The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Health News 04/26/2017

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(Courtesy of Keth Luke)

Music festival lends a hand to Gulfside
The Paulie Palooza Music Festival, at the new Zephyrhills Community Event Venue, raised more than $10,000 to support Gulfside Hospice. The event featured local bands, vendors and a car show. All proceeds from the event go to supporting hospice patient care in Pasco County. A second festival is slated for May. The Jase Randall Band was one of seven bands to perform at the March event.

 

JC Audiology expands
Dr. Judith L. Reese, audiologist with JC Audiology in Lutz, has expanded her practice of nearly 12 years.

The larger facility at the North Fork Professional Center, 1519 Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 105, has a larger waiting room and a suite she created called the Tampa Bay Hearing Aid Hospital, where she and technicians will focus on repairing and servicing hearing aids, along with the everyday business of dispensing new hearing aids.

The new office will be capable of demonstrating real world sound environments to help hearing aid users with hearing adjustments.

During the month of May, JC Audiology will offer free hearing screenings, along with free demos of hearing aids.

To make an appointment, call (813) 949-1331.

Neuropathy clinic
CARE Tampa Bay provides education and support for coping with neuropathy, dealing with physical limitations, home safety, and symptom management.

The free volunteer-run clinic is taking appointments for May and June. Space is limited

For information, contact Cindy Tofthagen at (813) 396-9441 or .

Morton Plant Mease needs volunteers
Morton Plant Mease is looking for volunteers at its Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey.

Current opportunities include van drivers, aides and schedulers for the free van transportation service; dispatchers; patient companions (inpatient bedside support); information desk assistants; patient and visitor escorts; and gift shop and resale shop assistance.

Positions are available seven days a week for ages 14 and older. Hours are flexible and can be scheduled during the day, evenings or weekends. Volunteers should be able to work one four-hour shift a week.

Information sessions take place at the hospital on a regular basis.

To find out more, call (727) 734-6262.

Donate to NAMI
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office has designated NAMI of Pasco (National Alliance on Mental Illness) as its featured charitable organization for the month of April.

Funds raised will stay in the community and be used to offer free classes, including materials and support groups, as well as maintaining a website, brochures and manuals, a small administrative office, and on-going training for new volunteer teachers and facilitators to conduct programs.

For information, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.

Health News 04/19/2017

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(Courtesy of Griswold Home Care)

Foundation gives back to Volunteer Way
The Jean Griswold Foundation, a private charity established in 2010, was created by Griswold Home Care to raise awareness that care for the elderly and disabled should be available to all. The foundation presented $1,000 to The Volunteer Way for its efforts in assisting more than 23,000 families each month in Pasco, Hernando and surrounding counties. From left: Arthur Moseley, certified senior advisor and co-owner of Griswold; Martha O’ Brien, assistant CEO, The Volunteer Way; and Frieda Moseley, co-owner of Griswold.

Volunteers needed
Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care is looking for enthusiastic, committed individuals to join its volunteer team. The hospital’s mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ.

As a volunteer, there are opportunities to apply your skills and talents to create a positive experience for patients, visitors and staff.

For information, contact Anthony Cappellini at (813) 615-7286 or .

Hospital announces new chief operating officer
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s CEO Shayne George announced the appointment of Joe Rudisill as its new chief operating officer.

Rudisill comes from Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, where he served in HCA’s Chief Operating Officer Development Program.

Prior to joining HCA, Rudisill was the director of operations at Virginia Urology.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rudisill is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Emergency medical help coming to Central Pasco

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Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is again expanding its services, this time setting up a freestanding emergency department in Land O’ Lakes.

This is what Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s new emergency facility, being built off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, will look like.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

The facility, which is expected to be completed by January of 2018, will bring emergency medical assistance closer to residents of Central Pasco County. The new 18,000-square-foot center will be near the entrance to Bexley, a new community being built off of State Road 54, just east of the Suncoast Parkway in Pasco County.

The facility will offer full-service emergency care, 24 hours a day, and will be staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses that are highly trained in emergency care.

The 24-bed facility also will have state-of-the-art on-site imaging services such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT scans and laboratory services.

Dignitaries gathered at the site for an April 6 formal groundbreaking ceremony.

Speakers included Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore and Pasco County Fire Chief Timothy Reardon.

From left, Timothy Reardon, Mike Moore and Mike Schultz, were among the speakers at the formal groundbreaking ceremony for a new freestanding emergency room being built in Land O’ Lakes.

“Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is committed to our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ,” Bales-Chubb said. “With that mission, we need to make sure that we have emergency services that are convenient to where our community lives and works.

“This facility will provide the same quality care that our patients receive at our main campus,” she said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore enthusiastically welcomed the addition of the new facility to Central Pasco.

“It seems like yesterday that we were just breaking ground at the expansion of the Wesley Chapel Florida Hospital facility,” Moore said. “Here we grow again.”

He called Florida Hospital an extraordinary community partner for residents of Pasco County, a true leader in health and wellness, and a great job creator for the county.

Dignitaries prepare to throw a shovel of dirt to signify the beginning of construction for a new freestanding emergency room for Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, expected to open in Land O’ Lakes in January 2018.

“We’re happy that you decided on Central Pasco at this location,” Moore said. “These off-site emergency rooms, they’re the future. We’re seeing them pop up around the nation.”

The location of the facility allows quality medical care to be within better reach of residents, Moore added.

“I’m excited about the freestanding ERs. It’s something that’s been working throughout the country,” Reardon said.

The new facility gives first responders another avenue of help for patients requiring emergency care.

He also noted the county’s growing needs, as its population increases in general, and there are more Baby Boomers, in particular.

The freestanding emergency room is being constructed by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, which is off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, north of State Road 56.

That hospital, which opened in October 2012, recently completed a massive expansion which involved 111, 993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is part of the Adventist Health System, a not-for-profit health network comprised of 26 hospitals throughout the state.

To find out more about the hospital, visit FHWesleyChapel.org.

Published April 12, 2017

Spa using new medical device

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belle ame Day Spa & Salon, 21758 State Road 54 in Lutz, is offering one complimentary session on its new FDA-registered medical device.

Electromagnetic sessions are used to improve blood flow and circulation, cardiac function, and nutrient and oxygen supply to cells.

Other benefits could include sleep management, stress reduction and relaxation, energy, strength and endurance, and concentration and mental acuity.

For information, call (813) 949-8400.

Tour a $1.9 million home, enjoy a party, raise money for charity

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You don’t have to be among the rich and famous to dip into the lifestyle during the Party at Bella Lago, a charity event set for this weekend.

Waterford Designs is hosting a benefit for the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research on April 8, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The party will be at the Bella Largo Model Home, 18707 Cypress Shores Drive in Lutz.

A poolside view, looking back to Lake Cooper.
(B.C. Manion)

Party-goers will see distinct features wherever they look, in the $1.9 million house designed and built by Toliver Payne, on Lake Cooper in Lutz.

During a preview tour for The Laker/Lutz News, Payne pointed out some of the unique features in the Tuscan-style home, which has 7,720 square feet of space under roof, including 5,405 square feet of living space.

For instance, when party-goers walk through the front door, they will be greeted by a soaring 23-foot ceiling in the foyer and a faux-stone vault, which leads to the rear of the home and a beautiful view of the lake.

As they walk through the vault, they’ll discover a massive room that stretches across the entire rear of the house.

Talk about being spacious — there’s certainly plenty of room in the master bath’s shower at Bella Lago.

Though it’s one single room, he uses beams to create a sense of separation between the gathering spaces on both ends, and kitchen outfitted with high quality equipment, in the middle, Payne said.

On one side of the house, there’s a transition zone leading to a study, a huge walk-in closet, a master bedroom, and a master bath, which includes a giant walk-in shower, a soaker bath and other special features.

The first floor also has a formal dining room and a wine room. And, on the other side of the house, for privacy, a guest bedroom.

A single staircase leads to a second-floor landing, where separate staircases split off leading to bedrooms on both sides of the house. There’s also a room that seems to offer an ideal place for kids to play.

Outdoors, there’s a swimming pool, a baby pool and a Jacuzzi, as well as steps leading down to a fire pit area, closer to Lake Cooper.

There are plenty of spaces where people can have quiet conversations, or gather in larger groups all over the property, indoors and out.

This soaker tub will offer future residents a nice place to relax.

And, those are just a few of the highlights awaiting those attending the Party of Bella Lago, or checking out the house during the 2017 Parade of Homes, presented by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Beyond touring the home, those attending the Party at Bella Lago will be able to partake of an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, live music and dancing, a fashion show, a live auction, a 50/50 raffle and valet parking. Tickets for the soiree are $75 each.

Waterford Designs Inc., owned by Payne, is a luxury homebuilder with more than 200 custom homes in communities, including Eagle Crest in Lutz, Sanctuary on Livingston in Lutz, Brookside in Wesley Chapel, Saddlewood Estates in Wesley Chapel, Turnbury Tampa Palms and Stone Lake Ranch in Thonotosassa.

