Buffalo Grove benefit reaps sweet returns

Days after the official end of "Just Desserts" -- the benefit for Wheeling High School student Jared Baim and his family -- residents are still opening their hearts and wallets.

"We have collected about $2,000 and we are still counting," said event organizer Pete Panayiotou, owner of The Continental Restaurant, in Buffalo Grove.

Panayiotou raised the money by contributing all his dessert sales to benefit Jared, who suffers from muscular dystrophy. The teenager recently had a serious setback and has been hospitalized for more than a month.

"People are still handing me $20 to $25 above the amount of their checks, whether they eat desserts or not," Panayiotou said. "Some are just coming in to make donations."

He said the donations will not cover Jared's five weeks in intensive care but will help the Wheeling family with day-to-day expenses -- "the cost of driving back and forth, meals at restaurants or at the hospital, that sort of thing."

In September, the 17-year-old contracted stomach flu, which made him vulnerable to complications. The bug settled in his heart, and he was on life support for three weeks at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

The teen pulled through. His uncle and family spokesman, Don Singer of Buffalo Grove, said Jared is off of life support and getting kidney dialysis.

Jared will have to stay in the hospital long enough to undergo cardiac and physical rehab, but he's doing well and looking forward to getting back to Wheeling High School, Singer said.

Donations are still being accepted at The Continental Restaurant, 788 S. Buffalo Grove Road. Call (847) 459-4095 for details.