The B.I.Stander Podcast

Today we welcome Robert Chelsea

Boston, MA — Robert Chelsea, 68, became the first black patient, and the oldest, to receive a full face transplant in a procedure at Brigham and Women's Hospital this July. Chelsea, a Los Angeles area resident, suffered burns over 60 percent of his body and face after his car was struck by a drunk driver in 2013. The 16-hour surgery, involving a team of over 45 surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, residents and research fellows and led by Bohdan Pomahac, MD, was the ninth face transplant procedure at the Brigham and the 15th nationwide.

"Despite being the oldest face transplant patient at 68, Robert is progressing and recovering remarkably fast," said Pomahac, the Roberta and Stephen R. Weiner Distinguished Chair in Surgery and director of Plastic Surgery Transplantation at Brigham Health. "We are looking forward to seeing a significant improvement in Robert's quality of life."

The wait for a donor was longer than that of previous Brigham face transplant recipients due to the effort to find a match that would work for Chelsea's skin tone. Chelsea is the first known black full face transplant recipient. Another black patient in Paris received a partial face transplant in 2007.

"It is vitally important for individuals of all races and ethnicities to consider organ donation, including the donation of external grafts, such as face and hands," said Alexandra Glazier, President and CEO of New England Donor Services. "Unlike internal organs, the skin tone of the donor may be important to finding a match."

"May God bless the donor and his family who chose to donate this precious gift and give me a second chance," said Chelsea. "Words cannot describe how I feel. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and feel very blessed to receive such an amazing gift."

Chelsea's injuries stemmed from a fiery freeway accident outside of LA in August 2013. Chelsea was sitting in his overheated vehicle on the side of the road when his car was struck by a drunk driver. The vehicle burst into flames, burning Chelsea and drastically altering both his physical function and his appearance. Chelsea remained in a coma for six months and hospitalized for a year and a half. During that time, Chelsea underwent more than 30 surgeries. His lips, part of his nose, and left ear were unable to be reconstructed. After evaluation by Dr. Pomahac, and an extensive screening process, he was listed for a face transplant in March 2018.

Data from a follow-up study of face transplant recipient outcomes, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the first Brigham face transplant patients experienced robust return of motor and sensory function of their face, as well as functionality, which allowed them to socially reintegrate in a way that would not have been possible before the transplant. These data indicate that Chelsea is likely to achieve near normal sensation and about 60 percent restoration of facial motor function within a year, including the ability to eat, smile and speak normally.

"Our previous experience has demonstrated that face transplantation is a viable option for patients with severe disfigurement and limited function who have no alternatives," said Pomahac. "As we continue to expand this treatment to more patients, we are exploring the ways in which we can quantify how much benefit our patients receive as well as identifying opportunities to limit the risks of this transplant through new immunosuppression protocols."

The Brigham has long been recognized as one of the world's leaders in transplantation, having performed the first successful human organ donor transplant, a kidney, in 1954, the first heart transplant in New England in 1984, and the first heart-lung transplant in Massachusetts in 1992. The Brigham performed the nation's first full face transplant in 2011, and the first bilateral hand transplant in New England in 2011.

"I am forever indebted to Brigham and Women's Hospital, the most amazing surgical and nurse team ever assembled. The place oozes compassion," said Chelsea."

More information about Robert Chelsea and face transplantation at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers the Arts, Society & Human Interest stories.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

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Today we welcome Executive Director of The Puget Sound Restoration Fund - Betsy Peabody and Fishing Guide Troy Dettman

We sit down to talk about the beautiful Puget Sound of Washington State

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers the Arts, Society & Human Interest stories.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

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Today we welcome artist BILL WOOD

I was lucky enough to catch him for a brief phone call!

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers the Arts, Society & Human Interest stories.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

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Today we welcome Hana Porobic owner of Hot Hot Yoga and instructor Lisa Marcus

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers the Arts, Society & Human Interest stories.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

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Today we welcome Jeremy Loerch of Alchemy Industries and Monkey Wrench

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers Society & Human Interest stories, music and arts.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

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Today we welcome comedian & podcaster Adam Tiller

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers Society & Human Interest stories, music and arts.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

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Today we welcome Fawzi Bela

We talk about the western bias in media reporting at the World Cup in Qatar. Growing up in Seattle while Algeria is in the middle of a civil war. The World Cup and how we can set the example of equity and inclusion through global sports.

