First Do No Harm

The Measles are back! Tune in to this week's episode to learn what the signs and symptoms are, to learn whether we should be vaccinated AGAIN as adults, and discuss some issues about vaccinations themselves and Big Pharma. 

The heartbeat bill is one that many states are passing. This Bill is one that states abortion cannot be performed after a heartbeat is detected. We navigate through all things pro-life, fetal heartbeat bills, and women's rights. 

Information on the children in the foster system in Georgia:   

https://www.circleranchinc.org/the-need

I also had the opportunity to interview a man who has a strong stance of a woman's right to choose as he was a product of his mother's rape. 

If you feel strongly about children one way or the other take a few seconds and a couple dollars of your spare change to care about a living child suffering from cancer. A few months ago a man stole $40,000 worth of medications off his porch. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6695713/Nevada-porch-pirate-steals-14-year-old-cancer-patients-life-saving-chemotherapy-medicine.html

Here is an excerpt from his account:

" We went to see the Dr in Salt Lake and a doctor at the City of Hope I’m LA. They told us that he was not strong enough for a bone marrow transplant but there is a particular type of chemo that will help him due to him having the adult form of the disease. The problem we ran into is that it’s not FDA approved for anyone under 18 years old. They are asking me to pay $48,000 a month for a year to hopefully cure him. I’m devastated. It’s so hard to see him suffer. I don’t normally ask for help, but if you know me, you know my boys mean everything to me. I am grateful to be on this journey. It has truly made me appreciate life. Thank you for any help. Love you all. "

 https://www.gofundme.com/54npc2g 

We thought it would be fun for you all to get to know us better. We both prepared questions for the other medical and non medical that the other person knew nothing about! This week we included questions such as: 

While the podcast is fun to do and gives us the opportunity to learn more about the content we cover, a much deeper purpose for First Do No Harm is absolutely to help spread understanding, love, kindness and help. Christen and I have decided that every week we will mention a foundation that we find important so you can also help an important cause to make the world a better place.

Do you want something to show for your donation? We have you covered there too. We will also be providing sellers that if you buy an item from them they will donate part of their proceeds to a good cause- a cause we will also fill you in about!

May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month. As neuro ICU nurses it was very important to us to kick start the help by giving you information on The Ivy Brain Tumor Center associated with my favorite hospital of all time, Barrow's Neurological Institute. These people are working hard to help end the devastation that Christen and I witness the most beautiful souls on this Earth Suffer from with their amazing clinical trials and research. 

Do you need more information? Check this link out on what they do!  

Are you ready to Donate? Click on this link:  

This weeks episode Christen and I begin discussing the current news of injured nurses due to angry patients. She provides staggering statistics about the number of healthcare workers that report violence against them while on the job.

Rusty joins to discuss the dangers he has had to encounter as a paramedic with decades worth of experience. He gives us a glimpse into what first responders subject themselves to every time they go to work. He also discusses ways in which people cope with such stressors. 

Christen shares a story with us all of a man who was in a fatal car accident, but decided to be a donor at a young age. Find out how his family felt about Garret's choices.

If you are interested in signing up to be an organ donor click on this link to make it happen!

 https://www.donatelife.net/register/ 

If you need help making a living will and legally having a power of attorney to make sure your wishes are carried out, check out this link!

 https://eforms.com/living-will/ 

  April is Donate Life Month. In this episode Christen, my new cohost, who is a neuro ICU nurse at one of the top hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery joins to chat about Organ donation.  

When I reached out to my listeners, the main reason that people shared that they were not advocates of organ donation is because their religion did not support organ donation. Christen was quizzed on different religions to find exactly who did not allow organ donation.

