Miracle benefits school

March 23, 2005 at 06:43 PM

CelineDion, Geddes collaboration benefits school
By Angie Francalancia

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Pedro Garcia was a longtime pediatrician in the county who had a special patient in young Celine Daly of The Acreage. Celine was born with a mitochondrial defect, which caused her brain and muscles to develop poorly.

Garcia has guided Celine and her family through the labyrinth of health complications associated with the genetic defect.

Then another Celine came into his life. Celine Dion, who gave birth to a son in 2001 at Palms West Hospital, also selected Dr. Garcia as her child's pediatrician. When the pop singer moved from her Jupiter home to Las Vegas for a three-year concert engagement, she took Dr. Garcia with her.

But Garcia didn't forget his first Celine, who is now 10 and a fourth-grader at H.L. Johnson Elementary in Royal Palm Beach.

"Dr. Garcia and I are very close," said Beth Mensinger, Celine Daly's mother. "He comes back here periodically and gives Celine a head-to-toe examination."

And Garcia has again delivered aid to his patient and her classmates.

An autographed copy of Miracle, a collaboration of Celine Dion and photographer Anne Geddes will be featured in the school's upcoming carnival raffle. The book features Celine Dion with Geddes' signature baby photos.

Mensinger and teacher Brenda Sanchez are hoping Celine Dion fans will buy raffle tickets for the basket containing the autographed book and CD.

The money will be used for adaptive playground equipment for little Celine and the other six students in Sanchez's class for trainable mentally handicapped.

"It says, 'Love, Celine Dion,' " Mensinger said. "It's really quite beautiful. We're so fortunate to have Dr. Garcia. From everything the doc says, Celine Dion just loves and adores children."

Each class has baskets to raffle. In addition to the Celine Dion package, Sanchez's class has two more baskets. One features a turkey fryer and the other, Haitian artwork. But the class is betting the Celine Dion basket brings them the best results.

"Those kids need so much adaptive stuff," Mensinger said.

Raffle tickets for the Celine Dion basket cost $5 each or three for $12. Buyers of raffle tickets don't have to be present to win. Call Sanchez at (561) 798-5888 for tickets.