HUMMINGBIRD OPENS THIRD CENTER
Hummingbird Pediatric Therapies, owned by Hinsdale’s Christina Scalise-Morrissey, opened a new center in Elmhurst in July. The 11,000-square-foot pediatric therapy center is equipped with two state-of-the-art gyms complete with rock-climbing walls, slides, ball pits and much more.
“Elmhurst is a vibrant community, and we are thrilled to be able to help serve kids and families here and in the surrounding area,” Scalise-Morrissey said. “We offer the most comprehensive pediatric therapy services in the Chicagoland area, from infant feeding to aquatic therapy and everything in between. Partnering with educators, doctors and families, our Elmhurst center allows us the opportunity to provide even greater access to care for more children and families across the suburbs and Chicago.”
Hummingbird has more than 70 employees at its offices in Elmhurst, Westmont and Woodridge.
LOCAL AUTHOR WINS AWARD
Cristina Henríquez of Hinsdale has received the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
Henríquez’s latest work is “The Great Divide,” which was named a March 2024 Read with Jenna pick. She also is the author of the acclaimed novel “The Book of Unknown Americans,” which was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2014; “The World in Half;” and “Come Together, Fall Apart: A Novella and Stories.”
Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, The Oxford American, The American Scholar and elsewhere.
Other winners are Ann Patchett and Chance the Rapper.
The awards presentation will be Oct. 30, and a video of the presentation will be released Nov. 2.
HOSPITAL DONATES MACHINES TO ZOO
UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale has donated two blood washers to Brookfield Zoo to support a research project that could lead to the establishment of a national frozen red blood cell bank for zoos across the country.
The two IBM 2991 Blood Cell Processors are still in good working condition but were seldom used due to changes in the blood supply industry, explained Shelly Gilland, regional lab director for UChicago Medicine AdventHealth.
“We used to wash units of blood regularly, but now we rely more on our blood suppliers for those units when needed,” Gillan said.
UChicago Medicine AdventHealth has a strong relationship with Brookfield Zoo and has previously donated equipment to support its veterinary team.
“It’s gratifying to know the zoo will make use of them rather than seeing them sit unused or end up in a dumpster,” Gilland said.
Brookfield clinical veterinarian Dr. Lily Parkinson plans to use the machines for a research project to determine if animal red blood cells can withstand freezing, thawing and machine washing (to remove specialized freezing solutions) and still remain viable for transfusion into another animal of the same species.
“If thawed red blood cells survive the cleansing by the donated blood washers, we will have the necessary evidence to seek funding for a modern blood processing machine,” Parkinson said. “This machine could prepare, freeze, thaw, wash and prepare red blood cells for transfusion.”
If successful, the zoo could establish a frozen red blood cell bank, benefiting both its own animals and potentially many others across various locations.
Parkinson expressed gratitude to UChicago Medicine AdventHealth.
“They are always generous and helpful, willing to hear what we need and provide assistance if possible,” she said.
“We are strongly committed to being a good community partner,” said Adam Maycock, president and chief executive officer of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale and La Grange. “We want the community to know they can rely on us for personal healthcare and for the care and support necessary to keep our communities healthy and vibrant.”
— A photo appears online at http://www.facebook.com/thehinsdalean.
