LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – For kids who have to spend any amount of time in pediatric hospitals, it can be an anxiety-provoking experience.
This week’s Getting Results Award winner wants to help ease that stress through a project he calls “Through My Binoculars.”
First-time author Tony Minichino created a series of children’s books designed to provide an escape from their hospital room.
“I didn’t know anything about writing. I did it strictly from the heart. These books truly came from the heart,” Minichino said, explaining how the idea came to him.
“I’m retired, and I probably sat down one day and said, ‘I’m probably one of those old people that write a book. And I did,’” Minichino said with a laugh.
Minichino says he wants to make a positive difference in his community and immediately thought of the kids staying in the hospital.
“I sat down one day, and I’m looking at all the beautiful trees I have in the front across the way from my home. And I thought, you know, binoculars and it’s even how the name came to be. ‘Through My Binoculars,’” Minichino said of the series title. “These children can look through these binoculars, and they’re out of that room.”
The series of about eight books follows the adventures of a boy named Max. Max travels to different locations such as the beach, parks and there’s even holiday-themed volumes. Included with the books are a pair of binoculars, a passport, stickers, coloring pages, and word games to keep the children occupied.
Patients are encouraged to document what they see outside their hospital room window.
Minichino’s motivation comes from a long-term hospital stay of his own years ago.
“My experience was because of being attacked,” Minichino recounted. “I had gotten attacked and beaten so badly, they gave me a 50/50 chance of living. And it wasn’t once it was twice that I had gotten beaten. And basically, it was because I was gay.”
But Minichino says that was in the past. His focus now is on making a positive difference.
Minichino estimates he’s donated about 300 books since he started the project. All of them have gone to Advent Health Waterman in Tavares.
Karen Ivison, volunteer services manager at Advent Health Waterman, says the books provide valuable entertainment for young patients and their siblings.
“He’s definitely getting results,” Ivison said. “They have been a huge success at our campus. Our pediatric patients have joy when they’re looking through the books, while they’re waiting for diagnosis, or just waiting to be discharged home.”
Minichino pays for all of them through his savings, printing more whenever he can afford it, making regular visits to Quality Design and Print in Tavares.
“I’m in here all the time saying I need 20 books or I need 40 books,” Minichino said. “They’re small amounts. But it’s because I’m taking the money out of my own pocket to make these.”
Minichino was nominated for the News 6 Getting Results Award by his neighbor, Debbie Carroll. Carrol says Minichino is always helping his neighbors and it was no surprise when he decided to dedicate his time to writing for children.
She remembers the day he showed her his first draft. “I loved it,” Carrol recalled. “I told him, this is good.”
“He’s a very selfless person. He’s always helping everybody with no regard for himself,” Carroll continued. “He says he has what he needs, so he’s willing to help others.”
“He does it all for the children,” Carrol wrote in her nomination form.
“You think to yourself, ‘OK, I had a good idea.’ And I love it. But when other people get so excited about the same thing, it’s like, wow, I really did something here,” Minichino said when asked about the appreciation he’s received. “I guess I really hit on something. They love the books.”
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