Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some men, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give men a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
TRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of TRT and HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
For men, getting older comes with its perks, like living life on their own terms and not having to "sweat the small stuff" day in and day out. At the same time, there are aspects of aging that men dread, like hormonal changes. Yes, you read that right – men, not just women, go through hormonal changes as they age. For men, the biggest change involves a drop in testosterone.
Lower levels of testosterone can wreak havoc on a male's mind and body and when left untreated, can result in symptoms like:
Those symptoms are concerning, but with testosterone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine, many males improve their quality of life with age. The good news is that TRT and anti-aging meds aren't only reserved for "old guys." In fact, there's no magic age at which men should start thinking about hormone replacement therapy. Everyone's body is different, so if you're experiencing the above conditions in your mid-30s, TRT could be a viable solution when you consult with a doctor.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.
When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.
TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.
Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.
Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.
When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.
For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.
When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.
If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.
For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.
Are you used to blasting through a productive day and accomplishing all your daily goals? Do you find yourself losing muscle mass and the craving to be intimate with your partner? Does your partner complain about how irritable you have become? If you're not usually a curmudgeon, your body could be giving you a sign. It could be time to speak with a doctor about TRT and anti-aging medicine for men in Rockaway, FL.
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be battling against low testosterone:
One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.
The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.
Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.
Hair Loss
Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?
Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.
Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Rockaway, FL, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.
Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.
Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Rockaway, FL, is now available to address hair loss for good.
While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.
Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.
If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.
If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.
A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.
The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.
TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.
You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.
A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.
Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.
Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.
Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.
Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.
Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy for men are numerous. TRT not only grants relief from low-T symptoms but can help give protection against age-related diseases. Additionally, doctors now recognize male testosterone as an important role in alleviating depression.
Some of the most exciting benefits of TRT can include:
Because men do not go through a specific period of hormonal changes like women do (called menopause), many doctors refer to "male menopause" as androgen decline. This is just another term for low testosterone, but like female menopause, the symptoms can be serious and affect your quality of life.
The best way to fight back against male menopause is with male HRT treatment from Global Life Rejuvenation. We provide the following HRT treatments for men:
Our treatment options are personalized for your body and are available as creams, gels, injectables, and implantable pellets. To find out if testosterone replacement therapy is safe for you, contact Global Life Rejuvenation today to schedule your comprehensive testing and anti-aging treatment consultation.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Benefits of Sermorelin include:
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.
Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
“How many shows is this?” I ask the couple behind me — Jodi and Ed from Rockaway, New Jersey. The line to get into the Amway Center was wrapped around the block in both directions but moved quickly once doors opened. Our pace was brisk.“It’s over 200,” Ed tells me. “The first was 1973. He opened for Chicago at Madison Square Garden.”Patrice and Charlie Sturtevant from Lake Worth were staying downtown and making a weekend of it. They haven’t missed a tour since the early &rsq...
“How many shows is this?” I ask the couple behind me — Jodi and Ed from Rockaway, New Jersey. The line to get into the Amway Center was wrapped around the block in both directions but moved quickly once doors opened. Our pace was brisk.
“It’s over 200,” Ed tells me. “The first was 1973. He opened for Chicago at Madison Square Garden.”
Patrice and Charlie Sturtevant from Lake Worth were staying downtown and making a weekend of it. They haven’t missed a tour since the early ’80s.
“We would have liked to see him at the Hard Rock, which is only 45 minutes away, but the cheapest seats were $700,” they told me.
The seats at Amway weren’t cheap, either, but for all the noise fans made over Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing — very few were used at all.
Not after Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band broke the seal on the evening with the energetic “No Surrender,” a fitting opener for a 73-year-old rocker whose rep for stage endurance remains in check and for longtime fans, who “grew young again” as the favorites poured forth and they flew to their feet.
Twenty-seven songs in close to three hours, with no breaks. But oh, there was dancing. And a few teary moments.
I had toyed with the idea of grabbing up a “cheap” seat — verified resales of which were going for $250 each at the time — before serendipity stepped in, and I ended up in the one meant for Orlando Sentinel arts writer Matt Palm, who was going to be out of town.
