_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD
Reunion fit for a hamburger
Using dolls to spark imagination
Shane Harmon shows QB skills
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Vol. 58 No. 32
AUGUST 3 - 9, 2023
$1.00
Boxing program packs a punch By KEPHERD DANIEl kdaniel@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald
Steve Solomon, left, demonstrates some defensive moves to Kareem Ross as part of the boxing program at Friedberg JCC.
The boxing program at the Friedberg JCC is the undisputed heavyweight champion in Oceanside, and has taken off during the past year under the leadership of North Merrick resident Steve Solomon. The JCC offers three boxing classes — a class for those with special needs, another for those with Parkinson’s disease and a third for the general population. When the JCC was lookContinued on page 16
Discovering how life goes on after a rare disease diagnosis By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com
Last October, Irwin Markus accidentally took the wrong train and ended up in East Rockaway. He called his ex-wife, L i s a M a rk u s, b e c a u s e h e couldn’t figure out how to get back home. The frightening experience led her to become extremely concerned about his cognitive ability, so she scheduled an appointment for him to see his doctor. One month later and after several visits to a neurologist, Irwin, 58, was diagnosed with moyamoya disease, a rare cardiovascular disorder in which
nosed with the disthe blood vessels ease after they have a that supply blood stroke. However, he to the brain n eve r s u f f e r e d a become narrowed. stroke. This felt like L i s a M a rk u s a “switch flip” for quickly and unexLisa Markus. pectedly became a “He’s always had a caretaker for her very easygoing, laisex-husband when sez faire kind of attihe began experitude,” she said about encing this cognihim before he had tive decline in the cognitive decline. fall. The disease is “He hasn’t been affecting both sides able to work since lISA MARKUS of his brain, she the end of Decem- ex-wife of said. He underwent ber, and he hasn’t Irwin Markus his first surgery in been allowed to April and then a second one on drive,” she said. She explained that moyamo- July 13. Lisa Markus explained ya patients are typically diag- that the doctors couldn’t give
H
e hasn’t been able to work since the end of December, and he hasn’t been allowed to drive.
any sort of indication whether or not his co gnition will improve. “He doesn’t even recognize our children anymore,” Lisa Markus said. “The cognitive decline is absolutely astounding.” Both surgeries totaled more than $20,000, and Lisa Markus has set up a crowdfunding page to help offset the cost of the medical bills. Her goal is to
reach at least $18,000. The link to the crowdfunding campaign is tinyurl.com/4fm72byd. Lisa Markus is also hosting a fundraiser at South Shore Craft Brewery in Oceanside on Aug. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. The establishment holds sentimental value to Irwin Markus — he was a loyal customer to the brewery for years, and the brewery reached out to Continued on page 18