Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Looking at 4-year-old Bryson Gardner, you’d have no idea he’s persevered through more than someone 20 times his age. Bryson was born prematurely. He spent his first days in the NICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “He was here for 10 days,” said mom Ashley Gardner, “got blood transfusions, and that’s when they kind of picked up that he had a murmur when they were listening to his heart.” Doctors eventually diagnosed him with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease in which the heart muscle becomes thickened, which can make it harder for the heart to pump blood. Bryson spent his first few years in and out of hospitals from Southwest Florida to the cardio specialists at Joe DiMaggio on the east coast and eventually Shands Hospital in Gainesville to wait on a transplant. “And they told us right after that that we couldn’t go home; to stay in the hospital, because the prognosis was so poor, that pretty much any day he could code and there was no way they could bring him back,” said Ashley. Given that, it was a difficult decision for Bryson’s mom, who is also a NICU nurse, to bring her baby home. “He wasn’t tolerating very well, like, because it was primetime for COVID,” she said. “There was no playroom. There was no volunteers. We weren’t allowed out in the hallways, and I was there by myself with no family. It was just getting bad. He was getting very angry and hitting and biting, so I’m like, at a certain point, like I can’t make him suffer, because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and I don’t want him to pass away knowing that he suffered the whole time he was in the hospital.” Ashley took her son home to give him some kind of life not knowing if he’d live, but on the eve of his third birthday, they got the news they have been waiting for: a heart. “It’s harder for us because we knew what happened to get that heart,” Ashley said. Ashley wrote an anonymous letter to the mother of Bryson’s donor in Alabama. “So we drove over one day when we were on vacation on a Saturday,” Ashley said. “She had this nice little banner with Grayson and Bryson’s picture together.” Grayson’s mom met Bryson and listened to her son’s heart beating in his chest. “They knew that we didn’t have anything to do with the passing of their child, and in return, they got to see the impact that their decision made because he’s absolutely wild, and they saw that right away,” Ashley said. The family plans on a yearly visit with Grayson’s family. Ashley said her son Bryson is now making up for lost time. Years of toddlerhood spent in the hospital are spilling out now with his new, stronger heart pumping inside of him.