My sister, Jodie, and I logged more than a few Springsteen shows back in the day. Several in one week during the Born in the U.S.A. tour, for which we took the train from Brooklyn to the bus out of Grand Central Station to Giants Stadium. I was 15. She was 25. She was the bigger fan then — had all the records, along with a dozen or so bootlegs of late ’70s club shows from Los Angeles to the “swamps of Jersey,” about which The Boss so often sings.
The bootlegs are mine now. We lost Jodie in 1989 in a car accident. Bruce became that much more important to me, but even so, I hadn’t seen him in about 20 years. The last time was in Miami in the early aughts.
But as Sunday night’s set list unfolded — “Prove It All Night” from “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” the infectiously danceable “Out in the Street” from “The River,” the stellar build and crescendo of “Candy’s Room,” — it became clear that Springsteen, whose rasp and energy were rock-solid, remains an arena legend.
So are his bandmates. Springsteen still shares the mic regularly with gypsy rocker guitarist “Little” Steven Van Zandt, and his onstage camaraderie with saxophonist Jake Clemons — whose towering presence channels that of his late uncle, “The Big Man” Clarence Clemons — was touching, as was every iconic horn solo.
Emotional, too, was Springsteen as he told the story of “Last Man Standing,” which begins at the hospital bed of an old friend he’d known since 1965, when they played together in the first band Bruce ever joined. Hellos and tomorrows, he said, were in front of us at 15.
“At 73,” he said, “it’s all about goodbyes.”
This was only mid-set, though, and somber didn’t last long, as Springsteen showered fans with favorites — “Backstreets,” “She’s The One,” “Badlands,” “Thunder Road” — and amid this mix, a beautiful rendition of “Because The Night,” a song he wrote with Patti Smith in the ’70s.
A wind-down of “Thunder Road” was the band’s first bow, but after a quick shoutout to Apopka-based nonprofit, the Farmworker Association of Florida, it was back to the show. “Burnin’ Train” and “Born to Run” led into a lights-on dance party.
The spirited “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” “Glory Days” and “Dancing in the Dark,” (watch 17,000 AARP members do the Molly Ringwald!) paved the way for Bruce’s jaunt to a mid-floor stage before heading back to close out with a solo acoustic “I’ll See You In My Dreams.”
I’ll see Jodie in mine tonight.
The surf spot is a subway ride from Manhattan, and it welcomes a diverse community connecting to nature and each otherIt’s a silver-blue January morning with no separation between sky and water, and a diverse line up of surfers take in their ritual. The waves come choppy, clean, short, thick, fast, chest high and occasionally over my head. On this frigid day I’m encouraged to surf with a longboard, and I’ve almost forgotten to don my cap. The wind greets my face and I howl in return, grateful. I look around after fin...
The surf spot is a subway ride from Manhattan, and it welcomes a diverse community connecting to nature and each other
It’s a silver-blue January morning with no separation between sky and water, and a diverse line up of surfers take in their ritual. The waves come choppy, clean, short, thick, fast, chest high and occasionally over my head. On this frigid day I’m encouraged to surf with a longboard, and I’ve almost forgotten to don my cap. The wind greets my face and I howl in return, grateful. I look around after finishing my ride and see people simmering in joy. These are the scenes at New York’s Rockaway Beach, a harbor for Black surfers.
Coming from the security of snow-blanketed mountain peaks to the crashing, storm propelled waves of the east coast, I’ve stumbled on a dynamic community of surfers: artists, activists, community leaders, film-makers, and creatives. Surfers mending the world through their connection to the sport.
Quest Soliman and Paul Godette, from Brooklyn and Queens respectively, are Rockaway surfers with a purpose. Stop Playin’ With ‘Em, a 2022 documentary directed by Sean Madden, captures their five-month experience with the local community while surfing in Bocas Del Toro, Panama.
A screening of the film in November allowed the audience to witness the actualization of Black and brown people in nature, in the water. “Surfing is supposed to be fun and inclusive,” Soliman tells me.
