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FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE: BENEFIT MILONGA
Hearing this, Nat’s Chicago friends decided a benefit milonga would give the dance community so close to his heart a chance to help with his recovery beyond their prayers. Fred and Yermen Romero, two of his teachers, thought it a good idea and graciously offered to host the benefit at their “end of the month’’ milonga, Friday October 29, at Chicago’s Latvian Center. Others volunteered to help organize the event, which included a silent auction featuring artwork, dance lessons, Fedlenkrais® sessions, and restaurant gift cards.
The event welcomed all who wished to support Nat, especially his many ballroom and non-dancing friends. Organizers asked that those interested in making contributions or anyone having questions contact Pat at 630.697.3540 or design@patpitula.comfor more information.
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Anyone wishing to donate toward alternative therapies to benefit Nat Sheppard’s Online Stroke Recovery Fund is asked to contact Pat at 630.697.3540 or design@patpitula.com
for details.
HOW TO CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT
NAT SHEPPARD’S STROKE RECOVERY FUND
Nat Sheppard reported being “moved, touched and inspired” by generous support shown at a recent Chicago stroke benefit milonga held in his honor. The social dance was organized to raise funds toward alternative recovery therapies for the stricken tanguero and ballroom dancer.
BENEFIT MILONGA & STROKE RECOVERY
FUND AIDS STRICKEN DANCE CRUISE HOST
photo art by Stephen Marino and Pat Pitula (Proyecto Tango LLC); Stephanie Dance shoes by Don Fries (Camino Al Tango); Feldenkrais® sessions by Cheryl Becker; and restaurant gift card by Chef Peter McGarrity (Harry Caray Rosemont). Others donated food, cash gifts and and/or online promotion, including tango and ballroom organizers Bob Urbon (BallroomChicago.com), USA Dance; Ron and Mary Ford (Dance Center Chicago), Ray Barbosa (Chicago Milonguero), Netza Roldan (American Tango Institute), Somer Surgit, Phoebe Grant and Valerie Wright. Many other friends, event attendees and anonymous donors also showed their support.
The heartwarming evening would not have been complete without Nat’s return to the dance floor. Though wobbly during this first attempt at as many tango dances, Nat said it felt great to be back, trying. The fellowship of those present that night rendered him truly “moved, touched and inspired.”
The benefit milonga’s success is being continued through online efforts to raise additional funds to be used toward Nat’s therapy through Brain State Technology, which is shown to have significant positive results for stroke rehabilitation. The Nat Sheppard Stroke Recovery Fund is facilitated by Pat Pitula. Contact Pat at 630.697.3540 or design@patpitula.com if you wish to make a contribution.
Photos courtesy of Tim Place
The cruise started out great ― calm seas, a brand new ship, smooth seas and amiable passengers. The group hosted by Dancers At Sea danced the evening away, giving quite a workout to their dance hosts.
Photo courtesy of Proyecto Tango© 2010
At midnight, they called it quits and dance host Nat Sheppard thought “just in time,” perceiving that the sea was beginning to get a little rough. Cautiously, he made his way back to his cabin, using the ship’s corridor walls for balance.
The problem, he would find upon waking, was not a restless sea at all. He had suffered a major stroke. He was taken to the ship’s infirmary for initial treatment then two days later off loaded in Jamaica for an hour’s ambulance ride to a clinic.
The journey back to health has been a difficult one ― precious time was lost on the ship and during the week-long stay in Jamaica. Finally he made his way to his native Atlanta where he received acute medical care with support from family.
In the 19 months since then, Nat has undergone countless months of traditional gym style therapy at hospitals and rehab centers but full recovery has remained elusive. Buoyed by the unbelievable support and prayers of my dance community friends, I have not given up or given in to despondency,’’ Nat said. “I have done research on alternative treatments and two, though experimental, seem worth a try.’’
Specifically, Nat wants to try hyperbaric oxygen and brain state conditioning therapies. “There is no guarantee either of these will work but I have nothing to lose and the advancement of my recovery to gain,’’ he said. “The problem is that the therapies are exorbitant and not covered by insurance.’’
DANCER AT SEA:
UNSCHEDULED PORT STOP FOR DANCE CRUISE HOST
Friends and supporters in and beyond local tango community rallied around Nat at the special evening sponsored by Fred and Yermen Romero at Chicago’s Latvian Center to assist him in receiving promising therapies not covered by health insurance. The veteran dance host suffered a debilitating stroke while on a 2008-09 New Year’s Eve dance cruise that was at sea somewhere in the Caribbean (read more in “Unscheduled Port Stop,” below). Since then, aggressive efforts to rehabilitate have yielded small results and monumental expenses. The benefit was organized by friends wanting to enable Nat in obtaining alternative therapies that show greater promise for improvement, namely hyperbaric oxygen and Brain State Technology treatments.
A silent auction helped raise funds that will allow Nat to pursue the hyperbaric alternative. Contributions included dance instruction by Fred Romero, Jorge Niedas (Tango 21), Nino DiGuilio (May I Have This Dance) and Jeffrey Forth;