Other sponsors for Party at Bella Lago include Stone Saver Inc., Scarboro Design, Olde Town Pavers, Total Design Source, Belgium Diamonds Inc., Meares Plumbing, Beaute Savage, SaltBlock Catering Co., and Princess Boutique.

Party at Bella Lago
What: Benefit for American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Research
Where: Bella Lago Model Home, 18707 Cypress Shores Drive in Lutz
When: April 8, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person
Details: Event-goers can explore a Tuscan-style $1.9 million home on Lake Cooper, featuring 7,720 square feet under roof and unique design details. The party includes an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, live music and dancing, a fashion show, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and valet parking. RSVP: (813) 948-4160. For more information, bit.ly/partyatbellalago.

Published April 5, 2017

The amazing attitude of my sister, Karen

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My younger sister, Karen, and I are three years apart. We typically see each other just two or three times a year, because Karen lives in my home state of Minnesota and I live in Florida — more than 1,300 miles away.

While there’s a great distance between us, Karen and I have always been close.

We share many common interests — traveling, gardening, dogs, cooking, outdoor activities, history and our faith. We have often talked of spending more time together when we retire.

Just a few years ago, we began seeing more of each other after Karen and her husband, John, starting wintering outside Thomasville, Georgia. They wanted to get away from Minnesota’s snow and cold, and they needed a warm climate where they could train their dogs to compete in AKC Retriever Hunt Tests.

Diane Kortus, left, and her sister, Karen, during a kayaking trip at a spring close to Tallahassee.
(Courtesy of Diane Kortus)

Thomasville, which is just north of Tallahassee, is a four-hour drive from my home in Land O’ Lakes — making it close enough for weekend visits.

The rest of the year, Karen is back in Minnesota.

She has a fulfilling and happy life there with John, their sons, three grandchildren and, of course, their beautiful dogs.

As we all know, though, unexpected things can happen that turn your life upside down.

In my sister’s case, that happened three years ago when she began having trouble with her vision and spatial awareness. When she was dressing, for example, she often put her tops on backwards. When she drove, she found it increasingly difficult to stay inside the proper lane and would sometimes drift onto the shoulder.

Karen assumed that a change in her vision was causing the problems.

So, she had her eyes examined and bought the best pair of lenses available.

The new glasses didn’t help, and Karen’s vision problems persisted. So, she went to another eye doctor for a second opinion.

The second optometrist told her the new glasses were right on the mark, and couldn’t explain why she was still having trouble with her sight.

Karen’s visual spatial and perception problems grew worse, and they became apparent to her husband and other family members.

In October, she saw her family physician and told her about these problems. The doctor referred Karen to a neurologist.

After a series of test to rule out everything from cancer to blood disorders, she underwent a CAT scan.

She was diagnosed in 2015 with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), described as a variant of Alzheimer’s and also known as Benson’s syndrome. The disease causes shrinkage of the back part of the brain, causing a decline in vision.

The disease usually affects people at an earlier age than typical Alzheimer’s cases, with initial symptoms often experienced in people in their mid-50s or early 60s.

Karen was 56 when she was diagnosed. Most cases of Alzheimer’s disease occur in people age 65 or older.

She was very surprised to learn that her vision was not the source of her problems after all.

Because her disability was getting worse, shortly after her diagnosis she gave up driving and resigned from her position as a registered nurse.

The disease is a progressive disease. Early symptoms include difficulty writing, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and problems with depth perception and navigating through space.

Additional symptoms include apraxia, a disorder of movement planning; alexia, an impaired ability to read; and, visual agnosia, an object recognition disorder.

Some studies have found that about 5 percent of all Alzheimer’s cases are diagnosed with PCA.

Like all Alzheimer’s diseases, there is no cure for PCA.

Medications are available to slow down the degeneration of the brain tissue, and studies show that such drugs can give Karen and other PCA patients 10 years or longer to live.

Instead of being distraught with her terminal diagnosis, Karen is excited about life.

She’s grateful her disease is progressive. She tells me it gives her great peace to be able to plan for the future, knowing how much longer she has to live.

Since her diagnosis, John and Karen have done many things that they had planned to do someday. But now, they do these things today.

It is the rest of the family that worries and mourns about what’s ahead for Karen and John. We marvel at how positive this couple of 33 years is about their future, and admire their attitude of “why wait — let’s do it today.”

