Mother seeks support for sarcoma awareness event
DUNEDIN – Trisha Evans is seeking community partners to organize a DSRCT and sarcoma awareness event in Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
Her daughter, Gianna McCray, is battling desmoplastic small round cell tumor, a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma.
The proposed event would raise awareness of rare childhood cancers, educate the public and support families affected by sarcoma.
Evans is seeking businesses, organizations and residents interested in sponsoring the event, donating goods or services, providing a venue, volunteering or helping with promotion.
She also hopes to establish a foundation in Gianna’s honor. The organization would support families facing rare childhood cancers through education, community support and financial assistance.
Visit her GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/b8fc6b83a.
AdventHealth Auburndale ER reaches milestone
AUBURNDALE – AdventHealth has marked a construction milestone on its new emergency department at 1036 U.S. Highway 92 W. in Auburndale.
Leaders and construction crews signed the final structural beam during a topping out ceremony July 24.
The 13,000-square-foot facility will include 12 private exam rooms, X-ray, CT and ultrasound imaging and a full-service lab. It will also provide pediatric emergency care, pharmacy services and respiratory therapy.
The facility is expected to create more than 35 jobs.
AdventHealth is building the ER to serve Polk County’s growing population. The AdventHealth Auburndale ER will operate as a department of AdventHealth Heart of Florida.
The facility is scheduled to open in early 2027.
Ellie Mental Health adds psychological testing
TAMPA – Ellie Mental Health has launched in-house psychological evaluation and testing services at its St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park and Brandon locations.
The program offers assessments for children and adolescents. Evaluations can help identify ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders and other behavioral or emotional concerns.
“Many families wait months for psychological testing or face significant out-of-pocket costs to receive answers,” owner Allen Whisler said.
The program allows psychologists and therapists to collaborate on treatment plans. Ellie Mental Health also accepts insurance for psychological evaluations.
On the web: EllieMentalHealth.com
House passes Castor’s breast cancer bill
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House has passed Rep. Kathy Castor’s bipartisan Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act reauthorization.
The EARLY Act supports education and resources for younger women and women at higher risk of developing aggressive forms of breast cancer.
“Too many young women face breast cancer without the knowledge or support they need to catch it early and fight back,” Castor said. “For more than 15 years, the EARLY Act has supported young women through outreach and resources that meet them where they are. I’m proud to lead the charge for this bipartisan reauthorization to ensure these critical initiatives that empower women to understand their risks, advocate for their health and get the tools they need to fight the disease continue.”
The legislation reauthorizes three programs administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They include the Bring Your Brave campaign, Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program and continuing medical education courses for health care providers.
Caregiver honored for dementia care
TAMPA – Executive Home Care of South East Tampa has honored Hillsborough caregiver Yudileris “Yudi” Alvarez for her work with people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other special needs.
Alvarez received the Loved01 Cares “Live Like a Legend” Caregiver Recognition Award during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.
“Yudi has an incredible ability to connect with every client she serves,” co-owner Claudia Mirabella said. “She always finds the best way to communicate with compassion, patience and kindness, while treating every individual with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Executive Home Care provides companionship, personal care, dementia care, respite care and other in-home services for older adults.
On the web: south-east-tampa.executivehomecare.com
VA resource fair draws 200 attendees
CAPE CORAL – The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System welcomed about 200 people to its America 250 Resource Fair at the Lee County Healthcare Center.
Veterans, their families and community members met with representatives from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs. Representatives answered questions, assisted with enrollment and provided information about health care, benefits and other resources.
Events like this ensure veterans have access to the care and benefits they earned, according to David VanMeter, director of Bay Pines VA Healthcare.
Attendees also enjoyed free Mission BBQ, family activities, giveaways and opportunities to meet other veterans.
Partnership aims to reduce police stress
TAMPA – The Major County Sheriffs Association has named NuCalm its official Brain Health and Nervous System Regulation Partner.
NuCalm offers a drug-free neuroscience app designed to help users recover from stress and improve sleep.
Under the partnership, NuCalm will support the association’s national Roll Call program and provide education about resilience, nervous system regulation and recovery.
“Law enforcement professionals spend their careers in a constant state of vigilance,” NuCalm President and CEO Jim Poole said. “Without effective recovery, the nervous system can remain trapped in survival mode, increasing the risk of burnout, anxiety, poor sleep and post-traumatic stress.”