Surfing is primarily depicted as a pursuit for white men with blond hair and blue eyes. Some have turned it into a selfish sport and lean into their privilege. Yet, here at Rockaway Beach that’s far from the reality.
Kids from Harlem and Brooklyn carry their surfboards on the train heading towards the Atlantic. The walls at Rockaway are painted with vibrant street art reflecting the culture. Surfboards lean outside shops and cafes, and Black and brown skateboarders, rollerbladers, and surfers ride between the skate park and the burger spot near 84th Street. There are restaurants and bars that operate as surf clubs, and garage parties that turn into community events. Late nights sitting around a backyard fire turn into early morning sessions in the water.
“It really does take a village to raise a child and you learn so much the more you’re in the water,” Soliman says, as he talks about the welcoming nature of the beach suburb. He was raised in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. Growing up surrounded by people from myriad cultural backgrounds shaped his approach in connecting with new spaces.
“As we travel and show representation, we always give respect to the spaces we’re fortunate to enjoy,” he says. If Stop Playin’ With ‘Em had a mantra it would be just that. Enjoying your stoke responsibly.
In December, Fat-Tire invited Soliman and Godette to Hawaii where they were able to connect with Hawaiian locals, fully encounter the North Shore, and rip some of the best waves in the world.
“This was not our home turf, we were just visitors, but we were welcomed into the pipe house, and everyone was dapping us up – pros I’ve grown up watching. It was cool,” Godette says.
In Hawaii, they linked up with friends from New York and California, as well as Pro-Am surfer and Hawaiian local Julian Williams. These aren’t just any group of friends but haymakers, creating room for themselves and their communities through intentional collective efforts in the water.
“It was amazing to have the west coast squad, the New York squad, and even though we were newcomers [to the Vans Pipe Masters] we weren’t the only ones and we had a good time bonding,” says Godette. Despite breaking his board during the trip, he found delight in surfing with two of Africa’s top surfers, South Africa’s Joshe Faulkner and Senegal’s Cherif Fall.
“Women are getting that equal prize pay, they’re ripping just as hard as the guys. That’s really important and cool to see – the increase in representation and seeing opportunities given for different people to surf pipe and compete,” says Godette.
Soliman and Godette now have their eyes and boards set for Bali, where they’ll be for the next four months. They’re on to their next project and seeking sponsors. For Soliman and Godette, inclusive surfing includes perfect waves, clean turns, and endless laughter.
I’m back in New York. I’ve gone from snowboarding soft pillow lines to getting smacked, dumped, and rushed by the sea. The joy of being a noob. Yet occasionally when the waves start firing, I pop up and find myself in a waltz with the ocean.
“The beautiful thing about surfing, is that it chooses you,” says Nigel Louis, owner of the Rockaways community hub, surf and skate shop, Station RBNY.
Surfing can’t choose you if you never get in the water. Surfing is more than a sport here. It’s a connection to your environment, community, and self.
Local writer and director John J. Budion’s coming-of-age film “Rockaway” is set to make its Florida premiere at the Sunscreen Film Festival on April 28. “This is a small story from the tiny village of East Rockaway that we’re going all the way down to Florida with,” Budion said. “We’re resonating with people who — they don’t even know us.” The film chronicles Budion’s experiences growing up and forming friendships in East Rockaway. It was one of 16 feature films selecte...
Local writer and director John J. Budion’s coming-of-age film “Rockaway” is set to make its Florida premiere at the Sunscreen Film Festival on April 28. “This is a small story from the tiny village of East Rockaway that we’re going all the way down to Florida with,” Budion said. “We’re resonating with people who — they don’t even know us.” The film chronicles Budion’s experiences growing up and forming friendships in East Rockaway. It was one of 16 feature films selected out of thousands to screen at the film festival. In total, there will be 130 films at the event. “Rockaway” is scheduled to premiere on April 28 at 4 p.m. at AMC Sundial 20, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The movie has already generated a buzz, beating out eight others to win the Best Feature Film Award after its West Coast premiere at the Catalina Film Festival in California last September. It received a standing ovation from the audience after it was screened. The feature made its debut at the Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival last August and won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. It was also honored at the Hollywood Film Festival as the Most Impactful Film by Paramount Studios.