It’s a philosophy we all should adopt —whether it’s estate planning and completing your will, buying new carpet and furniture, traveling to someplace you’ve always wanted to visit or reading Moby Dick.

It’s an attitude of living every day as if it was your last, and making sure the people you care about know how much you love them.

When I asked Karen about writing this column, she wanted to make sure I reported that PCA often goes undiagnosed for years, because many eye doctors are not aware of the disease.

Most people diagnosed with PCA first go to their optometrist because they believe they needed stronger glasses. When new glasses or contacts don’t eliminate their visual problems, they often visit other eye doctors — who often are unfamiliar with the symptoms of PCA.

If a PCA patient sees a neurologist sooner, it can be diagnosed and treated earlier, with the potential of slowing down the disease, and saving themselves and their family years of stress and anxiety.

So, next time you see your eye doctor, please ask him or her if he or she is aware of PCA, and if not, to please research the disease to understand how to respond if a patient complains about problems with driving, penmanship and spatial awareness.

Do this for yourself and those you care about.

And, do it for me, and my sister, Karen.

Published April 5, 2017

Lutz pilot honored for his angel flights

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When Larry Marlewski flies his Mooney M201 out of Tampa Executive Airport, he’s often on a mission.

Patient Lance Toth with pilot Larry Marlewski at Vero Beach.
(Courtesy of Larry Marlewski)

He’s one of 650 volunteers who makes sure that Angel Flight Southeast passengers get the care they need. The pilots transport patients who have rare or complicated medical conditions and who have to travel hundreds of miles to and from their medical appointments.

Marlewski, like the other volunteers, donates his plane, fuel and time to transport those patients in need.

The Lutz man, along with Dr. Donna Shannon of St. Petersburg and Warren Cheatham of New Port Richey, are being recognized as “Pilot of the Year” Honorees for the Central Florida West Region.

Patient Rina Shlomo in Larry Marlewski’s Mooney M20J airplane in Ft. Lauderdale.

The recognitions will come on April 7 at the Dr. Franklin G. Norris Pilot Awards Gala, at the River Ranch Resort Airport in River Ranch.

“Pilot of the Year” is the highest honor awarded for Angel Flight Southeast pilots, according to a news release, announcing Marlewski’s selection.

Marlewski, who is retired, said providing the flights is his way of “paying back.”

“We, who have been blessed, are able to offer our service,” he said.

“Here in the Southeast, Angel Flight has flown thousands of passengers to and from medical facilities throughout the Southeast,” he said, noting the missions can be flown not only in Florida, but also in Georgia, Alabama and other states.

The organization has chapters nationwide, he added.

Patient Sacha Hunter Hobbs with her daughter, Tia Camp, and pilot Larry Marlewski and his Mooney M20J airplane at Ft. Pierce.

“We, here in Tampa, of course, are fortunate enough to have the Moffitt Cancer Center, so we get a fair amount of traffic going into and out of Moffitt,” Marlewski said.

Recently, he flew a cancer patient who needed a ride from Tampa back home to Panama City.

Marlewski learned to fly a long time ago, but set it aside for many years. After he took it back it up, he decided to get involved with Angel Flight.

The Angel Flight missions are close to his heart because he lost his first wife to cancer, and he also has friends who have suffered from the disease, he said.

Plus, he noted, making these flights is a good way to keep his Mooney up in the air.

“I enjoy flying,” Marlewski said.

Published April 5, 2017

Local nurse to speak at summit

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Kathleen B. Hill, of Land O’ Lakes, will be the National Nurse Educator Summit speaker at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa in Orlando April 2 to April 5.

Each year the top thinkers, lecturers and teachers in nursing education gather at the summit, hosted by ATI Nursing Education.

Hill will lead attendees in a conversation about “Preparing for NLN CNEA Accreditation.”

The presentation will provide an overview of the process of nursing education program accreditation through the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). It is designed to assist nursing education programs in beginning and understanding the process, and/or making the decision as to whether to pursue accreditation.

Hill has more than 40 years of experience in nursing, nursing education, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and the practice of law. She completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing at Ohio State University, and received a Juris Doctor degree from The Capital University School of Law, both in Columbus, Ohio.

To read more about the 2017 National Nurse Educator Summit, visit NursingSummit.com.

Teen isn’t defined by rare disease

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Remington Walls is just like any other 17-year-old.

Except that he can’t eat food.

Walls, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, suffers from a rare disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).

Essentially, all food deteriorates his esophagus — and there is no cure.

