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Health

Health News 04/07/2021

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(Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

ThunderBug helps to raise awareness
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the Tampa Bay Lightning helped AdventHealth to spread the word. Before puck drop against the Dallas Stars at a recent game, ThunderBug stopped by AdventHealth Tampa and AdventHealth Connerton to raise awareness and encourage the community to get screened. Hospital team members also dressed in blue to honor the month.

Autism Awareness Month
The Autism Society in 1970 launched an ongoing nationwide effort to promote autism awareness and assure that all affected by autism are able to achieve the highest quality of life possible, according to its website.
The society in 1972 launched the first annual National Autistic Children’s week, which evolved into Autism Acceptance Month. This April, it continues its efforts to spread awareness, promote acceptance and ignite change.
The Autism Society of America recognizes Autism Acceptance Month (AAM) in April 2021 with its “Celebrate Differences” campaign. Designed to build a better awareness of the signs, symptoms, and realities of autism, #CelebrateDifferences focuses on providing information and resources for communities to be more aware of autism, promote acceptance, and be more inclusive in everyday life.
The Autism Society recognizes that the prevalence of autism in the United States has risen from 1 in 25 children in 2010, to 1 in 54 in 2020 – and, due to this continued increase, the goal of AAM is to further increase awareness about autism signs, symptoms and opportunities through information and referrals, events, printable and digital resources, and community partnerships with businesses and organizations dedicated to building inclusive experiences.
The Autism Society has a variety of resources designed to inform and encourage communities to celebrate differences, and become more inclusive of individuals with autism.
For information, visit autism-society.org.

Child abuse prevention
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial strain, isolation and anxiety, and children are more vulnerable than ever, according to a Champions for Children news release.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and four local nonprofits will work together to ensure that at-risk parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to promote children’s social and emotional well-being, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Feeding Tampa Bay and the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County will join Champions, to help equip families with “resources, support and coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress,” said Dr. Amy Haile, executive director, Champions for Children, in the release.

Hospital hits milestone
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s TAVR team completed a milestone of 500 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.
The innovative procedure has shifted aortic valve replacement from the operating room to a hybrid cardiac catheterization lab, reducing procedure time, recovery time, and improving outcomes for patients with heart valve disease.
In TAVR, the new valve is guided up to the patient’s heart via an artery, as the physician directs the position with X-ray guidance. The new valve is placed into the diseased valve and opened like an umbrella, pushing aside the old valve and providing a new, clear pathway for blood flow through the valve.
At Bayonet Point, the procedure is primarily performed without general anesthesia, allowing for a faster recovery.

New infusion center
Patients with COVID-19 in Tampa Bay now have the option to receive another innovative new treatment, as AdventHealth has opened a clinic offering monoclonal antibody therapies, according to a news release.
The 18-chair outpatient infusion unit, in Hillsborough County, is treating adult patients with the monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab.
The treatment is intended for those who have developed COVID-19 symptoms, are not hospitalized or on oxygen, but are at high risk for progressing to a more severe case.
To qualify, patients must also have a high-risk factor, such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity, and have a doctor’s order.
If a patient is 65 or older, they must simply have a positive COVID-19 test within the 10-day symptom window and a doctor’s order.
The monoclonal antibodies are the latest in a suite of innovative treatments offered by AdventHealth, including remdesivir, sarilumab, dexamethasone and convalescent plasma.
To schedule an appointment, call 321-235-6185.

Health News 03/31/2021

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Nurse navigator serves as guide
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s orthopedic surgery services includes the unique position of nurse navigator.

Krystal Taylor, orthopedics nurse navigator, left, and Brynn Ladoniczki, orthopedics nurse manager (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Krystal Taylor, the hospital’s nurse navigator, guides patients completely through orthopedic surgery, working with their surgeon.

“Krystal is the person with you from the very start, before surgery, before you even come into the hospital,” said Brynn Ladoniczki, the hospital’s orthopedics nurse manager, in a news release.

“She’s also with you during pre-op, post-op and after discharge. You’ll have your very own person who’s with you each step of the way to make sure you have everything you need,” Ladoniczki said.