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers Society & Human Interest stories, music and arts.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

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Today we welcome LIXIN - THE MYSTIC VOICE

Lixin, known as Mystic Voice is a world renown sacred chanting master whose mission is to heal and transform humanity — restoring harmony through the vibrating influence of her inspiring voice.

Traveling around the world as a messenger of love, Mystic Voice has held meditation concerts in conflict zones, headlined healing music festivals, and is sought after as a speaker and governmental and business advisor to share her wisdom.

The soothing and meditative chanting of Mystic Voice stems from a deep spiritual connection to the ancient teachings that inspire her music, such as the Tao Te Ching, the Buddhist Sutras, the Sanskrit Vedas, Persian Sufi poetry, and the Psalms of the Bible.

Her emphasis on bringing about unity and oneness across the world is reflected in the seven languages she chants: Sanskrit, Persian, Chinese, English, Hebrew, Arabic, and Korean. Her concerts are spontaneous co-creations with over 300 professional musicians from many cultural and musical backgrounds, fusing her improvisational style of chanting with new world music.

Mystic Voice is the founder of Journey of Harmony – The Heart Silk Road. Its mission is to inspire a culture of harmony across the planet through Meditation Concerts, Wisdom Circles and Healing Ceremonies at Sacred Sites.

Ordained by the Chief Abbot Moktak of International Zen Buddhism in Korea as an honorary bhikkhuni, and given the title "One Lotus," Mystic Voice embodies the spirit of Avalokiteśvara and Sarasvati, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Divine Melody.

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers Society & Human Interest stories, music and arts.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

The BISTANDER Podcast!

Blue Canary Auto NOW ALSO in Bremerton!

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The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers Society & Human Interest stories, music and arts.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

The BISTANDER Podcast!

Blue Canary Auto NOW ALSO in Bremerton!

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Tideland Magazine

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Today we welcome Rachel Noll James to discuss her latest film project INGRESS.

Rachel is an award winning screenwriter, actor and filmmaker with a focus on female driven films and bringing the female gaze to stories and genres traditionally dominated by a male perspective.

Rachel grew up in Santa Fe, NM. She moved to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College, and went on to study and work in the LA area for over a decade.

Rachel spent her first few years in LA working solely as an actor before she found herself getting increasingly restless waiting for other people to offer her work. So she started creating her own.

Rachel's first feature was 'Don't Pass Me By,' a film she wrote, produced, and starred in alongside Hollywood veterans Keith David, C. Thomas Howell and Sean Stone. Rachel won Best Feature Writer at the LA Femme Festival for the script, and the film was released worldwide in February of 2014.

Soon after, Rachel produced and co-wrote the feature film 'The Storyteller' which won the Silver Prize in the Family Film category in the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards and was released on Hallmark Movies Now after winning multiple awards in the festival circuit.

Additional credits include the multiple award-winning short film 'Paramnesia' that was released as part of acclaimed horror collective Fun Size Horror Volume 1, the short film 'Half Light' that landed Rachel as a quarter finalist in the NextTV directing talent search and was released exclusively through Seed&Spark, and the short 'Follow The River' that won Rachel honorable mention in the Port Orchard Film Festival.

Rachel is currently in post-production for her next feature film, 'Ingress' which Rachel wrote and directed. Slated for completion in 2022.

Rachel is a member of Northwest Film Forum, Women in Film Seattle and a co-founder of the female-focused production company Emergence Films.

The B.I.STANDER Podcast is a conversational podcast unique to Bainbridge Island and Seattle Washington, that covers Society & Human Interest stories, music and arts.

The intent is to introduce interesting people, ideas, and conversations. We are not perfect and that's OK!

Thank you for your support! The B.I.Stander Podcast is a listener supported show, please consider subscribing. Thank you & tell them you heard it on:

The BISTANDER Podcast!

Blue Canary Auto NOW ALSO in Bremerton!

Sound Reprographics

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Support the Show on PATREON