Punta Gorda Sun - 09/15/2019 Page : F05

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Copyright (c) 2019 Punta Gorda Sun, Edition 09/15/2019September 23, 2019 11:51 am (GMT +4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA

N/E/P/C www.yoursun.com | The Sun | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 PAGE 5F

get nervous about it, but when I get on the stage I feel like it’s where I belong. I can’t explain it. I just love to play.”

HIS WORLDThe fi rst time Zayne

was invited to play in front of a crowd at age 15 he felt paralyzed. His body froze and he couldn’t lift his guitar. He stared straight down, afraid to make eye contact with the audience. He eventu-ally walked off the stage without playing a single note.

It wasn’t until a couple of years later that he found the courage to play in front of a large crowd again, this time at his high school talent show his junior year. He was declared the winner, and it was at that moment that his parents realized Zayne’s guitar playing was more than a casual hobby.

“We were all blown away by what we saw in that talent show,” said Gwendolyn, who along with Gene manages Zayne’s music career. “When you learn that your child has autism, it feels like a death. You have to mourn and realize you don’t have the child you thought you had. It becomes about what can you do to support the child you do have. And that’s what we do for Zayne every day with his gift for music.”

Zayne still doesn’t like to look most people in the eye. He usually is wearing prescription sunglasses so he doesn’t have to. When he talks with someone, his eyes are usually point-ed down or he is looking away, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t absorbing every word.

On stage he has learned to escape the nerves by creating a diff erent scene in his mind depending on what note he might be playing. If he is playing a blues tune, he might pic-ture himself dancing with folks in a fl ower-laced fi eld. If he hears a clas-sical note, he imagines

standing in line with people dressed in gowns and tuxedos waiting to get into a theater.

The alternative reality helps him forget there is an audience in front of him.

“I know that sounds weird, but it’s a way for me to not let my emotions get in the way of what I’m doing,” Zayne said. “I feel free that way.”

FEELING ITZayne is standing

behind a stack of speakers and amplifi ers; almost hiding before his band starts performing Downtown at an autism fundraising event along the Scioto River in late July. There are only a few people in the crowd on a 93-degree day, but that doesn’t matter to Zayne, who still feels the anxiety whether there are fi ve people or a thousand watching him play. But the moment the concert starts, Zayne is playing off the feel of the music, just like he did in that dark bedroom.

“I don’t think of Zayne as someone with autism, I just see him as an amazing performer,” said Rose, the keyboard player

who has made signifi cant progress overcoming her own challenges with autism. “He can do things most people can’t with any instrument.”

Zayne still struggles to read music, but he is among the rare group of people who are con-sidered to have absolute or perfect pitch. That means Zayne can hear a single note with no reference point and know whether it’s an A-fl at or B-minor or another note. A number of studies have shown that people with autism are more likely to have that gift.

“His guitar teacher

had Zayne turn his back, and every note he played Zayne recognized it imme-diately,” Gwendolyn said. “Then the same with two notes and even with three notes. My reaction was one of fear because I was astounded by his gift.”

Zayne’s stature con-tinues to grow, and the Harshaws aren’t sure how far or how big his career will get. They are just as concerned about helping him have the life he wants when he isn’t playing the guitar. He continues to live with his parents, and his next goal is to be able to drive. He has passed his driving tests, but his

occupational therapist says he isn’t ready to be on the road alone.

It’s just the latest chal-lenge Zayne is confi dent he will conquer.

“I know I already said this, but the doctor was wrong,” Zayne said while grinning. “And I don’t play in the dark anymore.”

GUITARISTFROM PAGE 1F

TNS PHOTO

Zayne Harshaw, founder of Blue Spectrum, performs at the ARC of Ohio People First dance at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio.

Clinical research studies on eczema medication

Florida Skin Center has partnered with the Clinical Study Center of Fort Myers for two clinical research studies. Founder and Chief Medical Offi cer Anais Aurora Badia, M.D., D.O., and Shirisha Vallarapu, PA-C, are asking guests to participate in research on investigational medi-cation for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. This is a chronic form of eczema that leads to rash breakouts and often results in itchiness and bleeding. Subjects must be: 18 or older, experiencing moderate to severe eczema that impacts at least 10% of their body surface area and dissatisfi ed with their current treatment regimen.

Dr. Badia and Vallarapu will enroll interested and qualifi ed guests. Then, these guests will visit the Clinical Study Center, 13670 Metropolis Ave, Fort Myers, to be monitored by board-certifi ed investigators. Research results will be processed and determine if the investigational medication proves to successfully treat chronic eczema.

Study-related care and study medication are provided to test subjects at no cost, regardless of health insurance. The Clinical Study Center also compensates subjects for study-related time and travel. To inquire about the eczema studies, visit ClinicalStudyCenter.com or call the Clinical Study Center at 239-936-4421.

Everything you ever wanted to know about CBD

Ananda Yoga is pleased to announce a free workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ananda Yoga, 13035 Tamiami Trail, Suite E, North Port. The workshop is titled “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About CBD But Were Afraid to Ask.”

The workshop will cover the history of the use of hemp oil for healing, the benefi ts of CBD oil, the quality diff erences in products on the market, how to choose a quality CBD product and help educate people on the myriad of misinformation circulating about CBD. The workshop will be taught by Teri Michel, who is a Licensed Massage Therapist & Certifi ed Ayurvedic Health Educator. She has been working with essential oils since 2009 and recently completed a Certifi cation on the EndoCannabinoid System and CBD. If you would like to attend or for more Information, call 941-875-8582.

Taking the dive with Hyperbaric Oxygen TherapyThink of this as Hyperbarics

101. Learn how and when hyper-baric oxygen therapy began, how it works, what to expect during a therapy session, and what it is used to treat. Speaker: Larry Bachle, D.O., Hyperbaric and Wound Care Medicine. Lunch pro-vided. RSVP required. 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, 2001 Shreve St., Punta Gorda. Call 941-637-1655 to register.

Elder Law workshopElder Law attorney Mary A.

Byrski to be the featured speaker this month at the “Elder Law & Estate Planning Workshop.” The event takes place from 5:30-7 p.m.Thursday at Chelsea Place Senior Day Care and Activities Center, 3626 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Her presentation will include information on wills and trusts, estate planning, Medicaid benefi ts planning,

veteran benefi ts planning, trust administration and probate. For more information or to RSVP, call Amie Conti at 941-787-0687. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Candlelight recovery vigilThis vigil is to increase the

awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders, to celebrate those people in recovery as well as their family members and to highlight community resources available for a successful recovery. There will be a short presentation where community members share their inspiring stories of recovery, information tables featuring our community’s best recovery resources, along with honor beads, rock painting and a basket raffl e. The evening wraps up with bagpipes playing inspirational music while candles are lit for the vigil. This event is kid friendly. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs 7 p.m. Friday at Laishley Park, Punta Gorda. For more information, contact Kelly Pomerville at kpomerville@cbhcfl .org or 941-639-8300, ext. 2275.

Bayfront Health Fall Symposium: Heart Health

Free physician-led discussion to learn more about how to maintain or improve your heart health. Speakers: Sidney Peykar, M.D., FACC, electrophysiologist; Luis Dibos, M.D., FACS, cardiac surgeon and Farhan Majeed, M.D., MHS, FACC, FSCAI, interventional cardiologist. Continental breakfast and lunch provided. RSVP required. 9 a.m. Sept. 21. Kingsway Country Club, 13625 S.W. Kingsway Circle, Port Charlotte. For more information and to register to attend, call 941-766-4285 or visit lovemyheart.eventbrite.com.

Support groupsFor support groups, go to

www.yoursun.com.

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