Page 20 - Talk of Tequesta - February '24

Page 20, The Talk Of Tequesta

good works from page 19
The Gardens Mall Shines Bright Through The Spirit Of Giving

During the holiday season, $3,800 in cash donations and more than 2,000 toys to portion of the day’s sales to the local theatre, while shoppers
The Gardens Mall displayed its distribute to kids in Palm Beach County. delighted in performances from its young performers.
commitment to the community A single day of shopping on Dec. 9 earned more than The lively holiday season reinforced The Gardens Mall’s
by serving as a not-so-secret $3,000 for the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Retailers donated a more than 30-year commitment to local charities. This
Santa. Through various season’s generosity will be felt in the community throughout
charitable events, the mall raised the new year.
close to $20,000 for Palm Beach Photos by Tyler Benson Photography
County organizations.
“The Gardens Mall has
always been a place for the
community to come together,
especially during the holiday
season,” said Whitney Pettis
Jester, director of marketing Salvation Army angel tree
and merchant relations at The
Gardens Mall. “We’re proud of our shops and patrons
whose commitment to local charities shines through,
especially this time of the year.”
The Gardens Mall offered several sources of fun and ways
to raise funds during the holidays. The Kids Corner Holiday
Shop helped children find presents for the special people Kids Corner holiday shop entrance Kids Corner holiday shop
in their lives, with all proceeds benefiting The Arc of Palm
Beach County. The endeavor raised $7,600 to help children Cleveland CliniC
and adults with developmental disabilities.
The 34th Annual Musicthon saw students from the Palm
Beach County School District music program donate their Florida news
time and collect pledges for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Their efforts culminated in a performance extravaganza on
Dec. 16, and raised $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation Robotic-Assisted Valve Surgery
to help fulfill the dreams of children with critical illnesses.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree was adorned with 680
angels, as shoppers helped fulfill the holiday wishes of At Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital
underprivileged children. The Salvation Army received
Got Joe Back On Stage

all abouT kids
Joe Santoro had been dealing with mitral valve disease An international
for almost a decade when his cardiologist told him that the leader and pioneer in
cardiothoracic surgical
new symptoms he had were caused by an additional heart
Why Can’t My condition – atrial fibrillation. His doctor advised him to techniques and devices,
Navia is the inaugural holder
undergo a procedure to treat the valve disease. Joe, a first-
Child Keep Up? grade teacher and musician, decided to get a second opinion. of the S. Donald Sussman
He chose Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, where he met
Distinguished Chair in Heart
with Jose L. Navia, M.D., director of Cleveland Clinic’s
and Vascular Research.
Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute in Florida. Joe’s procedure was
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D., Licensed School Psychologist
“After seeing Dr. Navia, I knew there were more the fourth performed by
A conce rne d mom options,” Joe says. Cleveland Clinic Weston
explained her child’s A Better, Faster Process Hospital after the Cardiac Robotic Program was launched
struggles to me: “I feel Joe chose a robotically-assisted approach to his mitral in January 2022. The hospital is the only center in South
like sometimes Jenny valve repair surgery because it was less invasive than Florida that offers robotically assisted mitral valve repair.
cannot keep up with a traditional open-heart surgery and he would heal faster. Back With The Band
conversation. When we are During this robotically-assisted procedure, the surgeon Three weeks after Joe’s robotically-assisted valve repair
talking she often stops and sits at a console in the operating room. The console surgery, he was back to normal activities. His band played
asks questions to explain provides a high-definition, 10x magnified view of the a gig – and he played right along with them.
more or again. When she patient’s valve. From the console, the surgeon directs “I was jumping around, playing guitar and singing. I felt
hears a new word, she robotic arms to move surgical instruments through a perfectly fine. It was amazing,” Joe says. Thanks to this new
does not seem to hear it small incision. The surgical instruments are sized to allow approach to valve repair, Joe was able to get back to doing
correctly. We have to repeat for more precise movements. The patient benefits from the things he loved faster than if he had undergone a more
it a few times and break it down into the sounds for her less trauma to the chest, which allows for a better, faster traditional heart surgery.
to finally get it and repeat it back correctly. When she healing process. Patients from across the United States, Latin America
is telling a story or giving information, it can take her a “A robotically-assisted approach for valve repair surgery and the Caribbean turn to Cleveland Clinic Weston
long time to think of what she wants to say and if you is the ultimate new use for technology,” Navia says. “This Hospital for lifesaving treatment options. To schedule an
interrupt her she has to start all the way at the beginning approach provides the patient with a better option to have appointment with a heart specialist, call (877) 463-2010 or
again and she gets frustrated. She says kids at school a durable repair or replacement of the valve.” visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Heart to learn more.
make fun of her because she can’t read.”
Our school neuropsychological testing showed Jenny “Service is our number one priority”
had a language-based learning disability along with
dyslexia and dysgraphia. She was a smart girl but her 561-743-0070
language disorders interfered with her ability to listen,
follow directions, discriminate sounds, and express www.palmspoolservices.com
herself. Since writing and reading are language-based
skills she could not put her thoughts into writing and
while she could memorize, she could not pronounce
unfamiliar words. Jenny had a strong memory and could
memorize adequately so this concealed her true struggles.
Jenny’s mom wanted to know how to help Jenny so
our recommendations provided her with the best reading
program and some tutors. We also provided a list of games
they could purchase to play at home to help. Testing
helped dad learn that when Jenny could not get to the
point, he needed to give more patience and understanding.
The testing also provided mom with paperwork to share
with Jenny’s school staff. They developed a plan with
goals to help Jenny in school. We discussed next steps
in our one-hour results review meeting. Expires 3/15/24.
It’s unusual for smart children to experience long-term
academic struggles. You know your child best so if you State Licensed & Insured
are concerned, call to discuss your child. Visit JimForgan. Serving Palm Beach County CPC # 1457468 • LPG#30099
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