Patient of the Week – Sean Witsoe

By St Jude
October 10, 2009

Sean Witsoe
4 years old

Diagnosis:

Sean was discovered to have medulloblastoma in the August 2008.

Sean’s Story:

When Craig and Katie became St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Partners In Hope^® years ago, they never expected that one day they would need the hospital’s services. But in the summer of 2008, their little son Sean was found to suffer from a brain tumor, and they knew St. Jude was the best place for his treatment.

The morning Katie started to piece together what was wrong with Sean should have been a happy day: It was supposed to be the first day of preschool for Sean and his twin brother Matthew. But Sean woke up and vomited, something he had been doing on and off for weeks. The family had already ruled out a dairy allergy or acid reflux as the cause of his vomiting. Sean had been to a pediatric gastroenterologist, but the doctor couldn’t find anything wrong.

With dread, Katie started to add up all of the things that had lately affected Sean—the vomiting in the mornings, walking off balance, an eye that seemed lazy and problems swallowing. By the time Katie reached her computer to look up symptoms for a brain tumor, the dread was setting in.

That afternoon, Sean had a CT scan, and Katie and Craig’s worst fears were confirmed: Sean had a brain tumor known as medulloblastoma. He underwent surgery at a local children’s hospital to remove as much of the tumor as possible. As the little boy recovered, his parents started researching places for Sean’s continuing treatment. As monthly donors to St. Jude through the Partners In Hope program, Katie and Craig were familiar with the hospital. They soon realized that St. Jude was where Sean needed to be and obtained a referral.

At St. Jude:

At St. Jude, Sean began treatment immediately. He underwent chemotherapy and received 30 rounds of radiation. He also underwent a second brain surgery at St. Jude to remove more of the tumor.

Katie and Craig take comfort in the fact that Sean is getting the best care possible at St. Jude. “Sean still has a long way to go with treatment, but we are so very grateful for each day, each step in his amazing young life,” said Katie.

Sean is funny and likes to dance, and he loves spending time with Matthew and their three older siblings.

Source St. Jude

Wish of the week – Chris

By MWF/PIO
October 9, 2009

To a 6-year-old who loves toys, what could be more thrilling than a trip to Toys“R”Us? How about a shopping spree at Toys“R”Us with Geoffrey the Giraffe by your side and lots of other special perks! Chris, who has cerebral palsy, was blown away by his over-the-top experience that featured limousine transportation, a personal shopper and VIP status.

As his limo pulled up in front of the local Toys“R”Us store, Chris received a warm welcome from cheering store employees that were holding banners and balloons. It was a thrilling feeling when he got to hold all the money that he would be spending that day. He thought his day could not get any better but there was one more super-sized surprise for Chris – Geoffrey the Giraffe was there to escort him through every inch of the store. Together, they walked hand-in-hand as Chris scooped up everything on his list including a PlayStation 3 game console and a bunch of games, a guitar, a camera and his very own television.

Since he could not take Geoffrey home with him, Chris happily settled for a miniature version of his favorite giraffe. He left the store with several shopping bags and a huge appetite so he and his family headed to his favorite restaurant, the Big Cheese. It was the perfect after-shopping destination for Chris and his family to feast on what he called, “the best pizza I’ve ever eaten!”

Wish Granters: Ben Eisenberg & Michael Rose
Referred by: his home nurse
Adopted by: Mr. & Mrs. William Heffernan

Source Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Officer of the Week – Police Officer Mark J. Ellis

 
Remember September 11, 2001
Angels Among Us

Police Officer Mark J. Ellis
Shield 11441
Transit Bureau, District 4
12/28/2001

Police Officer Mark J. Ellis
Shield 11441
Transit Bureau, District 4
(recovered)

Just a couple of weeks before the World Trade Center attacks, an off-duty Mark Ellis was visiting another fellow police officer and his wife at their Commack home.

He held their days-old baby girl in his arms and, moved by the tenderness of her new life, decided to put his plans in fast forward.

Ellis, 26, told his girlfriend of six years, Stephanie Porzio, that he wanted to marry her and have a family of his own. The next week, they would go shopping for rings.

