Lightning players, mascot brighten day for pediatric patients
TAMPA – Tampa Bay Lightning players left the ice Feb. 4 to meet young patients at AdventHealth Tampa.
Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh, goaltender Jonas Johansson and mascot ThunderBug visited the pediatric unit and the pediatric emergency department.
“You can see the kids’ faces when they get to see the players and see ThunderBug,” Johansson said. “They just light up the room, so it’s just amazing to give back to them.”
Players handed out stuffed bears wearing the Lightning’s white road jersey featuring the AdventHealth Patch with a Purpose. The players chatted with patients, signed autographs and took pictures with families.
Wesley Lamotta, the father of one of the pediatric patients, said it was cool for the team to meet the children.
“It’s one of those moments that you’re not going to forget,” said Joel Funes, the father of another young patient. “It kind of makes you forget a little bit of what’s going on and brings some joy also to the room, so that’s amazing.”
AdventHealth Tampa and the Tampa Bay Lightning share a longstanding partnership focused on improving the health and well-being of the community. This visit is just one way the Lightning supports the Tampa Bay area.
Nonprofit offers heart screenings to youth
ST, PETERSBURG – A Florida nonprofit, founded by parents and doctors, offered heart screenings to youth Feb. 7 in St. Petersburg.
The free five-minute electrocardiogram, or ECG, can spot a life-threatening heart defect that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.
Under a new Florida law, all new student athletes taking part in high school sports will need to receive a heart screening before their first tryout or practice of this coming school year. The law, the Second Chance Act, is designed to identify and prevent sudden cardiac arrest, which takes the lives of 23,000 youth each year.
“It’s our honor to help protect families across Florida from the very worst tragedy imaginable – losing a child to a preventable condition,” said Evan Ernst, executive director of Who We Play For, the nonprofit that coordinated hundreds of heart screenings at events across Florida, including this one.
AdventHealth Dade City hosting Feel Whole Night
DADE CITY – AdventHealth Dade City is gearing up for Feel Whole Night, a family-friendly community night.
Activities include food trucks, face painting, giveaways, opportunities to see the surgical robot and meet staff, and free health screenings such as blood pressure, PSA test for men, glucose, cholesterol and A1C.
Feel Whole Night takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 5 in the main entrance of AdventHealth Dade City, 13100 Fort King Road, Dade City. Register in advance at AHDadeCity.com/Events or call 833-300-2371.
Get answers on Medicare in February
- PETERSBURG – SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas.
Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.
They’ll answer questions at the following Medicare programs:
- Medicare Basics: Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the New River Library, 34043 FL-54, Wesley Chapel. 813-788-6375
- Medicare Basics: Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Pkwy., Land O’ Lakes. 813-929-1214
- Medicare 101: Feb. 18, 11 a.m. at the Pinellas Park Library, 7770 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park. 727-369-0669
- Medicare 101: Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport. 727-893-1073
- Medicare Fraud & Prevention Presentation: Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Safety Harbor Public Library, 101 2nd St. N., Safety Harbor. 727-724-1525
SHINE services are free, unbiased and confidential. Counselors do not sell anything. They can be reached by calling 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.
Hospital offers breastfeeding support
LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North offers a free in-person breastfeeding support group and class in March.
Events are open to all, regardless of which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your children. The events will be held in St. Joseph’s Hospital-North classrooms, 4211 Van Dyke Road.
- Breastfeeding Support Group: For breastfeeding mothers, their babies and an optional support person. The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants. The support group will be held March 5 and 19, 10 to 11 a.m.
- Understanding Breastfeeding: Provides information to the expectant mother and an optional support person about breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin contact, tips for returning to work and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant. The class will be held March 5, 1 to 5 p.m.
- Understanding Your Newborn: Provides information to the expectant mother and an optional support person about many aspects of safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness and cues and communication. The class will be held March 19, 1 to 5 p.m.
Register for the free events by visiting BayCareEvents.org and choosing “St. Joseph’s Hospital-North” in the “Facility/Location” filter and scrolling to the group or class you are interested in attending. Or, you can also register by phone by calling 855-314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt.
