This mother-and-daughter nursing team has cared for hundreds of people in Miami

Darkis Ramos was a little girl when she decided to dedicate her life to caring for others, just like her mom who was head nurse at an urgent care clinic in Havana.

Ramos spent her childhood visiting the clinic after school and playing nurse with her dolls while watching her mother treat patients.

But the journey to follow in those nursing footsteps took a while. In 1990, the family left Cuba for Miami and Ramos, then 17, had to put her career passion on hold. She worked in computer science to help out her family.

Today, she is following her dream. And her mother, Mirtha Torres, who works at Mercy Hospital in Miami, is continuing a nursing career of 46 years.

“I do believe that my mother and I are making a difference in the lives of many South Floridians,” she said. “And I will always be indebted to her for the values she passed on to me as a child.”

Ramos returned to school to pursue a nursing degree and graduated as a Baptist Health Nurse Scholar in 2006. Her first work was as a registered nurse in Baptist Hospital’s Emergency Room, and after three years she completed the LEED program for ER nurses.

She then worked for a home health agency, and later became a case manager for a pediatric home health company, managing, supervising and treating children with special needs.

In 2018, Ramos joined Pedikidz of Florida. As the director of nursing, she supervises a nursing team of 12 at the facilities, which offer nursing services as well as physical, occupational, speech, feeding, respiratory and behavioral therapy to qualifying children ages 0-21 with Medicaid.

Ramos said she has always had a special place in her heart for children.

“A young boy was brought in to the ER after having been severely beaten by his father. It was when I saw that boy pass away that I decided to specialize in pediatrics and dedicate my life to providing the best patient care to children.”

At Pedikidz, Ramos devises a customized plan of care for every child and oversees it daily.

“I am truly blessed in that the life choices I’ve made on my journey have brought me to where I am today,” she said. “Caring for medically fragile children each and every day and seeing them respond with joy and laughter is so gratifying. It’s the job I always dreamed about!”

More about Pedikidz is at www.pedikidz.com

Carrollton sophomore honored

For the first time, a Floridian has been selected as ambassador for the Business Oriented Leadership Development Conference presented by Harvard Undergraduate Women In Business.

Catalina de la Peña, a sophomore at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Coconut Grove, will serve as ambassador for the 2021 BOLD Conference that will take place via Zoom from Harvard University Northwest Lab Jan. 30-31.

More than 500 femalehigh school students from around the world are expected to attend the business education event.

“I am honored and excited to represent my state at the 2021 BOLD conference,” Catalina said. “As the only, and first, ambassador from Florida, I am hoping to encourage other high school girls throughout our state to attend this empowering conference.”

The BOLD Conference is an international event for high school students who are pursuing empowerment and knowledge from businesswomen. It is designed to help the next generation of women leaders.

Details at https://www.huwib-bold.com/

Pumpkin patch open

It’s time again to get pumpkins for making jack-o’-lanterns. Florida Fresh Market will host an indoor Pumpkin Patch at Dadeland Mall that will be a socially distanced, fun and safe. It will be open to guests every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 1 inside the mall next to JCPenney.

Guests can RSVP for this free event and learn more at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dadeland-mall-pumpkin-patch-tickets-121377293753 Walk-ups will be accepted however, RSVPs are highly recommended to avoid waiting.

Bank provides 340,000 masks

In communities across the country, Bank of America has been working with local partners to help vulnerable and underserved communities hardest hit by the pandemic. During the surge in infections in South Florida, the bank partnered with 16 nonprofits to provide personal protective equipment, specifically 340,000 masks.

“The health and safety of our employees, clients and communities remain our top priority during this health and humanitarian crisis,” said Gene Schaefer, Miami market president, Bank of America.

Mask recipients in Miami include Chapman Enterprises, United Way, Camillus House and The Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation. In Broward, masks were supplied to Junior Achievement of South Florida, Urban League of Broward County, and Hispanic Unity. Another 30,000 masks were donated to Clinics can Help/United Way of Palm Beach County.

Gables dining event is Nov. 7

This year, The Biltmore Ball to Benefit the Coral Gables Community Foundation is called “L’Art D’Recevoir” and the event has been transformed into an in-home dining experience. Gracious hosts and hostesses who live in Coral Gables will open their homes and gardens to support the Foundation’s many worthy causes.

The celebration will also honor community leaders who are making a difference including retired attorney and local philanthropist Bill Bonn; CEO and executive medical director of the Miami Cancer Institute Michael Zinner; The Underline’s Meg Daly; philanthropist Matthew Meehan; foundation supporter David Evensky of Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial; designer Mayda Cisneros; and Coral Gables High graduate and Super Bowl winner Jonathan Vilma.

Dinner will be by Le Basque catering, which will deliver three-course meals to the hosts. L’Art De Receovir will begin at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 7. Attire is black-tie optional with a French flair.

For more on sponsoring or becoming a host, contact Mary Snow at 305-446-9670 or mary@gablesfoundation.org or visit www.gablesfoundation.org

If you have news for this column, write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com.

This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 8:52 AM.