They went to a jewelry store, but did not settle on anything because they wanted something that would properly symbolize what they felt for each other.

“He really just had a love for me, and I had a love for him that most people don’t find,” Porzio said.

That same Sunday, Ellis rode for the first time on the fishing boat he had purchased from his uncle. Other relatives were there, and Ellis was nervous about handling the 24-footer, but he drove it seamlessly on Long Island Sound.

With marriage plans under sail and his law enforcement career on track, Ellis felt he was about to create the life he wanted, surrounded by his friends and relatives.

But Ellis, a transit officer in downtown Manhattan’s fourth district and a lifelong Huntington resident, was on Delancey Street two days later with partner Ramon Suarez, when they got frantic radio calls.

They commandeered a taxicab and arrived on time to help terrified people out of the World Trade Center buildings. Ellis’ partner was caught in a news photograph sometime before the tower crashed, helping someone to an ambulance. Ellis sacrificed his life also, in the quiet and heroic way that relatives admired about him. His body was recovered before the Christmas Eve weekend, not too far from where his partner had fallen.

“Mark was making his plans to climb the career ladder, sail the Seven Seas on the boat, and God called him. He answered God’s call, and he answered that call while helping others,” said his uncle, Kenneth Nilsen, 40, who was among those who eulogized Ellis.

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani attended the standing-room-only funeral Monday at the Dix Hills Evangelical Free Church, praising Ellis’ courage. Ellis, who had received four medals for excellence, is the youngest New York City police officer to have been killed in the attacks.

Ellis’ parents, Elaine and Joseph Ellis, and a sister, Tammy Gardella of Georgia, survive him.

In the weeks after he was missing, the call he had been waiting for came from the Secret Service, accepting him as a candidate to the elite force. Relatives saw that as a posthumous recognition to his dedication and valor.

A 1999 criminal justice graduate from SUNY Farmingdale, Ellis graduated from the police academy in 1998. Formerly an auto mechanic, he liked cars and the outdoors. But he was also a prankster at the station house, where he often walked around shaving with his electric razor before going on duty.

Once, to effect a funny revenge on other officers who had played a prank on him, Ellis bought glue and sealed the offenders’ lockers shut. Another day, he conspired with his partner to stick fake bullet holes on the cars of other officers. By the same token, Ellis was willing to help whenever his colleagues, friends or relatives needed him.

“He was very fair and kind. and he was always there for me,” said Eric Semler, his partner for more than three years. ” … He was a good cop, a very good cop.”

– New York Newsday Victim Database 12/28/2001

Source: NYP Angels

10 Essentials for Safety

by Paul Rogers
October 10, 2009

It’s important to be prepared for anything when you watch the kids. These basics will keep everyone safe.

If grandchildren will be visiting, be sure you have key supplies and medications close at hand (yet out of reach of the kids), advises pediatrician Josh Rabinowitz, D.O., of Advocare Main Line Pediatrics in suburban Philadelphia.

First-aid kit. Keep it well-stocked and in a convenient place. Make sure it includes Bacitracin or Neosporin — antibiotic ointments that prevent infections in cuts and scrapes — and hydrocortisone cream, which takes away the itch of poison ivy.

Emergency information. Never let parents leave kids with you without providing an emergency-contact list that includes their cell-phone numbers and their pediatrician’s office information.

EpiPen, inhaler, or prescription medicine. If your grandchildren are taking medication, or have been prescribed an inhaler or EpiPen, make sure parents bring it along with the children and entrust it to you with any instructions you need. It could save a life.

Ice pack. For those inevitable bumps on the head.

Children’s Motrin or Tylenol (or generic). Children can contract fevers for a number of reasons, and these standbys have proven effective for bringing temperatures down quickly. (Always contact the parents before giving children any medicine.)

Children’s Benadryl (or generic). For allergic reactions, including hives (also available in a cream for bad mosquito bites). It can cause drowsiness, but has the opposite effect in some children. (Again, always call the parents before giving children a dose.)

