Upcoming Events
- Quit Smoking Now!
Every TU, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Five-week group-based smoking cessation program, $100 participation fee.
Donna Boatman, Facilitator
To register, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-834-3798. Read MoreMoving from Strength to Strength in Work, Life and Happiness
15th Annual Leonore Annenberg Lecture
TH, Jan 18, 3 to 5 p.m.
Arthur C. Brooks, Author
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar. Read MoreRobotic Hip Replacement Surgery
TH, Jan 18, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Ghassan Boghosian, DO, Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar. Read MoreBlood Drive
W, Jan 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 800-879-4484. Read MoreBariatric Surgery Information
W, Jan 24, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Bobby Bhasker-Rao, MD, Board Certified in General Surgery
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-834-3796. Read More
Hand in Hand
Life-changing tendon transfer surgeryAt five years old, Mauricio “Maui” Espinoza was happily playing with his grandparents’ old-fashioned wringer washer while on a visit to their home in Mexicali, Mexico. In a flash, its mechanical rollers pulled his right hand between them with such force, he couldn’t yank it back out. The machine continued to drag his arm into its grip.
Espinoza’s screams drew his grandparents, who managed to free his arm, pack it in ice and rush him to a local doctor. Espinoza’s hand was sore, bruised and weaker than his left, but it seemed to heal at first.
However, a problem lurked beneath the surface — life-altering damage to his radial nerve. This vital nerve, which runs down the back of the arm from the armpit to the hand, is responsible for sensation and movement in the arm, elbow, wrist and hand.
At school in California, Espinoza taught himself to be ambidextrous. By the time he reached high school, his difficulties mushroomed. “My hand had changed,” says Espinoza, now 41. “I had less and less function.” [MORE]
A bad problem worsens
Eventually, Espinoza’s wrist flexed downward, and his fingers curved. “I could hold some things, like a barbell, but I couldn’t keep a glass of water upright,” he says. “Depending on my hand’s position, I would lose complete control.”By the time he met Jacob Bosley, MD, Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery, at Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Center (EDOC) in 2021, Espinoza owned a thriving business creating fully connected homes for his clients, including TV and cable, surround sound, Wi-Fi and security systems.
What he couldn’t do, he says, “was give you a high five or a thumb’s up.” He also couldn’t shake a client’s hand with his right hand.
“Our hands are one of the main ways we interact with the world,” says Dr. Bosley. “A handshake has a lot of value and meaning, especially for an entrepreneur like Maui.”
Espinoza had consulted with several surgeons over the years about correcting his hand. They all turned him down. His injuries were too old, they said, the muscles and nerves dormant.
An innovative solution emerges
Espinoza then consulted with Dr. Bosley, who outlined an option he hadn’t heard of — tendon transfer surgery — which would replace non-working tendons in his wrist and hand with working ones, giving him the ability to power his wrist, hand and fingers again. “I was ready to do it,” he says. “If it could be fixed, I wanted my hand.”In medical school, Dr. Bosley developed an interest in traumatic injuries and intricacies of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He went on to become fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery. “What drew me to hand surgery was how intricate and delicate it is,” he says. “I especially enjoy helping to restore function in someone’s hand.”
Many injuries to the radial nerve heal themselves. “Recovery must take place within 18 months for the signal from the nerve to return and link with the muscle,” says Dr. Bosley. “If not, you lose the connection.”
Tendons are the strong, fibrous cords that connect the muscle to the bone. Physicians in the late 19th century discovered that transferring tendons could restore function to an extremity.
The most significant recent advance isn’t in surgical technique but in the ability to keep appropriate patients partially awake during surgery. By using light anesthesia, the surgeon can give the patient instructions on the operating table to move a wrist or flex the fingers — “so we can see the replacement tendon work before finalizing it,” says Dr. Bosley. Light anesthesia isn’t for everyone; because of other health concerns, Espinoza received full anesthesia.
A change on its way
To determine which tendons to transplant, Dr. Bosley looks for one that is expendable or in duplication. “Something that can be taken away without any significant loss,” he says.In February 2022, Espinoza underwent tendon transfer surgery. Dr. Bosley selected three tendons from the palm side of the forearm and transferred them to the back of the hand and wrist. In doing so, he restored Espinoza’s ability to power extension of his thumb, fingers, and wrist.
Espinoza wore a cast for more than a month to allow his hand to heal in the desired position. Soon after, he started therapy at EDOC, honing his fine motor skills by handling various objects with his newly extended fingers. “I started realizing how much I could do that I couldn’t do before,” he explains.
“Maui’s success is the result of teamwork between a surgeon, anesthesiologist, occupational therapist and the patient, putting in the work himself,” says Dr. Bosley.
