For Linda Shum, the past few years have been filled with significant milestones and challenges—none more meaningful than her recent total knee replacement surgery with Dr. Alexis Gaskin at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.
Linda, who recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary, didn’t mark the occasion with a grand celebration—instead, she was preparing for her long-awaited knee surgery the very next day.
“That was good enough for me,” she said with a laugh.
Born in Ohio and raised in California’s South Bay, Linda now lives in Auburn with her husband. After years of moving across the country and caring for aging parents, she’s now focused on her health, healing, and doing the things she loves.
Her path to surgery began with unexpected pain—not in the knee she had previously injured, but in her hip. “I had gone in thinking it was my left knee,” she recalled. “Dr. Gaskin immediately said, ‘No, it’s your hip that needs replacing.’ I was shocked—but she was right.” That 2021 diagnosis marked the beginning of Linda’s trust in Dr. Gaskin, a bond that would grow even stronger with her most recent procedure.
“I just think she’s wonderful,” Linda said. “She’s down to earth, smart, funny, and explains things so well. I had complete confidence in her.” When a surgery date opened up earlier than expected, Linda jumped at the chance. “There was no fear—just excitement to get it done and move on with recovery.”
Recovery, it turns out, went remarkably well for Linda. Thanks to her dedication to Reformer Pilates, she had built up a strong core and was in great physical shape for surgery.
“My range of motion after just one week was what they expected at two weeks,” she recalled. “I was off the walker in about five days and used the cane for just a couple more.”
Spearheaded by Dr. Gaskin, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento (SMCS) introduced the Velys Robotic-Assisted Solution for total knee replacements, reinforcing its legacy of orthopedic innovation and commitment to enhancing patient outcomes. The Velys system brings a new level of precision to joint replacement surgery by using real-time 3D modeling and patient-specific data to guide implant placement and ligament balancing. This technology helps reduce swelling, improve joint stability, and speed up recovery—without the need for pre-surgical CT scans, potentially lowering both cost and radiation exposure. The adoption of Velys marks a full-circle moment for SMCS, which pioneered the world’s first robotic-assisted joint replacement in 1992 using Robodoc in the very same operating room. Sutter Novato Community Hospital was the first in the Sutter system to get the Velys robot in 2022.
Linda credits Dr. Gaskin’s expertise and the Sacramento team’s advanced pain management approach for making her recovery surprisingly smooth. “I was worried about the pain, but with the three-day pain pump, it never got above a six,” she said. “I didn’t even finish all my pain meds.”
Dr. Gaskin showcases Velys in the OR following a procedure.
More than anything, Linda sees her journey as a testament to resilience, trust, and the healing power of a positive mindset. “Dr. Gaskin told me that people who’ve been through tough things tend to heal better—and I believe that’s true. It’s not just about the surgery—it’s about being mentally strong, having a great care team, and believing that the other side is going to be good.”