 

Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above). Several children’s brands are available in spray-on bottles. Try to give kids a coating about 30 minutes before you plan to go outdoors.

Insect repellent. This is an essential if Lyme disease is a concern in your area — and even if isn’t, kids often have worse reactions to mosquito bites than adults. For children, use sprays with no more than 30 percent DEET.

Swimming pool gate/fence. A must (and in some places, the law) if preadolescent grandchildren will be spending any time near your pool.

House rules. No one knows the potential safety risks in and around your house better than you, so make sure all your grandchildren know the house rules for where they can go and how they can play.

Source Grandparents

Editors note Paul Rogers is a New York City–based journalist who has written extensively for newspapers and magazines.

Grade 2 English

By Alexis Burling
October 9, 2009

Young readers and writers complete chapter books and write stories, poems, and songs about their lives

Most children enter second grade with a grasp of the fundamentals of reading. Throughout the school year, teachers will work to strengthen these skills so students will be able to read proficiently and with comprehension by the time they enter third grade. Teachers will read longer books out loud to the class, and students will read more on their own, in the classroom and for homework. Second-grade teachers often have students read folktales, myths, and poetry at the beginning of the year and basic chapter-books toward the end. Many teachers will set aside a daily time for students to read quietly and independently at their desks. Second-graders will also practice summarizing a book’s main idea and plot, and identifying its main characters and settings. They will be expected to know the difference between fact and fiction and they will be asked to relate personal experiences to episodes in the books they read, to help them comprehend major themes or morals. When you were in second grade, you may have had separate lessons in spelling, handwriting, and punctuation before you ever had classroom writing assignments. Your grandchildren will most likely learn these mechanics as they write. By the end of the year, they will have developed reliable strategies to “decode” unfamiliar words and deduce their meaning from context, and they will master the spelling of frequently occurring words. At the same time, they will be creating a portfolio of self-written short stories, poems, and silly songs.

Who’s Really Gifted? In some states, schools begin testing children for entry into “gifted and talented” programs in second grade. (Some districts begin as early as pre-kindergarten.) Switching to gifted programs can be helpful for kids who are clearly advanced and possibly bored with the standard curriculum. However, the move can also put unwelcome pressure on children who may be near the cutoff for gifted programs but are still trying to juggle everything they are learning. Competition between kids (and, of course, parents) can be fierce. But it’s crucial that all children are recognized for their own strengths, not pushed into a program that may not be the best fit simply because it’s “the thing to do.”

• Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales (W. W. Norton, 2007), compiled by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, is a gorgeous collection of fables and legends from across the African continent, written and illustrated by a diverse group of authors and artists. This impressive volume will inspire grandchildren to dream about lands far beyond their own.

• Remember the Bobbsey Twins and Dick and Jane? They’re still around, and you can share these classics with your grandchildren. The series have been repackaged for modern readers and collected in various editions, including The Bobbsey Twins Complete Series Set (Grosset & Dunlap, 2007) and The World of Dick and Jane and Friends (Grosset & Dunlap, 2004).

• The hilarious, award-winning PBS series Between the Lions has been praised for its ability to connect with kids and get them excited about reading. The show’s website offers games, downloadable stories, video clips, and reading resources for parents and grandparents.

Catch a Literary Star. These days, children’s book authors don’t just write. They travel by plane, train, and even Winnebago, to give readings, answer questions, and sign books for adoring fans at libraries, schools, and bookstores nationwide. Check the websites of your grandchildren’s favorite authors to find out when they may be coming to an area near you, and plan a trip with the kids to meet them.

What’s Going on Here? Second-graders are learning how to use the captions that accompany photos in nonfiction articles and books to find out what’s going on in an image and how it relates to the main idea. Crack open an old photo album with your grandchildren, and ask them to come up with captions to describe what’s happening in each picture. It’s a way to introduce some family history while kids practice their writing skills. Or work with your grandchildren to create a new photo album, with photos of times you’ve spent together, complete with captions provided by the kids.

Dear Journal. A child’s early elementary-school years can be frenetic, with new experiences around every corner. Children can get a handle on their experiences by writing their thoughts in a journal. Many second-graders keep journals in their classrooms, but you can treat your grandchildren to a special one that you keep under lock and key for them to write in whenever they visit.