Taylor added, “I’m the patient’s advocate. I’m there to help you maneuver through each stage, prior to admission, while they are in the hospital and when you go home. I’m here to prepare, educate, inform and help you know what to expect.”

Taylor also has the advantage of being an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). This special designation allows her to do things similar to a doctor and beyond the role of a traditional nurse. She can write orders for physical therapy or home health care, prescribe medications, order nutrition and diet consultations or order equipment like a rolling walker. She can also speak on a surgeon’s behalf and facilitate a discharge so a patient can go home faster.

“Patients appreciate the work of our nurse navigator,” Ladoniczki said. “They like that familiarity and consistency of having that same person with them the whole time.”

Learn more about St. Joseph’s orthopedic services at BayCare.org/hospitals/st-josephs-hospital-north.

Count the Kicks campaign
The Florida Department of Health is partnering with Count the Kids, an evidenced-based stillbirth prevention public health campaign, to educate and empower pregnant women about the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy.

One out of every 147 pregnancies in Florida ends in stillbirth, according to Florida vital statistics, in a news release.

The campaign was launched in April 2020, near the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research shows the benefits of expectant moms tracking their baby’s movements daily and learning how long it normally takes the baby to get to 10 movements. After a few days, moms will begin to see a pattern.

If the baby’s “normal” changes during the third trimester, it could be a sign of potential problems and an indication that the expectant mom should call her health care provider.

Maternal health providers, birthing hospitals, social services agencies, childbirth educators and other providers in Florida can order free Count the Kicks educational material, at CountTheKicks.org, to help them have the kick-counting conversation with expectant parents.

Since the launch of the campaign last year, more than 313,000 educational pieces have been distributed throughout the state.

Count the Kicks also has a free app available in the iOS and Google Play app stores, and is available in 12 languages.

It also features a kick-counting history, daily reminders, and the ability to count for a single baby and twins.

 

Health News 03/24/2021

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Hospital celebrates 40 years
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, a Level II Trauma Center, celebrates its 40th anniversary on March 23, in recognition of its historical beginning and contributions to the community.

The Pasco County Commission on March 9 presented the hospital with a proclamation in appreciation of its four decades of service.

More than 82,000 patients yearly arrive from the West Suncoast, Nature Coast, and across the nation to receive superior care at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, a facility that is connected to the nation’s leading health care system, HCA Healthcare, according to a news release.

“Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been providing exceedingly excellent and exceptional service for the past 40 years, with constantly evolving cutting-edge technology and progressively improving world-class patient care,” said Dr. Rao Musunuru, who has served as chairperson of the hospital’s Board of Trustees multiple times over the past 40 years and was instrumental in establishing the nationally acclaimed heart institute, in the release.

Comfort for those in need
Three members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club — Dolores Tarafa, Debbie Cardona and Dee Knerr — designed and fabricated “fidget” lap blankets for patients at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home Memory Unit in Land O’ Lakes.

The women did some research and learned that this type of blanket is a very helpful tool in calming the anxiety of dementia patients.

Many hours of sewing and handcrafting went into each piece, and 10 blankets were delivered to the nursing home facility’s activities director, Johanna Snee.

For information on the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Local hospitals recognized
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills are the only Tampa Bay hospitals to achieve Healthgrades’ 2021 America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award, according to a news release.

The distinction places the two hospitals in the top 5% of nearly 4,500 hospitals assessed across the United States for superior clinical performance, according to Healthgrades.

“Patient safety and high quality of care continues to be our priority and we are honored to receive this recognition, said Erik Wangsness, president and CEO, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, in the release.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of our physicians and team members who are committed to keeping our patients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and each and every day,” Wangsness said.
During the 2021 Healthgrades study period, these facilities showcased superior performance in clinical outcomes for patients who suffer heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and sepsis.
“Clinical excellence is at the core of our care and this distinction highlights our ongoing commitment to provide our expertise to every patient, every time,” said Amanda Maggard, president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City.

“This prestigious honor celebrates the dedication of our teams who continue to go above and beyond to ensure our communities are receiving the best care possible and experiencing better outcomes,” said Maggard.

