Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Saturday, January 8, 1977, page 2 (of 24)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Community helps him to a better life
By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer Thanks to a vast community effort to collect the funds necessary for his operation, Manolito Lopez will have a new chance at life. On Wednesday, the 27-year-old Cerebral Palsy victim underwent a surgical procedure which will hopefully improve his jerky movements and possibly correct his speech. Although the procedure is still an experimental one, the special pacemaker installed in his brain could improve his condition anywhere from 20 to 80 per cent. The results of the operation will not be known for sometime. Still in intensive care after the three-hour surgery, Manolito is expected to be at Mercy Hospital for another week. He will be trained to use the pacemaker and will continue to receive physical therapy to enable him to get the fullest possible use out of the instrument. Despite the problems in controlling his movements, Manolito had been working as an umpire at the Southwest Boys' Club, Miami-Dade Community College and various high schools. He had been trying to raise the money for the operation by himself. When Wayne Balnton, director of the Boys' Club found out about the possibility of such an operation, he contacted the Kiwanis of Little Havana for help. Made up of young Cuban-American professionals, the Kiwanis of Little Havana began the campaign to raise the money Manolito needed. After several newspaper articles were published, residents, organizations and business firms began sending in money. "We received all types of contributions. From $300 from a Coral Gables firm to sometimes 25 or 50 cents," said Leslie Pantin, president of the Little Havana Kiwanis. Pantin's organization donated $900, while the Coral Gables, Perrine and other Kiwanis groups gave a total of $1,000. The other $2,000 came from the community. Anthony Infante, president of the Southeast Bank of Coral Gables pledged to cover 50 per cent of the cost of the expenses—or nearly $4,000. A Cuban-American neurosurgeon, who asked to remain annonymous, performed the complicated procedure at no cost to the patient. The funds raised went to pay for the $4,200 pacemaker and other hospital and medical expenses. "We hope the pacemaker can decrease his spasticity, reduce the jerkiness of his movements and possibly improve his speech," said the surgeon. Because Manolito suffered brain damage early in life, there is an excess of excitafion on the motor nerves. By stimulating the cerebellum with current, the excess electrical activity will be inhibited, said a hospital spokesman. In the procedure, electrodes are placed in the cerebellum and connected by wire to a radio receiver placed under the skin of the chest. The receiver gets signals from an external antennae placed outside the chest. The antennae are connected to a transmitter and battery pack worn on the belt. Photo by ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Manolito Lopez, a Cerebral Palsy victim, underwent an experimental operation which will hopefully improve his movements and speech.
Roller skating's fun even if you're blind
By KAY SEVERINSEN Staff Writer Doris Herring was just a little unsteady on the roller skates at first. After all, she hadn't skated in three years. Her partner, Bill Salyer, was a little unsteady himself, but not much. After all, he had never skated with a blind partner before. Neither had Doris. She has been blind for 17 years and Salyer has been legally blind all his life. The blind leading the blind may soon become a familiar scene for the Kendall Skating Center, at 8755 SW 136th St., for Doris and the state Bureau of Blind Services are starting roller skating classes for the blind. "I like to get people out doing things and not just sitting at home. Blind people sit around too much," she says. No one could accuse Doris of sitting around, though. She has just taken up skating, is very involved in the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Dade (named for the disease that caused her blindness), does volunteer work for the Bureau of Blind Services and likes to write in her free time. Skating classes for the blind will begin in a couple of weeks, Salyer says. He is on a work study program, learning how to operate a skating center, so that he can open his own in Key Largo. The classes will probably be held between 5:30 and 7 p.m. on weekdays and students will be charged somewhere around $2 each lesson, Salyer guessed. "Right now we are still trying to set up a day that will be convenient." Salyer added that the bureau has two buses to help students to and from the lessons. It won't be any harder to teach blind people than sighted people, he asserts. "We'll probably start them out on the carpet, so they won't roll as fast." Each student will bring along a sighted friend to hang onto at first. "There's lots of things you could do, like install speakers at each corner of the rink. Whenever the skater gets near a speaker, he would know to turn left." photo by KAY SEVERINSEN Bill Saller helps Doris Herring around the rink. Both are legally blind.
news briefly Retiring officials will be honored
Three Coral Gables city officials retiring after 130 years of service will be honored at a dinner Jan. 16 at the Country Club of Coral Gables. City Clerk Loretta V. Sheehy, retiring with 51 years of service; Finance Director Kenneth H. Allyn, 43 years; and Venetian Pool Manager John P. Rosasco, Sr., 36, will be the guests of honor. The public is invited to attend. Tickets for the prime-rib dinner are $10 per person and can be purchased at the Community Development Department at Coral Gables City Hall. For more information call 444-7767.
Jaycees' anniversary
The South Miami-Kendall Jaycees are looking for some lost Jaycees to help celebrate their silver anniversary. They are trying to locate men who have been members at any time during their 25-year history. The reunion will be Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Kendale Lakes Country Club, 6401 Kendale Lakes Dr. at 7:30 p.m. Call 233-1738 for additional information.
Applications accepted
Applications are being sought for the position of executive director of Community Health of South Dade, Inc. (CHI). "The applicant should have a graduate degree in public health or business administration, considerable experience in managing a health delivery system, skills in community organization and related abilities to produce an end result of quality comprehensive primary health care," said Nikki Beare, chairwoman of the search committee. The starting salary is in the low $30,000 range, with a liberal 20 per cent fringe benefit package, Ms. Beare said. Applications should be directed to Ms. Beare at Community Health of South Dade, Inc., 10300 SW 216 St., Miami, 33170.
Jazz Association
University of Miami will be represented at the annual convention of the National Association of Jazz Education, Jan. 20-22. The Jazz Ensemble of Miami-Dade North will also be performing at the convention.
Training sessions
The first of two training sessions for adults interested in volunteering for the "Listen to Children" program will be conducted Jan. 11 at 9 a.m., 2121 Ponce de Leon Blvd. (8th floor). This program, jointly run by the Mental Health Association of Dade County and the School Volunteer Program, places responsible adult volunteers into the schools to assist children who have been identified as having minor adjustment difficulties.
Diet Workshop
Two 10-week Diet Workshop programs will begin the week of Jan. 10 in the Kendall area, utilizing a behavior modification orientation toward dieting. At Miami-Dade South, classes begin Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.; at the Shops of Kendall a course on "Microwave Cooking, the Diet Workshop Way" will begin Jan. 10 at 7 p.m., and at Microwave Cooking Etc., 12572 N. Kendall Drive. For more information call 947-3438.