Catchfence

HMS’ Mrs. Claus leads “elves” in spirited visit to PATCHES facility

MIAMI—The staff at Homestead-Miami Speedway recently dropped in on some very deserving children at PATCHES nursing center in Florida City to spread holiday cheer and a whole lot of holiday gifts. And with the smiles that greeted Speedway staffers emanating from a full house of nearly 60 kids and 20 medical practitioners, it’s tough to say who went home happier.

“I just can’t think of anything better than putting a smile on a child’s face, and we got a full day of that,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway Community Relations Manager Nathalie Salas. “To see the jubilation the kids express in receiving their gifts, you wouldn’t even know they’re under medical care. Spending the day alongside these resilient children and an incredibly committed staff at PATCHES is a really rewarding way to kick into a great holiday gear.”

PATCHES is a state-licensed facility providing daily medical treatment to children with extreme medical needs, as well as education for parents and caregivers. As an advocate for early intervention—treating children from birth to the age of 21 years—the non-profit organization is an alternative to in-patient hospital care and the isolation of home care. The facility is staffed by licensed pediatric nurses, respiratory therapists, licensed rehab therapists and certified teachers.

“Our goal is to improve the quality of life and allow kids to be kids here,” said PATCHES CEO Kyle Smith. “We only have a small window to teach them how to live and to educate parents on how to cope, so the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. We are a family here.”

In advance of Homestead-Miami Speedway’s visit, PATCHES provided a list of the children’s names and ages so Speedway employees could personalize the gifts purchased for the holiday event. Homestead-Miami’s “Mrs. Claus” and her elves then distributed the gifts in a roll-call fashion that had the kids anxiously awaiting their turn to be personally summoned.

“It was a really special day,” said Salas. “To see the anticipation in those kids’ eyes really brings to light what a special time of year it is for all of us, but especially for those deserving children.”

PATCHES (Pediatric Alternative Treatment, Care, Housing & Evaluation Services): PATCHES offers parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by health care professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. The center is fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. Supportive therapies, respiratory care, educational programming and door-to-door transportation are also available in working toward the goal of returning children to daycare, school systems and ultimately the community.

- Homestead-Miami Speedway, Press Release