At a follow-up visit, Espinoza used his right hand to shake the hand of the surgeon who made it possible. “After being told ‘No’ so many times,” says Espinoza, “Dr. Bosley gave me a chance.”
For more information or to contact Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Center, call 760.568.2684, or visit EisenhowerHealth.org/EDOC.
French Ambience, Fresh Flowers, Exquisite Meals
She bought the FARM - and found her callingHave you ever eaten at a restaurant so charming, serving such delicious food, you wanted to move in?
Nestled in the heart of Palm Springs in the Spanish-style center on La Plaza, FARM restaurant features bright rooms filled with natural light, fresh flowers and fireplaces; and servers who know what you need before you ask. Dining al fresco is another popular option, with FARM’s ample outdoor seating — California-meets-Europe — framed by sprawling greenery and flowers.
At the helm of this Palm Springs treasure is Liz Ostoich, a former land use attorney with zero experience in the food industry before she bought FARM.
“I was a regular at the restaurant, and one day in 2016, the owner sat down while I was having breakfast and said, ‘I’m ready to move on and I think you’re supposed to buy this place,’” says Ostoich. “I had a discussion with my husband Mark, and he encouraged me to do it.” [MORE]
For the first six months of operation, Ostoich was admittedly nervous and spent every minute of every day learning from her staff. “The employees taught me everything about how to run a restaurant,” she explained, “and I was eager to learn.”
Apparently, Ostoich is a fast learner. In seven years, she has not only fine-tuned her beloved French-inspired restaurant, but opened three more: The Front Porch at FARM (a neighborhood bar with fresh fare, including vegetarian and vegan options), Tac/Quila (think hip Mexican cuisine and bar) and Clandestino (“Tac/Quila’s moody sister” — well-curated food and craft cocktails). In the process, she employs at least five members of the same family. Two brothers and a cousin are the chefs at FARM, while another brother and sister create their specialties at Tac/Quila and Clandestino.
The menu
Breakfast or lunch is a good way to explore FARM’s seven-day menu: sweet or savory crêpes, omelettes, brioche French toast, sandwiches, several choices of eggs benedict, inventive salads, baked brie, and bagel and lox. Croque Monsieur or Madame, avocado toast, the farm breakfast sandwich, bacon-chicken-and-waffle, and a vegan wrap offer more choices.Served with mixed greens and sherry vinaigrette, or oven roasted potatoes, the omelettes are just one of FARM’s immensely satisfying meals. The Bretonne omelette includes smoked salmon, goat cheese, raw spinach (never soggy) and scallions. Accompanied by a chunk of fresh baguette, butter and house-made jam, it’s difficult to know what to eat first.
And here’s a not-so-secret-tip: you really don’t want to miss the fresh watermelon juice or the French-press coffee, although there are many drink options from which to choose. FARM features Tito’s Coffee Trail, a locally roasted, exceptional blend of fresh coffee beans, which you may purchase by the bag to take home.
Prix fixe dinners — new menu every two weeks
“Prior to us taking over as owners,” explains Ostoich, “FARM only served breakfast and lunch. In 2017, we added dinner.”Dinner, served Friday through Tuesday, is a prix fixe menu featuring amuse bouche (a very light appetizer), palate cleanser, and one choice each of appetizer, entrée and dessert. For example, a recent menu included: appetizers — roasted parsnip and celery root soup; apple-pear salad; vegetarian cheesy mushroom sliders, and fig prosciutto salad. Entrée choices were braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables; wild caught King Salmon with yellow corn puree, charred Brussel sprouts, lemon beurre blanc and fresh fennel cucumber salad; oven-roasted Magret de Canard with braised pumpkin, lentils, sautéed Broccolini, red beet puree and pomegranate seeds; and stuffed acorn squash w farro, sautéed wild mushrooms, baby heirloom tomatoes, shaved Parmesan and maple mustard sauce. And last, but not least, dessert options included fig cheesecake (gluten free), chocolate orange mousse dome, apple sage pie with vanilla ice cream or a citron crêpe.
The menu changes every two weeks and is posted on FARM’s website.
“Having a team approach with three chefs gives them the opportunity to collaborate,” notes Ostoich. “It also gives them an opportunity to be creative, especially with a changing menu.”
“My philosophy with food is that we should be awakening all the senses,” continues Ostoich. “It’s important that it’s not just a meal, because we can all cook a meal at home. Dining out should be an experience, from the atmosphere — gardens and fresh flowers on the table — to the music. We have live music in the evenings — and beautifully prepared and presented food, made from the freshest ingredients.”
Tip number two: plan ahead and make dinner reservations well in advance, especially during the valley’s busy season. Bon appétit!
