Dariyonna has been a patient at the The Children’s Center at Sabal Palms Health Care Center since she was a year old. The Children’s Center is equipped to handle a wide range of infants and children who are medically dependent on technology to continue to grow and develop.
For three-year-old Dariyonna, living at home has been out of the question for a long time.
Suffering from multiple medical conditions, her mother, Tominique Pickens, has been unable to care for her since she was merely a year old. For Dariyonna and her mother, there has been a life changing center that is dedicated to helping them and other families in similar situations.
After enduring a lengthy hospital stay involving a tracheotomy and being ventilator and gastric feeding-tube dependent, Dariyonna arrived at The Children’s Center at Sabal Palms Health Care Center in Largo, Florida, where her life finally began to get better.
The Children’s Center is equipped to handle a wide range of infants and children who are medically complex and dependent on technology to continue to grow and develop. These dependencies include ventilator weaning and management, care after near-drowning accidents, multiple trauma injuries, closed head injuries and Severe Seizure Disorder.
Treated like one of their own by frequently singing to her, and holding her, the staff at Sabal Palms has had a deeply personal relationship with Dariyonna that just wouldn’t happen in most nursing centers.
Combining tenderness with specialized medical care, the staff has worked tirelessly with Dariyonna and her mother to achieve the amazing results they have today.
Although the tubes, alarms and machines were daunting and scary at first, the staff encouraged Mrs. Pickens to become involved in the care of her child. This included not only learning the certain procedures that have to be performed, but also ensuring that there was the bond between mother and child.
With the support of the staff and nurses, Mrs. Pickens became comfortable with being a “mom with specialized skills” that would be needed to make overnight visits home.
Despite having had tubes for breathing and eating, Dariyonna continued with her development both physically and mentally finally breathing well on her own, walking and smiling and playing with other children at the center.
Dariyonna’s amazing progress has been bittersweet for the staff though, as plans are being made for the transition home.
“This is an emotional time for everyone involved,” said Mark Moyer, Executive Director at Sabal Palms. “The staff is sad to see her go, but is very happy with the success that she has achieved.”
Excited to be able to take her daughter home, Pickens has vowed to bring her back to the center for periodic visits to her second family. With tears of joy the staff faces another farewell, but they know that there will be other children in need.
“We will miss Dariyonna, but we’ll be able to give our love and dedication to a new child that needs our help,” said Moyer.
The rooms at the Children’s Center are designed to feel more like a bedroom than a hospital room.
Specifically designed with the children’s needs in mind, The Children’s Center at Sabal Palms stands apart from other pediatric sub-acute programs in the country. With ample personal space for each child, decorated ceilings and hand paintedaquatic murals meant to stimulate and develop children while nurturing and caring for them at an unsurpassed level.
Due to the intense nature of the care the Center’s children require, many are unable to attend a traditional school setting. Educational opportunities are provided with assistance from the Pinellas County school systems that allows certified teachers and instructors to come to the community and provide quality education to each child.
The center provides a number of services for the children including twenty four hour pediatric nursing and respiratory therapists, physical, occupational and speech/language therapy and outpatient therapy. Other programs including the “Hospital/Homebound” program and overnight accommodations allow the children to spend time away from the Center in preparations for independent care.
Dedicated to providing caring services at an unparalleled level, The Children’s Center at Sabal Palms makes lasting impressions on children and their families every day.
About Sabal Palms: Located on the beautiful 88-acre campus of The Palms of Largo,an Intergenerational Community, Sabal Palms Health Care Center is a highly respected Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Center that offers long-term nursing care with a sub-acute pediatric unit in the heart of Pinellas County, Fla.The Skilled Nursing Facility is certified by both Medicare and Medicaid programs and is also a healthcare provider for several managed care insurances and traditional Medicare recipients.
About the Children’s Center: At The Children’s Center at Sabal Palms, patients will find an extraordinary staff of professionals along with stimulating therapeutic and educational programs in an atmosphere that’s both nurturing and supportive. The Pediatric Unit is equipped to handle a wide range of infants and children who are medically complex and dependent on technology to continue to grow and develop including ventilator weaning and management, care after near-drowning accidents, multiple trauma injuries, closed head injuries and Severe Seizure Disorder.
MEDIA CONTACT
Glenn Selig
PR firm: The Publicity Agency
Email:
Phone: 813-708-1220 x7777 | Cell: 813-300-5454
Tyler Ragghianti
PR firm: The Publicity Agency
Email:
Phone: 813-708-1220 x7780 | Cell: 813-295-3269
SOURCE: The Palms of Largo
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