Page 13 - Jupiter Spotlight - '24

Jupiter Spotlight, Page 13
Ibis Charities Foundation Helps Fund Mortgage-Free Home

For United States Air Force Master Sergeant Frankie Reilly

The look on retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Francis for us to be able to contribute to a project like this.
“Frankie” Reilly’s face said it all. He didn’t need to say a word. “To see Master Sgt. Reilly and his family here
As Reilly and his wife, Heather, walked into the home experience the joy and pride of their new home while
– their new home – tears welled up in his face as he saw feeling the respect of the community is special. This is
the finished four-bedroom, three-bathroom building for a contribution, but it is given in respect and honor to his
the first time. He stretched his arms over his face in service and for his family’s support.”
disbelief and couldn’t speak for several seconds as he Reilly said he had never heard of The Club at Ibis until
tried to control his emotions. he learned of their donation last year to start the project.
“This is unbelievable,” Reilly said as his family walked Now, he feels a part of that community.
through the rooms. “I can’t believe this is our new home. “The residents at Ibis … they define America and what
It’s incredible.” America is,” Reilly said. “To not know someone and to
It was unbelievable, incredible, heartwarming and step up and help them build a home … that’s our mantra
deserving for the 49-year-old Reilly, who almost lost in the USA, to stand up for others who have fallen.
his right leg in 2004 while serving as a United States “I’m so thankful to Ibis, I would go work for them for
Air Force Pararescue veteran. During the jump, when free, 100 percent. I would go and caddie and do whatever
his parachute deployed, it pulled his leg, snapping it they need me to do. I love Ibis.”
backward and causing severe trauma to his leg and foot.
His leg was saved, but he suffered a Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) and developed PTSD.
Two decades later, Reilly walked into his new
mortgage-free home, thanks to the generosity of Ibis
Charities Foundation, Building Homes for Heroes and Heather and Frankie Reilly with Ibis’ Wayne Crowder in the
PulteGroup. After moving dozens of times during his 24- Reilly’s new home
year military career, the Reillys finally had a place they
could call their home. It included a pool in the backyard “To say this home is a gift is an understatement,” he
and a workout room filled with machines for Reilly, a said. “It’s a symbol of hope and a testament of boundness
Paralympic cycling athlete. and goodness. It’s a place where we can establish lasting
“This is one of the greatest days in my life, next to memories.”
the day I got married and the day my three children were Ibis Charities Foundation, the charitable arm of The
born,” Reilly said. Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, funded the project last
Monday’s ceremony was attended by more than 200 year with a $100,000 donation, with Building Homes for
people who lined the street as a procession of police cars, a Heroes and PulteGroup doing its part to make Reilly’s
firetruck and fellow veterans dream a reality.
led the family to the home. Three years ago, Ibis Charities Foundation funded two
It was an emotional, projects to help veterans make modifications on their
uplifting ceremony that left homes. But the Ibis residents wanted to do more.
Reilly struggling for words “We are blessed to live where we do, and we don’t
when he slowly walked to take that lightly,” said Wayne Crowder, president of The
the podium, a brace on his Club at Ibis’ board and a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S.
right leg. Marine Corps who served in Vietnam. “It is a privilege

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH CARE By Valerie Staggs

Complexity of the knee joint requires a

multi-faceted approach to pain treatment.

Visit any pickleball court around the tions, and injections. Surgery is usu-
country and you’ll notice that one piece ally the last resort, and no problem is
of equipment is becoming more and too small or too big.”
more popular. In addition to the newest
carbon fiber paddles and ball retriever If surgery is recommended, it doesn’t
gadgets, players are sporting a surpris- mean the end to your active lifestyle.
ing array of knee braces. From simple Conditions like a torn meniscus, dam-
stretchy knee sleeves to fully hinged aged ligaments or mild arthritis can of-
knee stabilizers, knee support is the ten be treated arthroscopically. Even if
new norm for people trying to live an a partial or total knee replacement sur-
active lifestyle while dealing with knee gery is needed, you can still enjoy lower
pain or injuries. impact activities like golf, swimming,
bicycling and yes, even pickleball.
Considering that every movement in
your legs and your balance rely on your Sports Medicine & Orthopedics Cen- ti-inflammatory medications can pro-
knees, the knee joint is arguably the ter who performs knee surgery at Jupi- vide relief for minor knee pain. Knee
most important joint in your body. It ter Medical Center. “In reality, only braces can also help; however, using the
is also one of the most complex joints. about 10 percent of my patients end wrong type of brace can result in ad-
Known as a synovial joint, the knee up undergoing knee surgery.” ditional problems. When intermittent
joint consists of bones, cartilage, liga- knee pain becomes severe, Randazzo
ments, muscles and nerves all within In diagnosing knee pain, doctors like says it’s time to seek medical care.
the structure of your knee. Stress or an Randazzo have to go through a seem-
injury to any one of these five inter- ingly endless list of possible diagnoses. “If it’s at the point where an anti-in-
secting parts can cause knee pain that Knee pain can be caused by chronic flammatory medicine isn’t of help, and
can be difficult to pinpoint. Even more conditions such as arthritis or osteo- if you’ve tried home exercise and other
difficult is figuring out when knee pain porosis, inflammatory issues such as interventions aren’t working,” he says,
is concerning enough to seek medical tendinitis or bursitis or injuries such as “then it’s time to see a specialist.” Ran-
treatment. sprains, ligament tears, dislocations or dazzo says symptoms such as swelling
even bone fractures. of the knee joint, recurring or constant
“A lot of people fear going to the doc- knee pain, a knee that is unstable or John L. Randazzo, M.D.
tor or orthopedic specialist because Most active people are accustomed to doesn’t work correctly or an acute knee
they’re afraid they’ll need surgery,” dealing with achy, sore joints, especially injury are all reasons to seek medical For more information about knee conditions
says Dr. John Randazzo, a board-cer- as they grow older. The age-old RICE care. “Usually, we can get patients and treatment options, visit https://www.
tified orthopedic surgeon and sports (rest, ice, compression, elevation) meth- back to feeling better and normal ac- jupitermed.com/services/orthopedics/knee/
medicine specialist at Palm Beach od and over-the-counter pain and an- tivity with physical therapy, medica-
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