HCA Florida South Shore Hospital hosted a Christmas-themed, pancake breakfast Dec. 16 for its entire team of caregivers, volunteers and their families. The festive, third annual event included a visit from Santa and the Pony and a Zoo SaddleBred Ranch petting zoo, which included goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, tortoises, a donkey, steer and pony.
The hospital’s food and nutrition services staff prepared the free meal of pancakes, bacon, sausage/cheese biscuits and more.
Lois Kindle
Cindy Loo Who and the Grinch made an appearance at South Shore Hospital’s Dec. 16 pancake breakfast. The characters were played by Karen Raffensberger, patient safety director, left, and rancher Melissa Raffensberger.
Lisa Howard, HCA Florida South Shore Hospital vice president of human relations, shows that even adults enjoy petting animals during the hospital’s third annual pancake breakfast Dec. 16.
Two-year-old Alfred George is fascinated by this brightly and amply feathered Mille Fleur d’Uccle chicken, brought to the South Shore Hospital pancake breakfast by Pony and a Zoo SaddleBred Ranch in Holiday
ALISSA KOSTYK PHOTO
As the pony from Pony and a Zoo SaddleBred Ranch in Holiday makes rounds during the South Shore Hospital pancake breakfast, Dec. 16, South Shore Hospital caregivers enjoy its visit.
Aaliyah Hortelano, 9, has fun petting a couple of goats at the Dec. 16 South Shore Hospital pancake breakfast
Winter Cooper, 18 months, gives a comforting pat to a bunny in the petting zoo. Her mom, Jamie, is an ICU nurse at South Shore Hospital
Andrew Soria watches while his colleague, Jackie Janson, pets a donkey, her favorite animal, at the South Shore Hospital pancake breakfast Dec. 16. She served five years in the Army as a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic. Both are X-ray technicians.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTOS
The children of South Shore Hospital ICU nurse Smitha George gather around Santa Claus, aka Kings Point resident Harry Eberle, during a pancake breakfast of appreciation the hospital hosted for caregivers and their families on Dec. 16. From left are Alfred, 2; Santa; Abel, 11, Alphonse, 8; and Adonis, 7.