8 minute read
Awareness
LIGHT IT UP BLUE
Golf tournament helps the Autism Society of the Keys serve deserving members of the autism community
ALEX RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
On Saturday, April 30, golfers will take to the greens at the Florida Keys Country Club for the Light It Up Blue Autism Awareness Golf Tournament. With all proceeds benefiting the nonprofit Autism Society of the Keys (ASK), the four-person scramble tournament will include breakfast and lunch, raffles including $1,000 in Keys restaurant gift cards, prizes and two chances to win $10,000 for a Hole in One. Playing a round with friends is always a good time. But long after the clubs are put away, money raised by the tournament will go directly to places any donor can feel good about: Keys individuals and families affected by autism and in need of support or financial aid. Jill Campbell is the founder and executive director of ASK. With a son of her own diagnosed with autism, she is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the individuals and families who apply to the nonprofit for help – and she knows just how widely varied those needs may be. “Our board votes on each application individually based on need,” said Campbell. “If it’s a 2-year-old, maybe the family needs help getting them diagnosed and there’s a deductible that’s not covered under their insurance. We just bought a bicycle for an adult who can’t drive, but can be employed and go to school and do activities otherwise. We’ve covered swimming lessons, car seats, anything.” Rather than distributing funds to parents, ASK pays medical providers directly or purchases the items in need, ensuring that donations go exactly where they are intended. Just ask Yani Hernandez, a Marathon resident and proud mother of twin 5-year-old boys, David and Daniel, both diagnosed with autism in 2019. Though the twins received the same diagnosis, David’s case is significantly more severe, and until earlier this year he was almost entirely nonverbal. “He used to get so frustrated because he couldn’t communicate what he wanted,” said Hernandez. “He would bang his head against the floor, the wall or whoever was standing in front of him.” The Hernandez family’s lives changed after a donation from ASK provided David with an iPad outfitted with Proloquo, a communication application designed for those who cannot speak or need assistance being understood. “It’s made such a difference, I can’t even tell you,” said Hernandez. “We just found out with his iPad that he knows how to read. He has his evaluation tomorrow to determine his grade level, and we’re going to be able to do it with his iPad because he will be able to communicate what he knows.” Having an avenue to express his desires and basic needs, particularly in settings outside of his own home, has made David a “completely different child,” according to Yani.
From left, Daniel and David Hernandez are handsome 5-year-old twins diagnosed with varying degrees of autism. CONTRIBUTED
“He’s gone from hitting everything and throwing things to saying, ‘I want my iPad’ or ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I feel sad,’” she said. In the months since the donated tablet gave David the ability to express his wants, he has not had a single repeat of his prior behavioral outbursts. His meteoric improvement has even carried over into the classroom. “Academically, in the last few months that he’s had his iPad, he went from a D student to an A and B student,” said Hernandez. “He’s going to be getting the honor roll when it rolls around, and I am just so proud.” And though an expensive iPad was a generous donation to the Hernandez family, Yani’s gratitude to ASK extends beyond the fancy electronics. “They were a godsend,” she said. “Because Jill has a child on the spectrum, she’s been where we are, so she understands me when I tell her about the issues we’re having. It’s unbelievable.” “I really do hope that this inspires someone to reach out to ASK, because I know how hard it is to admit that your child has a problem and that you need help. They really do provide such support.” Individuals or teams interested in filling the few remaining tournament spots later this month may contact Stan Haines at 305-434-2433. To support the tournament with a sponsorship, or for any further questions about ASK, contact Campbell at 305-942-5172 or visit www.autismsocietyofthekeys.com.