AME & AME ZION (African Methodist Episcopal) – Allowed

Amish- Allowed

Assembly of God- Allowed

Baptist- Allowed

Bretheren- Allowed as long as it does not hasten life or come from an unborn child

Buddhism- Allowed

Catholicism- Allowed

Christian Science- Allowed

Episcopal- Allowed

Greek Orthodox- Allowed

Hinduism- Allowed

Independent Conservative Evangelical- Allowed

Islam- Allowed

Jehovah’s Witnesses- Allowed as long as the blood is completely drained from the organs

Judaism- Allowed

Lutheran- Allowed

Mennonite- Allowed

Moravian- Allowed

Mormon (Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints)- Allowed

Pentecostal- Allowed

Presbyterian- Allowed

Seventh-Day Adventists- Allowed

Shinto- NOT ALLOWED

Society of Friends (Quaker)- Allowed

Unitarian Universalist- Allowed

United Church of Christ- Allowed

United Methodist- Allowed

There are two types of donors. The first is a live donor. A living person is able to give another an organ- For example: A parent is in need of a kidney transplant. Their child is able to donate one of their kidneys if they are a match. The organ leaves a living person and is transplanted into another living person. Organs that can come from live donors include, Kidney, liver, lung, intestine, blood and bone marrow. 

The other type of organ is a deceased organ. Once a patient (naturally) dies, organs are taken from them and transplanted into a recipient.  Organs that can be taken and used from a deceased donor include heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and small intestines. Tissues include corneas, skin, veins, heart valves, tendons, ligaments and bones. 

Myths:

1. I have a medical condition, so I can’t be a donor. --- Not true. Anyone, regardless of age or medical history can sign up to be a donor. The transplant team will determine at an individual’s time of death whether donation is possible. There are very few conditions that would prevent a person from becoming a donor. You should still consider registering. Even with an illness, you may be able to donate your organs or tissues.

2. I’m too old to be a donor. ---There is no age limit to organ donation. The oldest donor in the US was 93 years old!

3. If they see I’m a donor at the hospital, they won’t try to save my life. ---When you are a patient in the hospital our priority is to save your life. Donation does not become a possibility until life saving measures are likely to not sustain prolongation of life.

 4. Rich and famous people on the waiting list get organs faster. --- A national computer system matches donated organs and recipients. These factors include blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information, how sick the person is, and geographic location. Race, income, and celebrity are NEVER a factor.

5. My Family won't be able to have an open casket at my funeral if I'm a donor. --- An open casket is usually possible

6. My family will have to pay for the donation--- There is no cost to donors or families for donation

....and more!

Emily is an amazing nurse who works in an Intensive Care Unit. She weighs in Safe Injection Facilities and the dangers that she perceives  associated with bringing such places to the United States.

This is the second part to a two part episode. On the last episode Rory Fleming was interviewed on his stance and the politics associated with breaking ground legally to provide addicts a place to inject drugs under medical supervision. 

 Supervised consumption services (SCS)/Safe Injection Facilities/Safe Injection Sites(SIFs)/Overdose Prevention Centers/Drug Consumption Rooms are provided in legally sanctioned facilities that allow people to consume pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of trained staff and are designed to reduce the health and public order issues often associated with public drug consumption. 

Quick Facts:

"In all my years as a physician I have never met an addicted person who wanted to be an addict" - Dr. Noro Volkow NIDA Director

According to Harm Reduction Coalition, more than 28,000 are lost to heroin and other opioid over doses every year. The United States has been in a battle against drugs dating back to the 1960's. Today, the country is facing an Opioid Epidemic that continues to run rampant with no signs of stopping.

In 12 countries efforts have been made to change the management of addiction by opening and running what is known as safe injection facilities, where individuals are able to safely use drugs under the supervision of medical personnel.

Rory Fleming , a man who works on prosecutor campaigns across the country through Foglight Strategies and a long running reform advocate with interest in drug policy. He joins First Do No Harm to discuss the political aspect, funding, and the many other pros and cons of opening the first recognized safe injection facility in the United States.

Additional information can be found on such facilities at:

https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-rendell-safe-injection-breakout-20190207-story.html

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html

If you are interested in finding where you can purchase Narcan, a drug used when suspect overdose occurs, more information can be found:

https://www.narcan.com/patients/how-to-get-narcan/

Foglight Strategies helps large law enforcement agencies, political candidates, and nonprofits transition our broken criminal justice system into one that deserves the public’s trust using skillful communications and community relations strategies.  More information can be found at

https://www.foglightstrategies.org/

Every person you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Alta is a 34 year old woman who is fighting a battle with Polycystic Ovary Syndrom (PCOS). She shares her story about the diagnosis, the emotional struggles, and societal struggles that she and her husband must deal with on a daily basis. If you  know anyone who is suffering from this, even a distant friend I encourage you to listen because it just might open your eyes to love them and support them in the way they need most.