To learn more about how Healthgrades determines award recipients, and for more information on Healthgrades Quality Solutions, visit HealthGrades.com/quality.

Will the COVID-19 pandemic end soon?

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It’s been a year since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shocked the United States and the world, but brighter days are seemingly ahead, thanks to the ramp up of vaccinations combined with other established health and safety protocols.

Dr. Javier Gonzalez, a board-certified emergency department medical director with AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, for one, is cautiously optimistic that a sense of normalcy could arrive by summertime.

Dr. Javier Gonzalez, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills board-certified emergency department medical director (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

That’s assuming that surging COVID-19 virus variants don’t “get crazy” and force the population to get revaccinated, he said.

“Hopefully we’ll get through this in July when we’re supposed to be majority vaccinated, so hopefully this won’t last long and we’re in the final stretch,” Gonzalez said. “As soon as we can get everybody vaccinated, the easier it will be for all for us to go back to a normal time again.”

Gonzalez was the featured guest speaker during The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce March virtual business breakfast meeting.

Gonzalez — also certified as a diplomate with the American Board of Toxicology — spent the bulk of his 45-minute informational talk discussing the various COVID-19 vaccines available and the science behind them.

The health care leader explained the “whole goal” of the vaccines is not necessarily about not getting COVID-19, but rather to mitigate or prevent serious complications or death from the virus.

He put it like this: “People think the goal of the vaccine is, ‘I don’t want to get the disease.’ No, the purpose of the vaccine is not getting the complications. So, the endpoint really should be, ‘Am I going to get sick enough that I’m going to go to the hospital, or am I going to die from COVID-19?’ That’s what you’re trying to prevent, just like the flu vaccine. Most people can get the flu even if you’re vaccinated, but you don’t want to die from the flu, you don’t want to get the pneumonia complications.”

Gonzalez detailed how vaccines are designed to introduce some of the viral genetic material into the body so antibodies can be developed, “which is the key to help you fight the virus in the future.”

He shot down myths that the authorized COVID-19 vaccines may somehow change or interact with a person’s DNA in any way, explaining how the vaccine is delivered into cell’s cytoplasm, not the nucleus.

Said Gonzalez, “I know a lot of people are concerned it’s messing with our DNA. It doesn’t; it stays outside the nucleus of our cells, so it doesn’t go into where our DNA is…”

He touched on the efficacy of the various types of available vaccines, too.

He mentioned both the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines have shown to be about 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections for the general population, while the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson viral vector vaccines have come in at 72% and 70%, respectively.

For comparison, the annual flu shot is about 40% to 50% effective in preventing influenza, he said.

The notable piece, Gonzalez emphasized, is the four COVID-19 vaccines are proven 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths related to the virus.

“Don’t be discouraged by these (efficacy) numbers,” he said. “Look at the flu vaccine. We get it every year, and it’s only 40% to 50% effective, but (lack of) hospitalization and death is the important factor here. I don’t care if I get COVID, as long as I don’t die from it.”

Saint Leo University hosted the first COVID-19 vaccine distribution in East Pasco County back in mid-January, at its campus in St. Leo. (File)

With that, he encouraged people to go ahead and get the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, if eligible to do so.

Said Gonzalez, “Is Johnson & Johnson weaker? Yeah, it’s weaker for you not to get COVID, but it’s going to prevent me from going to the hospital and dying from it, so if you are eligible to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, then by all means, please get it.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida, as of March 15, to include those age 60 or older.

Eligibility continues to evolve, so be sure to check for the latest information on state or local health department websites.

Gonzalez, who’s been vaccinated himself, acknowledged experiencing some pain in the injection site.

He knows others have experienced headaches, fatigues and muscle aches for 24 hours to 48 hours — not dissimilar to flu shot symptoms.

He recommended taking Tylenol for relief post-injection. “When you get a side effect from the flu vaccine, most likely you’ll probably get it from COVID-19 (too),” Gonzalez said.

Serious side effects like anaphylaxis are rare, with less than a 0.1% reported, he said, adding, “We haven’t seen any deaths from people getting COVID vaccines.”

