CLOSING IN ON 100

Valeria Mabene could be a poster child when it comes to engaging your body, mind and soul to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Villager has lost 90 pounds and is just 10 pounds away from reaching her goal.

Mabene exercises daily, is very careful about the food she consumes and has enough heart and soul to propel her forward to reach her goal and beyond.

Healthy Living sends kudos out to Valeria for being such a shining example to others that just about anything is possible if you allow your body, mind and soul to work in tandem.

Managing diabetes

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. South Lake Hospital’s self-management education class on Nov. 26 teaches diabetes patients how to reduce complications through medication, nutrition, exercise and blood-sugar monitoring.

The class is from 9a.m.–1p.m. inside the LiveWell Fitness Center. Call 352.241.7109 for more information.

Melissa was right to be concerned about her husband. Family history is a primary contributor to a person’s overall cardiovascular health. It’s never too early to ask your doctor for an assessment. Never too soon to ask for recommendations to help. The good news, after a thorough workup at the Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence, we were able to determine that his heart was in good shape. His cholesterol was high but it was manageable through medication. Melissa’s heart felt as if a great weight had been removed from it.

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ANGEL’S WINGS

Throughout the years, Leesburg-based Angel Flight Southeast has provided free air transportation for countless people with compelling medical needs.

One is Alex Zabukovec, a seventh-grader at Oak Park Middle School. Born with a disease that caused his heart to race, Alex needed to undergo specialized heart surgery in 2003 when he was 18 months old. The procedure could be performed only in Delaware.

The organization made necessary arrangements so Alex could fly to Delaware and have the procedure performed. Today, the 13-year-old has been cleared by his cardiologist to play baseball and golf.

While Angel Flight volunteers contribute their time and planes, the organization relies on donations to pay for services that keep its passengers and pilots in the air. On Nov. 11, Angel Flight is hosting its 18th annual golf tournament at Arlington Ridge Golf Club in Leesburg. The event, sponsored by Harper Family Charitable Foundation, is one of the organization’s largest fundraisers. For more information, call 352.326.0761.

Health Trends

Lake Eye Associates welcomes Board-certified ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Dr. Vinay Gutti to its staff.

Dr. Gutti received his medical degree from Penn State University College of Medicine and a fellowship in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery from the University of California Irvine Medical Center.

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Dr. Gutti will see patients at The Villages office.

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Florida Hospital Waterman is Lake County’s first hospital to upgrade its emergency radio system to a countywide communication system. The system will allow all law enforcement, fire/rescue, emergency management, emergency medical services and dispatch services to communicate on one uniform system. This will improve the efficiency of communication between all agencies and the hospital.

This radio system features 18 tower sites strategically placed throughout the county to provide reliable and instant communication.

“In both daily response and in emergency situations, strong and reliable communication is just as critical as the information received from a 911 caller,” says Greg Holcomb, E911 coordinator of Lake County Public Safety. “By adding Florida Hospital Waterman to the network, we will improve the organization and speed of transitioning care from first responders to the emergency department.”