By Ruth SOWBY

The La Cañada Flintridge Orthopaedic Guild’s (LCFOG) annual Book & Author Luncheon kicked off the 68th year of LCFOG’s support of the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, founded in 1911 as Orthopaedic Hospital. On Oct. 28, the lush setting of the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club set the stage for three authors to introduce their new books and the journeys that led to them. The program was introduced by LCFOG President Dee Dee Nuanes and opened with “special guest” 14-year-old Efrain Ordonez, Institute patient ambassador. Efrain was born with one leg shorter than the other. In a nine-hour surgery, Orthopaedic Institute doctors took off Efrain’s shorter leg, turned it 180 degrees and reattached it. A prothesis was also necessary. Efrain became a patient at the Institute when he was 9 years old. He is on his second protheses and will need a third prothesis as he continues to grow.  A video screened at the luncheon showed Efrain’s literal steps to healing. According to Institute Vice President Mary Beth Perrine, Efrain’s treatment to date has cost over $50,000.  

“This group has been selfless,” said Perrine. (LCFOG has donated a good portion of that money.)  Said Efrain, “I’m grateful for all your donations.” 

The program continued with an audience of 160 members and guests who were all ears as each author read excerpts of their books. The first author was Kim Fay who presented her books “Kate & Frida” and “Love & Saffron.”  

“The pandemic changed everything for me; I wrote a brand new novel in three months,” said Fay.  

Next up was Ellen Byron with her novels, “A Very Woodsy Murder” and “Solid Gold Murder.” She considers her five mystery series “a love letter to Los Angeles.”  

The third and final author was Jane West Bakerink with her children’s book, “Piney the Lonesome Pine.” Bakerink described how she and her husband produced an animated musical of the book.  

“We sold our house to do it,” she said. In 2026 a plush version of Piney will be on the market.

The luncheon was chaired by Joan Cleven with special thanks extended to Once Upon a Time bookstore and LCFOG husbands who manned the cash registers.