Meantime, as others wait to get vaccinated, Gonzalez emphasized continuing proper mask-wearing in public spaces.

He underscored how it reduces risk of transmission or spread of respiratory droplets containing viruses, whether through breathing, talking, coughing or sneezing.

The medical professional admitted, like others, he doesn’t particularly enjoy wearing a mask, but illustrated the bigger picture at play: “I know it’s cumbersome, (but) it doesn’t take that long, you’re helping your neighbor, you’re helping yourself, so, it’s just easier to wear one, whether you believe in it or not, it doesn’t take much from somebody to wear a mask. Just cover your mouth and cover your nose, and be a good citizen with everybody else.”

Improved COVID-19 treatment options
From an encouraging standpoint, inpatient and outpatient COVID-19 treatment options have improved greatly since the pandemic’s onset, Gonzalez observed.

Inpatient hospital care options include anti-virals like remdesivir, similar to Tamiflu to fight influenza; steroids like decadron, given to patients with low oxygen saturations; and convalescent plasma injections, whereby COVID-19 survivors’ antibodies are transfused into sick COVID-19 patients.

In the way of outpatient COVID-19 management, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills were some of the first hospitals in the health care system’s West Florida division offering monoclonal antibody infusion, Gonzalez said.

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. (File)

With monoclonal antibody infusion, synthetic antibodies created in a pharmaceutical laboratory are used to limit the amount of virus in the body, treating COVID-19 positive patients and preventing progression to more severe cases and symptoms.

The therapy requires an IV infusion at the hospital and takes about three hours, Gonzalez said.

“We got a lot of good feedback from patients that have received this,” he said, noting his parents and fellow physicians have received therapy at both facilities. “Within 24 hours they were miraculously better.”

Gonzalez pointed out this treatment was actually used to help President Donald Trump recover from the coronavirus, administered at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Don’t ignore other health care issues
Even amid the pandemic, Gonzalez strongly advised people to not put other non-COVID-19-related health care issues on hold, or simply ignore new or persistent symptoms.

Hospitals have taken extreme measures to make sure that people with COVID-19 are held in separate locations, he said, so there shouldn’t be fear of visiting facilities to take care of other medical conditions — whether it’s diabetes, hypertension, or routine cancer screenings.

“Please keep your appointments for chronic disease management, especially if you’re taking medications,” he said.

The speaker noted how hospitals are reporting fewer heart attacks and strokes amid fear of COVID-19 —worrying doctors that patients are avoiding visits for health issues that require prompt care.

“Timing can be the difference,” he said. “If you wait too long (to seek medical care) you’re going to get more comorbidities and more risk for mortality or death.”

A seasonal virus?
At least one lingering question is whether COVID-19 will become a seasonal virus, like the flu.

Gonzalez said it’s “really a debatable question,” adding, “at this time, there’s no data suggesting it will be seasonal.”

However, the medical director explained because COVID-19 is virally enveloped, it’s more apt to survive and travel in cold weather.

Moreover, because sunlight is less intense in the wintertime, there’s less UV radiation light to kill the virus, he said.

Other concerning factors of the virus perhaps spreading more in the wintertime, he said, is a byproduct of people congregating in enclosed indoor spaces more often. There’s also risk of weakened immune responses as people have less Vitamin D amid less sunlight, he said, so supplements are recommended in wintry months.

Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and appear two days to 14 days after exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.

  • Fever/chills
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry cough
  • Loss of smell/taste
  • Muscle aches
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Note: Seek medical care immediately if someone has emergency warning signs of COVID-19.

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Five mistakes to avoid with your mask

  • Not washing your hands
  • Not covering your nose and mouth
  • Touching or adjusting mask
  • Masking too late, removing it too soon
  • Reusing old/dirty masks

Source: Akron Children’s Hospital

COVID-19 general prevention measures

  • Avoid sick individuals
  • Socially distance at least six feet
  • Wash hands for at least 20 seconds
  • Disinfect high-touch and high-transit areas, such as elevators and stairwells
  • Wear a mask in the community

Published March 17, 2021

Mascot leads the way with safety precautions

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(Courtesy of Pratt Communications)

The Museum of Science and Industry, and the Tampa Bay Lightning continued their partnership with a recent virtual field trip led by Thunderbug, the Lightning mascot. Thunderbug took advantage of the high-tech UVZone Ozone + UVC shoe-sanitizing station at the museum to ‘score a goal for safety.’ The station can be used with any footwear or shoe cover.