[highlighted]
FARM
Breakfast and lunch hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., seven days a week, walk-in only
Dinner hours: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday through Tuesday
6 La Plaza, Palm Springs, CA 92262For reservations, call 760.322.2724 or book a table through Open Table.
For parties of five to 10, email host@farmpalmsprings.com
farmpalmsprings.com
frontporchpalmsprings.com
tacquila.com
clandestinopalmsprings.com
Five Things You Can Do Right Now
Nature Calls Visit the Wildlands Conservancy’s Oak Glen Preserve and take a hike through the pine, oak and chaparral woodland. Then, pick up some apples at 117-year-old Los Rios Rancho...ARTWORKS
Drawing or painting benefits that go beyond self-expressionWhat one thing could you do that will supercharge your brain cells; improve your memory, mood, and capacity for healing; sharpen your problem-solving and emotional intelligence, and reduce stress?
The magic prescription: drawing.
Numerous studies have shown that the act of making art has positive effects on the human body — physically and mentally.
Use it or lose it, neurologists say about the brain, and that includes cross-training your neural network with new activities. Art therapists recommend learning to draw or paint as a form of self care. Not only does it soothe anxiety, it boosts creativity, mindfulness and self-esteem. [MORE]
Meaningful self-expression
Don’t worry that you may be a beginner or you may never see your masterpiece hang in the Louvre in Paris (or even on the refrigerator). The point is the process.“Expressing yourself lifts your spirits and it’s good for your health,” says artist Lisa Loudin,
co-president of the Desert Art Center in Palm Springs. Open since 1950, the nonprofit gallery is the oldest arts organization in the Coachella Valley. “For me, making art is a meditation. You go to a different world.”“Artmaking taps into areas of brain function that may not ordinarily get used, such as imagination and feeling,” says Leo Fuchs, founder and director of Arts Education at the Desert Art Academy in Palm Desert. An award-winning artist and master of color theory, Fuchs has been widely published on the neurological benefits of creating art.
For Loudin, making a successful transition from a career in financial services to working artist enabled her to find her voice. Her finely detailed drawings of “talking” trees now sell globally. “I do the art for myself,” she says. “It’s become my way to connect with others.”
She is convinced art is for everyone, professional or ardent wannabe. “Everyone is creative. Being creative in your own way is contagious!”
The Desert Art Center provides adult art classes and workshops, along with a thriving, free middle school art program and an annual High School Grants program that showcases local high school art students at a well-attended exhibition.
To people who think they can’t take an art class because they don’t know how to draw, Loudin assures them art is like building any new skill. “You start at the basics and you practice.”She has seen children and adults enter drawing classes with little or no confidence, before undergoing “a metamorphosis of sorts,” Loudin says. “A life can be changed with art.”
Nurturing your brain circuitry
Her belief is supported by research. Picking up a crayon and scribbling helps a toddler develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. By engaging the brain, artmaking also helps kids build important cognitive processing and make connections across different subjects and ideas.Children who draw regularly have been shown to have better focus, attention span and concentration than their non-artmaking peers. They also have a bigger storehouse of creative solutions.
Adults also get in on the health benefits of tapping into their inner Gauguin. Devoting time to artistic interests or vocations increases the brain’s gray matter, which is responsible for processing information. Recent research even suggests drawing may improve the memories of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Desert Art Academy
Leo Fuchs has taught drawing, painting, design and art philosophy to all ages, including at major colleges and universities. He founded the Desert Art Academy a decade ago to offer art classes and individualized instruction that appeal to the beginner and more advanced participant. “I teach students and professional artists how to find their artistic purpose,” he says, “and discover the artist they are meant to be.”The Desert Art Academy’s offerings include after-school and summer programs for kids and teens in drawing, painting, Japanese anime and manga, along with teen portfolio development and classes in graphic, fashion, and environmental design, and more.
Students at every level tell him they find “a sense of peace” while painting or drawing. The experience can be an emotional journey. Fuchs has witnessed students who achieve moments of creativity and exclaim, “I can’t believe I did that!”
“We try to enable people to get back in touch on a soul level with the person they are beyond their careers, present or past,” he says. “It’s joyful to watch them work.”
Wherever you begin your process, taking brush or pencil to paper can help you see the world differently — more vividly, Fuchs says. “Learning to draw or paint means learning to see.”
Classes for kids and adultsDesert Art Center
550 N Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.323.7973
desertartcenter.orgDesert Art Academy
73726 Alessandro Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260
760.774.6838
desertartacademy.comOld Town Artisan Studios
78046 Calle Barcelona, La Quinta, CA z92253
760.777.1444
oldtownartisanstudios.org