Remington Walls, right, is pictured with Cameron Douglas, a childhood friend. Walls is a switch-hitting, leftfielder on the Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity baseball team. He suffers from a rare disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), in which all food sources cause inflammation in his esophagus.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

His only source of nutrition comes via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash.

It’s specifically designed for patients who are allergic to proteins.

Walls drinks the “shake” 15 to 18 times per day, about every two hours.

Moreover, he’s been drinking the same flavor — orange-pineapple — every day since he was removed from all foods at age 4. It is his only flavor option.

The teen, however, doesn’t let the disorder define him.

“You try not to think about it,” he said.

It also hasn’t prevented him from pursuing his passions, including baseball.

He’s currently a switch-hitting, leftfielder on the Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity squad.

“The only thing I can’t do is eat,” he said. “That’s how I look at it.”

And, over the years, he’s learned to cope with the realization he can’t enjoy any of the foods his peers consume on a daily basis.

“I’ve been around it so long it doesn’t bother me at all. I drink my shake, they have their food,” he said.

But, in recent months, a new hurdle has emerged.

Every year, Walls’ formula was fully covered through insurance — until now.

His mother, Stephanie Walls, says coverage was coming through Verizon, her husband’s employer. However, when Frontier Communications bought out the company in 2016, the insurance coverage changed under a policy with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Shown here is a photo of the Walls family. From left: Stephanie Walls, Mike Walls, Dalton Walls and Remington Walls. They are pursuing legislation, calling for mandated coverage for those who suffer from Eosinophilic disorders.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

As of Jan 1, the insurance company has declined any coverage of the formula.

The family has made multiple appeals, but has been denied each time — even after Anthem’s board of doctors deemed that Walls’ formula was medically necessary for “sustenance of life.”

Stephanie’s insurance plan, likewise, doesn’t cover the elemental formula.

“For Rem, his nutrition is like insulin for diabetics,” she explained. “How do you deny this? It’s not like it just came up over night. We’ve had this disease now since (Remington was) the age of 4. We are absolutely stymied that they are allowed to do this.”

Remington, too, is aghast by the situation.

“I was shocked,” he said, “because I knew insurance always said they covered it, and then they said they didn’t cover it. I knew it was expensive, but I didn’t know how expensive until the price is actually shown.”
The formula, on average, costs about $2,000 a month.

Stephanie predicts the monthly formula payments will become even pricier as her son grows.

On top of that, the family has travel costs from the seasonal visits they must make to the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders, in Ohio.

“It makes me nervous,” she said of the looming expenses.

Fortunately, Stephanie said a private source has stepped forward to fund formula payments for the rest of the year.

But, the family is still battling the insurance company, trying to serve as a “voice for the voiceless.”

Remington Walls’ only source of nutrition comes via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash. He drinks the ‘shake’ 15 to 18 times per day, about every two hours.
(Courtesy of Neocate)

“We’re going to stand up for the injustice that’s taken place,” Walls said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever make progress, but we’re determined to get out there and make a difference, somehow.”
The family is now pursuing legislation, calling for mandated coverage for those who suffer from Eosinophilic disorders and need the formula to survive.

Florida law currently has a mandate to cover formula for those with Phenylketonuria, but not Eosinophilic disorders.

Stephanie — an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Pine View Middle School — has already reached out to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.

“We’re just trying to find the people we need to contact to get us in the right direction,” she said. “I have to do a ton of research and gather data before I can even move forward.”

She believes legislative efforts could take at least two years.

No matter how long it takes, she plans to keep fighting.

“It is imperative that we pass this legislation — something’s got to change,” she said. “What’s going to happen to all the kids and grownups that need this formula for later on in life?” she asked.

Between dealing with the insurance company and pursuing legislation, countless hours have been spent to help her son — and others like him.

“It’s absolutely mind-boggling the amount of time we’ve invested on this,” Stephanie said. “But, we felt forced to do it.”

Meanwhile, there has been a ground swell of community support for the Walls family.
A GoFundMe page was created on March 3 by Janeen Salzberger, a longtime family friend.

Word quickly spread after Land O’ Lakes High principal Ric Mellin passed along the information to the Pasco County School District.
As of March 27, $16, 617 has been raised. The goal is set at $40,000.
“It has humbled us greatly,” Stephanie said. “This is something we could not take on ourselves.”

To donate, visit GoFundMe.com/remington-walls.

Published March 29, 2017

She tends to much more than cuts and bruises

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When Margaret Polk became a school nurse more than a quarter-century ago, there were full-time nurses in all of Pasco County’s public high schools funded by a grant.