 

AdventHealth expands cancer care in Pasco

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AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has unveiled a 24-bed, inpatient oncology unit, dedicated to the care of cancer patients.

The 13,000-square-foot unit has private rooms, to substantially decrease infection risks for cancer patients, according to a news release from the hospital chain.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel also unveiled two new state-of-the-art operating rooms, expanding the hospital’s ability to provide its clinical expertise in surgical care, the release says.

“Many of our cancer patients have had to travel outside Pasco County for the specialized care they need, and we’re excited to provide convenient access to that expert care right here in our community,” Erik Wangsness, president and CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, said in the release.

The addition of the unit also allows the hospital to expand its workforce and hire more nurses, specifically for the care of cancer patients.

“AdventHealth has a vision to expand its footprint to provide trusted, innovative cancer care to many of our growing communities,” Elizabeth Hayden, director of oncology for AdventHealth West Florida Division, adds in the release. “Our greater strategy is to build on our connected network of care to provide cancer patients in all of our counties with the access to exceptional cancer care when they need us most.”

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is home to a number of surgical cancer services and screening opportunities for the community and survivorship programs geared toward patients who are post-treatment and in remission, the release says.

For more information, visit AdventHealth.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealth.

Published March 10, 2021

Hospital ‘shines on’ during pandemic

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(Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel illuminated its building with the color blue, to honor the lives lost from COVID-19, and to remind people that ‘Hope Shines On.’ The lights also are in recognition of the perseverance of the hospitals’ team members and the community throughout the pandemic.

Health News 03/03/2021

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A pick-me-up for those in service
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club assembled 125 goodie bags filled with snacks and treats for the front-line workers serving the public at the University Mall COVID Vaccination Center.

Linda Mitchell, left, delivers snacks to nurse Corrie Pearson-Sailer, of Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)
A National Guardsman shows his appreciation with a thumbs-up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New director named
Gulfside Healthcare Services has named Eduardo Puntonet as its director of clinical services.

Eduardo Puntonet

In the new role, Puntonet will oversee the clinical nursing teams for the hospice division of the organization in Pasco County.

Puntonet graduated from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and then pursued graduate degrees in business administration, and nursing leadership and management.

“Having received outstanding hospice care in my own family, I know first-hand the meaningful difference that hospice care can make,” said Puntonet in a news release.

“That is why I feel an overwhelming responsibility to assure that every patient under Gulfside’s services receives the most adequate care, which meets the highest quality standards,” he said.

Dean speaks about vaccinations
The University of South Florida Dean of College of Pharmacy Dr. Kevin Sneed recently spoke during the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.’s “Now You Know” virtual community forum.

Sneed spoke and answered questions on the COVID-19 vaccinations, to try to dispel some of the myths and skepticism the community may have in taking the vaccination, according to a news release.

Related topics included school-age children and the virus; children as possible carriers; side effects; and which vaccine to take.

“While there have been children who have been affected and died from the virus, overall children’s affection rate is lower than (adults),” Sneed said in the release.

On the vaccination side effects, Sneed said that fatigue and headaches are the main ones, and that few have had nausea, chills and fever.

“By and large, it’s not serious and most are gone within 24 hours,” Sneed said.

When discussing the different vaccines, he said that people should not “get caught up in the eye candy. It’s like comparing apples to oranges. It has proven to be 100% avoidance of death.”

Sneed said even if you get the shots, people must maintain CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations for social distancing and wearing a mask when social distancing is not possible.

Overdose deaths increase
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) is continuing its efforts to prevent opioid overdoses, which have increased in Pasco Cunty amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) reported a total of 1,491 overdoses in 2020, resulting in 268 deaths — an increase of 71% from 2019, according to a news release.