Editor’s Note:Alexis Burling is a freelance book reviewer and writer in Brooklyn, N.Y. She also edits and writes for Storyworks, a classroom language-arts magazine published by Scholastic.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Source: Grandparants

Common-crowned Pigeon

By FNZ
Oct 7, 2009

Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus/Species: Goura cristata

Description

The Common-crowned Pigeon is one of the largest species of pigeon in the world. These lovely blue-grey birds approach the size of a small turkey. The feathers of the back are tinged with purple to create a maroon wash across the upperparts. There is a small white patch on each wing formed by upper wing coverts. There is a terminal lighter blue-grey band on the tail feathers. A narrow band of darker blue feathers runs from the base of the bill through the eye. The eyes are red, the bill black, and the legs a deep maroon. The most noticeable anatomical feature is the elegant erect lacy crest formed by specialized feathers on the top of the head.

Distribution and Habitat

Common-crowned Pigeons are native to the moist lowland forests of eastern New Guinea and several adjacent smaller islands. They are found from sea level up to 600 meters in elevation. Groups of two to ten birds forage on the forest floor and flush into the tree tops when alarmed.

Diet

In the wild they are believed to feed on fallen fruits, seeds, berries, insects, and other invertebrates. The National Zoo feeds its pigeons a diet of papaya, Bird of Paradise pellets, avian maintenance pellets, mealworms, and corn grubs.

Reproduction

Little is known about the breeding behavior of wild crowned pigeons. Captive birds reach sexual maturity in their second year. Nesting birds construct a platform of sticks and twigs in the branches of trees, up to 15 meters off the ground. Both parents incubate the single large white egg for 28 to 30 days. When the chick hatches its eyes are closed and it is nearly featherless.

Common-crowned Pigeons, like all other pigeons and doves, produce a substance known as “crop milk”. Shortly before the chick is due to hatch, the lining of the parent bird’s crop begins to thicken. This lining sloughs off to form a cheesy material which the parents regurgitate to feed the chick until it is three to ten days old. Crop milk is similar in nutritional content to mammalian milk. Even after they have ceased to produce crop milk the parents continue to regurgitate the partially digested contents of their crops to nourish the young. The chick develops slowly and requires constant feeding and brooding for an extended period. Parents continue to feed the young bird even after it has left the nest at approximately one month of age.

Conservation

The Common-crowned Pigeon is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Despite this legal protection they remain under heavy pressure from illegal hunting and the demands of the southeast Asian pet trade. Their highly palatable flesh and unfortunate habit of landing on exposed perches to gawk at intruders has not helped them avoid illegal shooting. They are now common only in the wilder and more remote portions of their original range.

The National Zoo is one of 18 institutions participating in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the Common-crowned Pigeon. There are currently 31 birds enrolled in the SSP. The National Zoo exhibits one pair of birds in the indoor flight room of the Bird House

Source National Zoo

Editor’s Note: References AZA Species Survival Plan. 1998. Blue-crowned Pigeon 98 Fact Sheet (9/1/98). Available at http://www.aza.org/ConScience/ConScienceSSPFact/ Austin O. 1961. Birds of the World. Golden Press. New York.

We want to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Jeune Smalls | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida

Jeune Smalls

DOB:

11/14/1953

Reported Address:

1245 NW 60TH St Miami,Florida

Additional Information:

Predator Flyer

ADAM M SANTIAGO | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida

ADAM M SANTIAGO

DOB:

01/13/1984

Reported Address:

1250 NE 83rd St Miami,Florida

Additional Information:

Predator Flyer

Travis L Wallace | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida

Travis L Wallace

DOB:

01/17/1973

Reported Address:

795 NW 61ST ST APT 7 Miami,Florida

Additional Information:

Predator Flyer

Gil Nieves | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida

Gil Nieves

DOB:

09/01/1948

Reported Address:

10625 NW 6TH Ave Miami,Florida

Additional Information:

Predator Flyer

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