Ten-year-old Pianist to Perform at the Big Hearts for Little Hearts

LOMA LINDA>> Ten-year-old piano sensation Ben Phipatanakul will perform at the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild’s annual membership luncheon, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 1, at noon at the Redlands Country Club. Ben and his twin sister Emma were born at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, Ben had a duplication cyst in his bowel and required surgery the next day. After spending his first week of life at LLUCH, Ben went home with his family. Ben said he is honored to play the piano for the guild that supports the hospital that gave him a head start. He will perform “Amazing Grace” and “The Prayer.” The theme of this year’s luncheon — “Healing One Heart at a Time” — was selected to underscore the role the guild plays in supporting the life-saving work of LLUCH. Donald Moores, MD, the surgeon who performed Ben’s operation, and Wes Phipatanakul, MD, Ben’s father, will discuss the importance of LLUCH in serving the needs of children from the Inland Empire and Desert regions. According to Lynn Sleeth, who became president of the guild on Wednesday, Jan. 1, the annual event represents an opportunity for interested parties to meet the officers and members of the guild, learn about their charitable activities on behalf of vulnerable children, and explore different avenues of involvement and support. “We look forward to the luncheon every year because it allows us to share some of the needs of the children of our community and talk about what the guild is doing to provide for them,” Sleeth observed. Reservations are available at $25 per person and may be secured online at www.lluch.org/bhlhluncheon or by contacting Penny Moores, guild treasurer, by phone at (909) 709-2061 or by email at psmoores@verizon.net Redlands Country Club is located at 1749 Garden Street in Redlands.