Pasco County in 2019 was awarded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Overdose Data to Action Grant for $638,400, to assist in decreasing the opioid epidemic in the area.

Partnering with the PCSO and Pasco County Schools, DOH-Pasco hired an opioid epidemiologist as part of the Florida Epidemic Intelligence Service (FL-EIS) Fellowship Program to combat the epidemic.

The partnership has allowed the PCSO Behavioral Health Intervention Team, which partners with BayCare Behavioral Health, to connect individuals to treatment services.

Schools also are able to offer additional prevention education to students.

The partnership also has implemented the CDC’s Rx Awareness Campaign, which will be on billboards and bus wraps throughout the county, to increase knowledge and awareness.

In addition, DOH-Pasco, the PCSO and the Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (ASAP) are working to host a virtual information town hall on opioid misuse and provide education on medication safety measures.

Health News 02/24/2021

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Hospice donation exceeds $9,000
The Bay Area Bassmasters, a B.A.S.S. Nation “Buddy” Team Tournament Trail Bass Fishing Club, set a new record with its annual donation to Gulfside Hospice for $9,129.21.

From left: Tom Craigshead, Carla Armstrong, Pamela Hardy, Carol Mahoney and Tom Mahoney. (Courtesy of Gulfside Healthcare Services)

The funds were raised during the group’s 2020 fishing season through the Ina Mahoney Hospice Challenge, an annual tradition that began when Ina Mahoney passed away on Gulfside’s services in October 2009.

Afterward, the fishing club members rallied around Ina’s husband, Tom, president of the Bay Area Bassmasters, to start the challenge to raise money for Gulfside, as a way to say thank you for the care provided to Ina and the family.

To date, the Ina Mahoney Hospice Challenge donated more than $51,250 to Gulfside.

The club also hosts an annual fundraiser at its meeting each year in November, to raise additional funds through prize drawings.

For information about donating to Gulfside Hospice or the Bay Area Bassmasters, contact Carla Armstrong, director of philanthropy, at 727-845-5707.

 Resiliency Clinic
Veterans and active-duty military members who receive care from SOF (Shield of Faith) Missions’ Resiliency Project recently attended a Resiliency Clinic Program at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel.

The five-day clinic focused on the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of each of the military warriors in attendance.

The participants also receive a one-week telemedicine follow-up, a 30-day re-evaluation, and a 90-day follow-up with SOF Missions Medical Director Dr. Marissa McCarthy.

Dr. McCarthy said in a news release that addressing the suicide epidemic within the veteran and active-duty community requires an intradisciplinary whole-health approach.

The warriors receive care from an array of medical experts, including cognitive, mental health, recreational, strength and conditioning, and spiritual fitness, as well as massage therapists, social reintegration coaches, a nutritionist and an acupuncturist.

The program also focuses on sleep hygiene and nutrition to improve overall brain health.

For more information on SOF and the Resiliency Project, visit SOFMissions.org.

Celebrating one life, saving another

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The day began with a festive feel.

Christine O’Connor, her husband Paul and their son Sean, of Lutz, had gone to an 80th birthday party for Christine’s mom.

Great care had been taken to ensure that Connie Kubiak’s milestone celebration on July 26 would be special.

A dozen people — mostly immediate family — were at the birthday gathering at Connie and Carl Kubiak’s home, in Tampa’s Dana Shores.

Paul O’Connor stands next to his brother-in-law, Chuck Kubiak. When Kubiak went into sudden cardiac arrest, O’Connor, an Eagle Scout, performed CPR — saving his brother-in-law’s life. (Courtesy of Christine O’ Connor)

The house was decked out with 80th birthday balloons, Christine and her sister-in-law Kelly Kubiak had catered the meal, and there were special cupcakes, too.

Christine had spent hours painstakingly putting together a power point presentation — showcasing her mom’s life —timed to a soundtrack of Jimmy Buffet tunes.

“That was really moving for my mom,” Christine said.

It had been a great day, and the party was wrapping up — with immediate family members saying their goodbyes.

Christine was chatting with her brother, Chuck Kubiak, when suddenly he said he felt lightheaded, and he fell into a recliner.