David Hernandez, right, uses his donated iPad with Proloquo to communicate as his brother Daniel looks on. CONTRIBUTED
FLYING FREE
Heron roamed Upper Keys impaled with blow gun dart
JIM McCARTHY
jim@keysweekly.com
An X-ray showing the blow gun dart in the heron’s body. CONTRIBUTED A white heron first spotted last summer with a blow gun dart through its body is finally flying free. Rehabilitators at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center are crediting a local marine mammal facility for capturing the elusive bird to provide the necessary care. Bayleigh MacHaffie, assistant director and rehabilitation manager, recalls a phone call on Aug. 7 from a man who witnessed a white heron with what initially appeared to be a spear through its chest. Pictures sent to MacHaffie confirmed an object impaled the bird’s body. The man who spotted the heron, however, was unable to approach the bird. Miraculously, the heron wasn’t fazed as it remained fully flighted. Bird rehabbers later learned that the heron was hit by a blow gun dart. “It was incredible the fact that he was flying,” MacHaffie said. Months followed and more calls came into the Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier regarding the heron by residents between MM 96 and MM 98. Some spotted the bird at Buttonwood Bay. “He was hanging out in the water and would come up when people were fishing,” MacHaffie said. “They couldn’t get close enough. He was otherwise healthy and was flying around and was eating OK.” Bird rehabbers went out hoping to spot the bird and administer care. But like many others, they couldn’t get close to the heron. At that point, bird rehabilitators instructed people spotting the bird to monitor for signs of sluggishness. Eventually, calls regarding the heron stopped. MacHaffie said they assumed either something happened to the heron or he left the area. But a few weeks ago, calls came in spotting the heron with a dart through its chest — this time at Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder in Key Largo. Staff members at the dolphin facility spent weeks trying to contain the bird. Leading the effort was Jacky Orkiz, marine mammal trainer who’s had experience working with birds. She said they first noticed him several weeks ago and believed the wound was fresh. “He kept hanging around us more and more. We joked that it seemed like he was looking for help because he was getting more comfortable with us,” she said. “He was getting closer to our lagoons. He started hanging outside our fish kitchen area.” Orkiz said the heron kept returning. Overnight security said when everyone left for the day, the heron would hang out in an outdoor hallway near the fish kitchen. Orkiz said they slowly closed off the area. One morning, she was preparing fish when they spotted the heron. She managed to close off the hallway enough to safely restrained him. “He was like ‘OK, you got me.’ He was actually very calm,” she said. “We had a spare crate nearby. He didn’t fight much at all. He kind of accepted that was going to happen. We played a long, slow game of just kind of hanging around and not quickly jumping at him to scare him away.” Jordan Budnik, executive director at the Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, expressed her gratitude to Orkiz and the DPMMR team for their rescue efforts. “More than anything, we are so grateful to Jacky for caring enough to take the initiative in capturing this bird. We could not have done it without her.” Upon the heron’s arrival, MacHaffie was astonished at the bird’s health. “He was at a really good weight. He was standing. He was alert. Of course, he had this blow gun dart through his chest,” she said. “But it wasn’t infected nor actively bleeding. It was very old at this point.” An X-ray found the dart didn’t hit any bones or major muscles, but it was located a couple centimeters near his collarbone. And it could have done damage, MacHaffie said. “That’s a long healing process. He would not have been able to fly,” she said. The blow gun dart arrow was completely rubbing against the heron’s wing. But the bird maneuvered its wing with no problem and no further injury. MacHaffie said the blow gun dart was pretty loose in the heron’s body. Bird rehabbers were able to snip the top of the dart and pull it out of the bird with no problems. “Myself and our rehabbers, we were thinking it was going to probably be euthanasia when we were first hearing about him because you have a great white heron with what looks like a spear through his chest,” MacHaffie said. “We assumed there was some damage.” MacHaffie said a report was filed with Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. She hopes it wasn’t an intentional act, but more a “wrong place at the wrong time situation.” Jason Rafter, public information officer with FWC, said anyone with information regarding the white heron can call the Marathon field office at 305-2892320. As for the heron, MacHaffie said he passed his flight test. Now, he’s blending in with the rest of the birds. “He’s doing what he needs to do and he’s living his life,” she said. Orkiz said the heron’s still flying by the facility. “It’s kind of cool,” she said.