Budion said he is tempering his expectations for Florida, but is very excited the film is being screened in the company of many that were featured at the Sundance and South by Southwest festivals. “Every film is such high quality,” Budion said of the festival. “To be in that company is really validating that we have a great product that people are responding to.” Budion, 36, a 1999 East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School graduate who now lives in New York City, spent nearly three years writing, filming, directing, editing and tweaking the film, which is set in the summer of 1994. In it, characters based on John and his brother, Anthony, spend time with their best friends Brian, Sal, Billy and Dom, and devise a plan to take revenge on the Budions’ abusive father. Talented young actors carry the film, Budion said. He cast Maxwell Apple to play the younger version of himself, and other young actors in the film include Keidrich Sellati, of FX’s “The Americans,” who plays Anthony, James DiGiacomo (Dom), from the CBS sitcom “Kevin Can Wait” and Tanner Flood (Brian), of Huntington, who is featured in Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Veteran actors Wass Stevens (“The Wrestler”) and Marjan Neshat (“RoboCop”) play Budion’s parents. Budion said that members of the cast and crew, his parents, and his friends and family members would accompany him to Florida. Though the film has had early success, it still doesn’t have a distributor. Budion said that he hopes to have a late-summer theatrical premiere in New York and Los Angeles, and to eventually find a distributor for a larger theatrical release and to land a streaming deal with services like Netflix or Hulu. “We will continue to look for a distributor,” he said. “The film resonates with people from all walks of life.” Budion said he is very excited to see how the audience responds to “Rockaway,” and added that he is thrilled to have it shown in an AMC theater. “I’m excited to see the crowd’s reaction to the way that it plays back in a true theater,” he said. “I’m not going in with any expectations, but it would be really great to walk away and win something, especially with the films that we’re in there with.” To keep up with the latest news about “Rockaway,” visit Facebook.com/RockawayFilm or www.instagram.com/rockaway_film/. To learn more about the Sunscreen Film Festival and to purchase tickets, visit http://sunscreenfilmfestival.com/festival-2018/schedule/.
The family of the 65-year-old Queens woman who lost “20 pounds of flesh” in a grisly shark attack off Rockaway Beach said Wednesday she is “grateful to be alive” after the harrowing encounter.“Our mother is grateful to be alive … and we’re all thankful to the lifeguards, emergency response workers, and team at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center,” ...
The family of the 65-year-old Queens woman who lost “20 pounds of flesh” in a grisly shark attack off Rockaway Beach said Wednesday she is “grateful to be alive” after the harrowing encounter.
“Our mother is grateful to be alive … and we’re all thankful to the lifeguards, emergency response workers, and team at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center,” a representative told The Post on behalf of the loved ones of Tatyana Koltunyuk, who remained hospitalized following the Monday evening attack.
“We are deeply moved by the outpouring of support we have received, but for now we ask above all for everyone to respect our privacy as we focus all of our energies on helping her to recover.”
Koltunyuk was “treading water and relaxing” only about 10 feet off shore near Beach 59th Street shortly before 6 p.m. Monday when she started screaming for help, Chief Lifeguard Jose Diaz told The Post.
“We saw that she was bitten [on the leg]. The blood was coming out a lot so they gave her a tourniquet with the buoy, which has a rope, and they tied it so she doesn’t bleed to death,” the 68-year-old said of how his colleagues saved Koltunyuk’s life.
Photos showed the mother of one looking dazed and pale while first responders administered aid on the beach and in an ambulance en route to Jamaica Hospital.
Medical staff later said that Koltunyuk was in stable but critical condition.
“[It’s] definitely a shark bite,” Dr. Gavin Naylor, the Program Director at the Florida Program for Shark Research, told The Post after seeing an image of the victim’s wound.