She thought he’d passed out. She tried to get a response, but couldn’t stir him.

“Then, all of a sudden, his color changed. I turned to Paul and I said, ‘He is not breathing.’”

When Paul heard that, he said, “I said to myself, ‘It’s go time.’

“I yelled over to my niece (Brooke Kubiak) to call 911,” Paul said.

He asked his nephew, Brian Kubiak, to go get his keychain. That’s where Paul always keeps a CPR face shield.

“I went to the other side of Chuck,” Paul said. ““I checked his carotid (artery) for a pulse. No pulse.”

Paul, Christine and her brother Craig Kubiak laid Chuck out on the floor.

“I started CPR on him, between CPR compressions and mouth-to-mouth, went back and forth about three times,” Paul said.

As he was doing mouth-to-mouth, he turned Chuck’s head and could hear gurgling.

“He started aspirating a little bit,” Paul said.

“I just flipped him up on the side. He was breathing, but it was very labored,” Paul said.

“Probably the whole scenario was around 5 minutes or so, 5-7 minutes,” Paul added, referring to when he began CPR and when emergency responders arrived.

Chuck was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital’s main campus in Tampa, where he received care and a defibrillator was installed in his chest. He was discharged nearly a week later.

Since then, Chuck has had visits with his cardiologist and had a return trip to the hospital because of blood clots. He remains on medication and said his prognosis is good.

Paul, who is an Eagle Scout, said his Scout training prepared him to do what needed to be done.

He recently received a Medal of Merit award from Boy Scouts of America.

“When it happens, it happens really, really quickly. You have to be prepared for it,” Paul said, in a video taken during the medal presentation in a Lutz Troop 12 ceremony.

“As that gurney went out the front door, he was breathing. I did my job,” Paul said.

“It’s an honor, but then again, I’m an Eagle Scout. I was doing what I was trained to do,” Paul added, after receiving the award from Troop 12 Scoutmaster Paul Evans.

Paul and Christine are both leaders in Troop 12 and their son, Sean, is a Life Scout — preparing to seek the rank of Eagle Scout — in the same troop.

Christine’s family is both deeply impressed and enormously grateful for Paul’s actions.

“It was very surreal, very surreal,” Christine said.

Chuck, who lives in Wesley Chapel, was at the party with his 20-year-old twins, Spencer and Mackenzie. His wife, Lavon, couldn’t attend because the family’s dog was not doing well.

Paul O’Connor, left, stands with Troop 12 Scoutmaster Paul Evans, after an awards ceremony where O’Connor was honored for using CPR skills he learned in scouting to save the life of his brother-in-law, Chuck Kubiak.

Chuck knows how lucky he is to be alive.

“I had what’s called a sudden cardiac arrest. It’s 95% fatal, from what I understand,” he said.

“I was fortunate to be in the right place, at the right time, when it happened, that’s for sure,” Chuck added, because Paul was there and knew what to do.

“It’s important that people not only know CPR, but that they do it correctly, because it makes a big difference, I think, in the outcome,” said Chuck, who learned his cardiac arrest was caused by an enlarged heart, possibly the result of a virus.

In the right place, at the right time
After nearly dying, Chuck said, he’s more aware of the fragile nature of life.

“It just shows you how quick life can come and go,” Chuck said. “Once I went down, it was like the off-switch was hit.”

The experience has made him reflect about how he spends time.

“Life goes by so fast — try to slow down a little,” Chuck said, noting that his brush with death has served to remind him “not be so driven to just work, work, work.”

Christine said she’s happy that they were still at the party when Chuck needed help.

“Why did it happen that way? There’s a reason for everything.

“We could have been gone. We typically leave early on Sunday nights. And we could have left already. Or, Chuck could have been in the car with the kids.

“I’m just grateful that everybody was in the right place at the right moment, and my brother is here with us today,” Christine said.

For his part, Paul hopes more people will receive training to become certified in CPR.

“I’ve been through CPR training a number of times,” Paul said.

“Now, I’m a big proponent for the troop. Even the folks that I work with.

“It can really hit close to home,” Paul said.

Published February 17, 2021