August 21, 2019 • Vol. 17, No. 40
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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Local teen ballerina is redefining what it means to be 'challenged' BY ABBY KAUP SPECIAL FOR THE FOCUS
While Natalia Cardona was sharpening her dance skills over the summer with American Ballet and Ballet Austin, she was also managing her gastroparesis, which is a rare autoimmune disease that paralyzes her stomach and requires her to carry a feeding pump .
Photo courtsy of Ron Brewer Photos
NORTH PHOENIX – At just 13-years-old, Natalia Cardona is transforming what it means to be an athlete. Natalia first began dancing at age seven, taking classes in ballet, jazz and hip hop. A few years later, she decided to focus solely on ballet. A passionate ballerina and eager student, Natalia now trains intensively at the Arizona Classical Ballet, where she is learning a classical Russian method of ballet. However, in March of 2018 the talented young girl faced a startling discovery that seemed to put her dreams of dancing in jeopardy. She was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a rare autoimmune disease that
paralyzes the stomach, leaving Natalia unable to eat and causing her to lose 13 pounds in a brief period. “She was requiring tube feeds for 100 percent of her nutrition,” said Christine Severance, Natalia’s mother. Trying to find a more longterm solution, Natalia and her family flew to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to consult with a neurologist, who specializes in gastrointestinal related issues. The doctor confirmed Natalia’s large and small intestines were not working properly and decided to move forward with treatment, hoping for the best. If this diagnosis wasn’t challenging enough, Natalia was starting seventh grade at a new school. Despite frequent
visits to the nurse and carrying her feeding pump everywhere, Natalia maintained straight As and made friends. Unfortunately, “Natalia’s life as a 13-year-old was becoming less and less normal,” according to Severance. Natalia needed to switch to online school so she could receive weekly infusions, which take six hours and can have lingering side effects. Natalia and her family had to adjust to a new normal, and it certainly was not easy. Severance described some of the challenges that come with Natalia’s condition: “Mealtime required changes in
BALLERINA
continued on page 8
Somos Peoria, a celebration Firefighters save infamous I-17 Christmas Tree of Hispanic Heritage Month, is back in Old Town Peoria PEORIA – Somos Peoria, the Valley’s largest Hispanic Heritage Month event, takes over Old Town Peoria on Saturday, September 28. . The event will span between 83rd, Peoria and Grand avenues. From 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., there will be live performances by El Chicano, Brenton Wood and The Latin Breed. El Chicano, the festival’s headlining act, is a premier Latino rock, funk band founded in East Los Angeles in 1970. The group has recorded 12 studio albums and earned five gold records. Now in
their 50th year, El Chicano is still recording, touring and delighting audiences. Brenton Wood is an American R&B and soul musician whose career has spanned an impressive five decades. Wood had two hit singles in 1967, “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign.” The Latin Breed is a 10-piece band born on the south side of San Antonio, Texas in 1969. Their signature sound blends influences of Tejano, R&B,
SOMOS PEORIA continued on page 7
Daisy Mountain's firefighters stand in front of the I-17 Christmas Tree they saved from a brush fire on August 16. (Photo courtesy of DMFM )
CAVE CREEK:
NORTH PHX:
PEORIA
Big Earl's Greasy Eats is
Ben Avery offering discounts
Family and Youth Resource
serving up great diner classics
for dove hunters
Fair on August 24
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I-17 CHRISTMAS TREE
STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
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• Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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