“Looks as though it was a fairly clean single bite with some force. You can see the spacing between the teeth,” he continued while noting he would need to see the other side of the woman’s leg “to narrow the species down.”
Diaz, who has been lifeguarding for over 50 years, said that he has never seen anything like what happened to Koltunyuk, who was known by lifeguards to visit the beach regularly,
“She lost a lot of blood. The artery came right out. You could see the bones and everything. It was crazy,” he recalled.
“We go swimming with the lifeguards and we see sharks but they don’t really do anything to us. This is the first time this happened. It’s weird. Everybody’s afraid to go into the water now. I don’t blame them.”
The popular Queens beach was closed on Tuesday, but reopened on Wednesday while NYPD and FDNY said they would be scanning the waters for shark activity daily using drones and other methods.
The attack is believed to be the area’s first since 1953.
Koltunyuk, of Astoria, is originally from Odessa, Ukraine, her Facebook profile indicates.
Her daughter, Dasha Koltunyuk, is a renowned pianist who graduated from Princeton University, according to her website.
What do you think? Post a comment.
Dasha is married to composer and pianist Gregg Kallor, whose PR team, Unison Media, is representing the family following Monday’s incident.
She declined to comment Tuesday outside the hospital where her mother is recovering.
Courtesy John J Budion Previous Next Local writer and director John J. Budion’s coming of age film “Rockaway” continues to pile up hardware. The film, set in 1994 and based on...
Courtesy John J Budion
Local writer and director John J. Budion’s coming of age film “Rockaway” continues to pile up hardware. The film, set in 1994 and based on Budion’s experiences growing up with his friends in East Rockaway, made its Florida premiere at the Sunscreen Film Festival in St. Petersburg on April 27. The movie chronicles characters based on Budion and his brother, Anthony, as they plot revenge against their abusive father and spend time with their friends in East Rockaway. At the Sunscreen Film Festival, Keidrich Sellati was awarded Best Actor for his role as Anthony. “I started freaking out, man,” Sellati said after learning he won the honor. “I was so excited.” Sellati, 16, who has a prominent role on the FX drama “The Americans,” was selected by Budion and casting directors Billy Hopkins (“Good Will Hunting”) and Ashley Ingram (“Mudbound”) to play Anthony.
Budion said that Sellati has a lot in common with his real-life brother and was able to channel a range of emotions during his auditions. Because the movie is mostly about Anthony protecting his younger brother, Budion said, Sellati did a good job of portraying the character’s feelings. “Keidrich had to wear a lot of emotional hats in this film, and he nailed it,” Budion said. “He carried the film and he sets the tone for everybody else in this film, who are all amazing and wonderful.” Sellati’s win is just the latest of many awards for “Rockaway” since it made its debut last year. The film beat out eight others to win the Best Feature Film Award after its West Coast premiere at the Catalina Film Festival in California last September. The feature made its debut at the Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival last August and won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. It was also honored at the Hollywood Film Festival as the Most Impactful Film by Paramount Studios.
Budion and Sellati each had the opportunity to speak on a panel at the Florida festival, and shared their experiences about directing and acting, respectively. Budion said having the movie premiere in an actual AMC theater was “a thrill,” and added that it continues to receive positive feedback. “They were laughing, there were some people crying,” he said of the audience. “There were people clapping. It was a great response from the Florida crowd.” With the Florida premiere behind them, Budion said, he is still trying to arrange for a New York premiere and, eventually, a theatrical release and to get “Rockaway” on a streaming service. Though many of the film’s supporters have likened it to “Stand By Me,” a favorite of Budion’s, the director said he is still looking for a distributor for it. Sellati said he too is hopeful that the whirlwind of success will continue. He said Budion has become a family friend to him and vice versa, and that he remains close with his young cast mates. “My favorite part of the entire project was getting to meet the guys and doing the work with John and all of them,” Sellati said. “I’ve made what I feel like will be some lifelong friends.”
To keep up with the latest news about “Rockaway,” visit Facebook.com/RockawayFilm or www.instagram.com/rockaway_film/.
