Page 25 - CANNABIS NEWS FLORIDA JULY 2020

Palm Beach Symphony and Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches

Lift the Spirits of Ill Children Through Remote Musical Sessions

As social distancing is creating a new hurdle for many, particular-
ly ill children, to overcome, Palm Beach Symphony and Creative
Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches are giving them something to
sing about, through a partnership called Nurturing Notes.
The two non-profit organizations are creating a series of fun,
interactive sessions for the children at Quantum House and the
Palm Beach Children's Hospital at St. Mary's in West Palm Beach to
enjoy and stream with their families.
“We were offering Nurturing Notes sessions at Quantum House
and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital until the children could no
longer gather for an in-person session due to safety concerns in
response to COVID-19,” said Palm Beach Symphony CEO David
McClymont. “We knew we had to find another way to continue the
music therapy that is so important and we will be taping two ses-
sions a month until we are able to return to in-person music thera-
py sessions.”
“No matter where the children come from, what language they
speak or what they dealt with at the hospital that day, Nurturing
Notes creates a space where everyone is welcome and creativity is
encouraged,” said Shay Jackson, Quantum House Outreach
Coordinator.
Led by board certified music therapist Bree Gordon, director of
Creative Arts Therapies, the videos are recorded remotely with
members of the Middle Bridge Trio: Valentin Mansurov and Marina
Lenau, violins, and Jeff Adkins, double bass. Children snap their
fingers, drum out a rhythm or sing along as they are guided through the online session
via a computer or another device.
“The trio present familiar tunes for children and provide shorter songs for their atten- University of Miami Health System
tion span,” said Lisa Barron, Pediatric Office Supervisor at Palm Beach Children’s
Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center. “Children can enjoy the activity without much
effort on their part and we look forward to the trio being able to return to their monthly Coronavirus Study Targets Possible
visits and providing our pediatric patients and families inspiring musical presentations.”
Nurturing Notes is supported by a grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Sexual Transmission
Beach and Martin Counties. "The Community Foundation believes that investing in cre-
ative collaborations adds depth and diversity to the cultural landscape of our local com-
munities," said Vice President of Community Impact January Reissman. COVID-19 continues to source of transmission,”
The Symphony’s Nurturing Notes program with Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm be an ongoing global Dr. Ramasamy said.
Beaches is also offered to vulnerable and isolated populations throughout the community, health emergency. Caused “Understanding the
including to seniors living in assisted living and memory care communities, at-risk chil- by the coronavirus known potential for COVID
dren, veterans and Holocaust survivors with PTSD, and those receiving inpatient care for as SARS-CoV-2, this infec- sexual transmission is
medical or mental health needs. In one of the last in-person sessions at Quantum House tious disease leaves many critical because of the
held this spring, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop and Palm Beach Symphony supporter Paul questions unanswered, tremendous potential
DeJong joined the children in making music and handed out autographed baseballs. including a true under- ramifications.”
standing of how coron- According to Dr.
avirus is spread — and if Ramasamy, studies show
Visit us on the web at the virus is present in that up to 20 percent of
men with asymptomatic
semen.
The first step in under-
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com standing the potential Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy COVID infection may
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com
have an infection in one
routes of transmission — or both testes, a condi-
and their ramifications — is knowing tion known as orchitis. “We want to
which tissues the virus is capable of pen- identify how long the presence lasts in
etrating. “Previous SARS strains have semen and investigate whether COVID
shown an ability to cross into the male infection leads to orchitis and male infer-
reproductive tract, where it can be sexu- tility.”
ally transmitted,” said Ranjith The gateway into the body for this
Ramasamy, M.D., associate professor of virus is the ACE2 receptor, present in
urology at the Miller School of Medicine multiple organs, including the lungs,
and director of male reproductive medi- heart, intestines, kidneys, and testis.
cine and surgery at the University of “The COVID receptor is present in a lot
Miami Health System and the Miller of testes. The testis is responsible for
School. sperm and testosterone production. So
Men who tested positive for COVID- we not only want to check testosterone
19 are now being enrolled in a unique levels, but also research if young men
study led by the University of Miami to have changes in their sperm counts.”
determine the interaction of the virus
with semen. There are 35 men currently Men who have tested positive for the
enrolled and the study is looking to virus and are interested in participating in
enroll a total of 200 COVID-19 positive this crucial research may email Dr.
men. Ramasamy at Ramasamy@miami.edu or
“We hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 call (305) 243-6630 for more information.
may be present in the semen and be a

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