Those days and that funding are long gone.

Now, “most of us have at least two or three schools,” Polk said. She divides her time between Pasco High School and the James Ervin Education Center, and recently picked up a third school because the nurse there resigned.

Margaret Polk, a school nurse who works at Pasco High School and two other schools, was selected by the Florida Association of School Nurses as the 2017 School Nurse of the Year. The photos on the bulletin board behind her are just some of the students she’s interacted with over the years.
(B.C. Manion)

It’s a challenging job, with wide-ranging demands, but Polk — who was named the Florida Association of School Nurses’ 2017 School Nurse of the Year — loves it.

Although she’s picked up additional duties, Polk has always been at Pasco High, and that longevity in one place has its advantages, she said.

She not only knows the school’s current students, in many cases, she knows their parents from when they were students, too.

Polk is deeply familiar with help available through community organizations or government agencies that can provide assistance beyond the school’s resources.

Sometimes, for instance, a student screening will reveal a problem, but parents have no clue where to go from there. And, even when they know where to turn, money can be a problem, Polk said.

So, she turns to a network of community partnerships — including the West Pasco Dental Association, Kiwanis Club, and the Cattleman’s Association — to try to bridge the gap.

“My husband (Ray Polk) was born and raised here (in Dade City). He knows people from way back. I use those connections,” she said.

She also taps into resources available through other agencies and organizations.

She works closely with a nurse practitioner, provided through the Pasco Health Department, who gives onsite support at Pasco High.

Polk also is credited for spearheading an initiative for bringing mental health services directly to students at Pasco High.

“Most people, when they think of school nurse, they actually think of what our clinic assistants do,” Polk said.

But, school nurses handle more than kids with headaches, stomach aches, twisted ankles or symptoms of the flu.

“We are seeing more and more kids come in with chronic illnesses,” Polk said. “I’m seeing a lot more diabetes, a lot more asthma, severe allergies.

“We have so many kids with mental health issues,” she said.

There are students who have special needs and require care plans.

“We need to figure out what we need to do to keep them safe at school, to get them the services they need,” she said.

She also noted that sometimes a school nurse is the first to recognize what could turn out to be a serious health problem.

For instance, a student who has been losing a lot of weight may come into the clinic and require more help than the nurse can provide.

“You call the parent and they don’t have insurance, and they don’t know where to go,” Polk said.

“I can start with my nurse practitioner. We do an evaluation,” she said. If a student needs blood work, she has some funding she can use to pay for it.

“You do get to know the families, and you know what resources they have, or don’t have,” she said.

“Maybe you go out to do a home visit because you can’t get a hold of the parents. You just need to face-to-face talk sometimes,” Polk said.

Sometimes, during those visits, she’ll find that another child in the family has health problems. In some cases, she may end up helping an entire family.

Generally, people are receptive — but not always, she said.

She recalled an instance when a student had severe scoliosis.

The parent was not inclined to seek help. The parent reasoned: “This is what she was given.”

But, Polk reminded the parent there are also people who are given skills to treat the condition.

As for her own foray into nursing, Polk isn’t precisely sure when she made the decision to pursue that career.

But, she thinks the seed was likely planted early.

“My dad was a doctor. My mom was a nurse,” Polk said.

She belonged to the high school health education club and was a Candy Striper during high school, helping out at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, where she grew up.

“I used to go with my dad to the hospital.

He was at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Bay Pines Hospital in St. Petersburg.

“He was in nuclear medicine when it was first coming out. I got to watch them develop programs for it. It just fascinated me,” Polk said.

She also remembers gravitating toward medical topics, when she did science projects.

“I always ended up doing things on blood, and the heart, those types of things,” Polk said.

She wound up working at Pasco High School because her husband, Ray, grew up in the community. He’s now director of Academy at the Farm, a public charter school.

Over the years, as Polk has watched students she has served grow up and have families of their own, she and Ray’s children have done the same.

The couple now has three grown children who are married, and they have eight grandchildren.

Polk said she knew she was being nominated for the statewide honor, but didn’t expect to win.

So, when she received a call from the Florida Association of School Nurses informing her that she’d won the award, she was dumbfounded.

“I sat there, sort of stunned,” she said.

Even though the award was given in January, and Polk has been honored at gatherings in Orlando, and in Gainesville, she’s still somewhat in awe of the distinction.

So many school nurses do such good work, she said, it’s hard to imagine being singled out.

“I am amazed. It’s such an honor,” she said.

Published March 29, 2017