WOW! Look at your donations being put to use. 💚

Back in November at our local YMCA event, where Dez was a keynote speaker, we had the honor of meeting Joshua from Amputee Blade Runners (ABR). Through your generosity, Operation Dez Strong was able to grant ABR $3,000 to help kids access prosthetics, and now we get to show you exactly how that impact is changing lives.

Meet Addy. ✨

Addy was born with fibular hemimelia, a rare condition affecting her left leg. Just before her third birthday, she underwent a below-the-knee amputation opening the door to a life full of movement, growth, and possibility. And she took off running, literally.

From joyful laps around the house to dedicating 10+ hours a week in competitive gymnastics, Addy’s drive never slowed down. But her everyday prosthesis couldn’t keep up with her passion. It caused discomfort and limited her ability to safely perform at the next level.

That’s where ABR, and YOU, came in.

With the support made possible by your donations, Addy received a running blade that has completely transformed her abilities. Now she’s powering down the vault runway, confidently tumbling, and expressing herself freely, all without pain.

Even more powerful? Her confidence. Her joy. Her belief in herself.

Addy isn’t defined by what she was born without, she’s defined by her strength, her determination, and her unstoppable spirit.

This is what your support does. This is why we do what we do.

Thank you for helping kids like Addy fly.

To see more of Addy’s journey, visit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTtGhGzElCn/

To donate to help more kids like Addy, visit: www.operationdezstrong.org/donate

03/23/2026

Congratulations to our very own Jonathin Perez, ODS Kid Henry’s brother Bryan, and their respective teams for their placings at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association national championship this weekend!

02/27/2026

From the very beginning, Anthony’s journey has been harder than it should have been.

During his first surgery, his limb wasn’t shortened properly. He was left with a painful, pointy fibula (you can see the photo on the ODS site). Since day one, he’s dealt with pain and discomfort when walking. But getting someone to truly listen and acknowledge that the fibula was the problem was a battle in itself.

Last year, his family sought multiple opinions local to them. They kept hoping someone would step in with answers. Instead, they left appointments feeling unheard and frustrated.

What many people don’t realize is that prosthetics is a highly specialized field and that level of specialty care isn’t always readily available locally. The right facilities, surgeons, and prosthetic teams aren’t always in your backyard. Traveling is often necessary to find the expertise, technology, and compassionate care an amputee truly needs.

Eventually, after a lot of frustration, Anthony’s family made the decision to go out of state, where Anthony’s prosthetist is located. He told them, “If you can’t find the right care near you, bring him here.”

So that’s what they did.

That’s why they continue to travel to New York for his treatment and for his prosthetic leg. It’s where Anthony finally found doctors and professionals who understood his situation and helped him move forward with more comfort and stability.

No family should have to cross state lines just to be heard. But they will always go wherever they need to go to make sure Anthony gets the care he deserves. And ODS will be right here to help alleviate some of those costs.

If you’d like to support Anthony and other amputee children like him, you can donate here:
www.operationdezstrong.org/donate

02/23/2026

The action in Italy is NOT done!

The begin March 6 on NBC and Peacock!

02/17/2026

Operation Dez Strong is beyond grateful to share that our 5th Annual Valen-tini Benefit, hosted by the incredible team at True You Hot Yoga, raised an amazing $5,976.57!

Because of our supporters, donors, and community, this event was a beautiful success. Every dollar raised helps us continue our mission to help amputee children in a meaningful way.

If you weren’t able to attend but would still like to donate, it’s not too late! Your support always makes a difference.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Christina Fugazi, Mayor of Stockton, for stopping by, supporting our event, and surprising us with an incredible community recognition and donation to Operation Dez Strong. Your encouragement means so much to our organization and the families we serve.

Not only did Mayor Fugazi present Operation Dez Strong with a certificate of recognition, she also honored Lisa Krieger, owner of True You Hot Yoga, with a certificate recognizing her outstanding community service and continued support of small nonprofits like Operation Dez Strong through the annual Valen-tini Benefit.

This is what community looks like. 💕
We are so thankful for the love, generosity, and partnership that make events like this possible.




www.operationdezstrong.org/donate