The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Show Notes: As we continue our conversation with Dr. Anji Wall, Abdominal Transplant Surgeon and Bioethicist at Baylor, Scott and White Health in Dallas, we delve into the legal and ethical aspects of Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP), a revolutionary advancement in organ recovery and transplantation. One of the critical issues surrounding NRP is the definition of death. As medical technology advances, our understanding of when a person can be declared deceased for organ donation purposes becomes more complex. Dr. Wall discusses how medical professionals and ethicists are working to ensure that the criteria for determining death are clear and ethically sound as well as explaining the ethical implications for not utilizing techniques with proven improved outcomes for patients. In our Mental Health Moment we discuss about how to support someone who's grieving, and honor hero Natasha Kraus.

Show Notes: Welcome to a special two-part series on Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP)! We have a true pioneer and expert in the field of transplantation joining us. Dr. Anji Wall, Abdominal Transplant Surgeon and Bioethicist at Baylor, Scott and White Health in Dallas, will be sharing with us the groundbreaking advancements in organ recovery and transplantation through the use of NRP in donors after circulatory death (DCD). This revolutionary process has been making incredible strides in saving more lives nationwide. Not only does it offer hope for patients in need of organ transplants, but it also provides additional clarity and solace to the families of donors during their time of loss. We are excited to have Dr. Wall here to shed light on this fascinating topic. In our Mental Health Moment we chat about the differences between emotions and feelings, and honor hero Amjad Ottallah.

Show Notes: We welcome Dr. Ray Tucker, with the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center to discuss the Traumatic Loss Support Program and how its structure helps support families going through a sudden loss such as suicide. Learn key details about the program, statistics and gain takeaways to apply to your own life. Then in our Mental Health Moment we offer tips for coping when new things are happening in our lives, and honor hero Joshua Holcomb.

Show Notes: We welcome Analy Navarro, a mom who gave life twice. Analy's daughter was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease that affects 1 in every 12,000 infants worldwide. Analy's act of donation, along with her children's book, Mighty Me, showcases her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. She continues to promote hope, education and research for Biliary Atresia through the organization BA Hero. We chat about the power of delivering words of encouragement and honor hero Reed Hebert. Plus, check out our new spinoff podcast geared for healthcare professionals, Connected by Life.

Show Notes: Writing can be a powerful tool for expressing intense emotions, including grief. Whether it's through journaling, letters, or other forms of written communication, putting our thoughts and feelings into words can provide solace and support during the grieving process. In the context of organ and tissue donation, writing can play a significant role in facilitating communication between donor families and recipients. We honor hero, Cinnamon Jordan, in this episode.

Show Notes: Experiencing a health crisis is a daunting journey filled with uncertainties. Lisa Bradshaw personally encountered this challenge when she received a cancer diagnosis. She faced it once again while providing care for her husband, Wesley, during his illness and subsequent lung transplant. Lisa's invaluable knowledge and firsthand experience are now shared through the Take Good Care App and Podcast, aiming to assist others in making well-informed decisions and potentially improving their outcomes. Don't miss the opportunity to delve deeper into Lisa's story on episodes 134 and 157 of The Gifted Life Podcast. In this episode, Nila discusses the importance of establishing healthy boundaries during our mental health moment. Blade Wayne Hunt is honored as our hero in this episode.

Show Notes: Saving lives and educating the public about preventable deaths is part of our podcast’s mission. In this episode, we partner with our friends from the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office and the Louisiana Office of Public Health to talk about gun safety. Chris Knoblauch and Kristen Sanderson join us in the studio to talk about practical preventative measures to keep firearms safe, and share two important links: besmartforkids.org/louisiana and projectchildsafe.org. In our mental health moment, we chat about the 4th leg in the 4-legged stool method for self care, and we honor hero Tony Medley.

Show Notes: How does a family make a decision about donation, when their loved one's wishes about being a donor are unknown? Our guest, Jessica Andrade, shares the details of her family's intense discussions about making the decision to donate, and how her younger brother was able to save the lives of 4 people and hundreds with his tissue, skin and valves. Hear this powerful story, and learn about how Jessica now advocates for donation discussions to honor her brother's gifts of life. We chat about another leg in the 4-legged stool self care model, physical activity. Learn about how it can support healthy habits and mental health. Our hero segment features Jessica honoring her brother and hero, Alphonso Weston.

Show Notes: In the second episode in our 2 part series, we continue our conversation about the world's first HIV+ heart transplant. Recipient, Miriam Nieves, who along with her husband, Julio, share the intimate details of her journey through her illness. Hear more about the transplant that made history and how it brought Miriam full circle with the opportunity to meet her donor's family. In our Mental Health Moment, we offer tips for balancing your to-do list. This episode's featured donor is Miriam's hero, Brittany Newton, who we honor with words from her sister.

Show Notes: In November of 2022, a groundbreaking HIV+ heart transplant was announced at Montefiore Medical Center. LOPA was the first OPO in the world to recover an HIV+ heart for transplant. The heart was recovered from a Louisiana donor hero, Brittany Newton, and transported to New York. In this first episode of a two part series, Dr. Omar Saeed, Cardiovascular Disease and Transplant Surgeon for heart recipient, Miriam Nieves, joins us to talk about how everything fell into place to save Miriam's life, and make transplantation history. In our Mental Health Moment, we offer tips for identifying your personal support system and then honor hero Christopher Bergeron.