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WGBY SHARES OUR COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING QUALITY PROGRAM, THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF MANY.

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>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CONNECTING POINT, I'M JIM MADIGAN.

THERE ARE 800 FOSTER CHILDREN ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, WAITING TO BE ADOPTED.

FINDING FAMILIES FOR OLDER KIDS CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

TEENAGERS HAVE BEEN WAITING YEARS TO FIND A FAMILY TO CALL THEIR OWN.

OUR CAROLEE MCGRATH SPOKE WITH JOSEPH OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ADOPTIVE RESOURCE EXCHANGE AND HIS OWN SON WHEN HE ADOPTED WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

>> SO THE MASSACHUSETTS ADOPTION RESOURCE EXCHANGE WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED IN 1957.

WE LIKE TO SAY OUR ROLE IS TO HELP CONNECT CHILDREN WITH FAMILIES.

WE'RE AMONG THE OLDEST EXCHANGE IN THE COUNTRY AND WE BELONG TO A NETWORK, BUT HERE OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE AWARENESS AND EXPOSURE AROUND THE NEED FOR ADOPTION FROM FOSTER CARE, TO WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS, AND WE'RE NOT AN AGENCY PER SE SO WE'RE NOT DIRECTLY MAKING THE CONNECTIONS.

I THINK OF US AS A CONDUIT, WE HELP FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO MATCH FOR PLAME, SO THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR WORK IS TO HELP CREATE FAMILIES.

>> SPECIFICALLY THERE IS A NEED TO ADOPT OLDER KIDS AND TEENAGERS.

TELL ME A BIT ABOUT THAT PART OF THE MISSION.

>> SURE, SO HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THEN I WILL JUST EXPLAIN A BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND, THERE IS SOME 8700 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

SO THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO REUNIFY THE CHILDREN WITH FAMILIES, AND WHEN THAT CAN'T HAPPEN, CHILDREN ARE PLACED ON AN ADOPTION TRACK, SO IN THE FOSTER CARE PROCESS THE GOAL IS FOR CHILDREN TO RETURN HOME.

WHEN THEY CAN'T THEY GO ON AN ADOPTION TRACK, THE GOAL IS FACING THEM WITH EXTENDED FAMILY AND KINSHIP PLACES FILL THAT ROLE BUT FOR SOME 800 CHILDREN HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, THERE IS NO CONNECTION.

THE MAYOR WORKS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND AGENCIES AND FAMILIES TO CREATE THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO DON'T ALREADY HAVE THEM.

>> AND IT'S THE TEENS.

>> THE TEENS ARE -- >> THE TEENS ARE A LARGE CONTINGENCY.

THEY ARE RESILIENT, GREAT KIDS SO WE WORK TO ASSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS AND ARE ABLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SO DEVIN YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE YEARS.

>> AT THE AGE OF FIVE I WAS PLACED IN FOSTER CARE, AND IN THE PAST TEN YEARS I WAS IN FOSTER CARE AND AT THE AGE OF 15 I WAS ADOPTED BY MY TWO DA SAID AND MY FAMILY.

>> AND HOW I THINK FOR MANY PEOPLE WATCHING, YOU KNOW, AS PARENTS, YOU WOULD BE HEARTBROKEN THAT AT FIVE YOU ARE IN FOSTER CARE AND THE EMOTIONS YOU MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT?

>> AS I GOT TAKEN AWAY FROM MY MOTHER THAT WAS HARD, AND AFTER GOING THROUGH A FEW HOMES, SCARED AND THEN AFTER GOING THROUGH A FEW HOMES, I GOT USED TO IT,, AND, YOU KNOW.

>> WERE YOU ALWAYS HOPING THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO SHOW UP SOME DAY AND SAY I WANT TO ADOPT YOU?

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, YES.

AFTER GOING THROUGH SO MANY HOMES I LOST THAT.

>> DID YOU BUILD A HOME WHERE YOU WEREN'T TRUSTING PEOPLE?

>> YES.

>> WHAT DOES THAT CONNECTION MEAN WITH YOUR DAD?

WHEN YOU MET HIM, YOU KNOW, WERE YOU LIKE I AM NOT GOING WITH ANYONE OR WERE YOU OPEN TO BEING ADOPTED?

>> I WAS OPEN.

>> OK.

AND WHY?

YOU WERE 15.

AT 15 YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A MIND OF YOUR OWN.

RIGHT.

TEENAGERS DO.

AND WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU SAY I WANT A PERMANENT SITUATION?

>> I WANTED TO GET A FAMILY THAT LOVED PLEA, AND I WAS OPEN TO THAT.

>> THERE IS SEVEN KIDS IN THE CHILDREN.

>> SEVEN CHILDREN.

>> AND YOU WERE OK WITH THAT?

YOU ARE WALKING IN, WHAT?

15 AND THERE IS ALL THESE KIDS BUT YOU WERE NUMBER FIVE?

>> YES.

JOSEPH, TELL US ABOUT THE KIDS, AND THEY ARE ALL ADOPTED.

>> ALL ADOPTED SO OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, MY SPOUSE AND I STARTED THE PROCESS IN THE LATE 1990s, AND IT WAS IRONIC OUR CONNECTION GOES BACK THAT FAR.

OUR FIRST TWO CHILDREN WERE MASSACHUSETTS ADOPT RESOURCE EXCHANGE, THAT WE MET AT AN EVENT SO FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, OUR FAMILY THROUGH SO WE HAVE TWO BIOLOGICAL SIBLINGS THAT CAME TO US AT FOUR AND EIGHT.

AND MY NEXT SON CAME WHEN HE WAS SHY OF HIS NINTH BIRTHDAY, AND THEN MY DAUGHTER WAS RELATED TO THE FIRST TWO BOYS, CAME TO US, AND DEVIN AND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO A GROUP OF GUYS WHO ENOUGH CAME TO US AT FOUR AND EIGHT, ALMOST 20 YEARS LATER.

QUITE AN INTERESTING JOURNEY.

>> WHEN YOU THINK OF PARENTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO ADOPT, A LOT OF TIMES THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THEY WANT TO ADOPT A BABY.

SO I WOULD IMAGINE FOR AN OLDER KID, HOPING TO GET A HOME, YOU ARE ALWAYS THINKING WELL -- MAYBE YOU ARE NOT, MAYBE SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO WANT ME BECAUSE I'M 12.

IS THAT AN EXAGGERATED EMOTION OR SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH?

>> YES.

BECAUSE AS A TEEN, THEY CAN GIVE A LOT TO A FAMILY.

YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE.

>> RIGHT, BUT DID YOU EVER FEEL LIKE THAT, AS YOU BECAME 13 AND 14, DID YOUKER R. EVER LOSE HOPE?

YES.

>> YOU DID.

AND YOU DID YOU GET THROUGH THAT?

YOU WERE IN DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

DID YOU HAVE PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT ABOUT THAT?

DID YOU KEEP IT IN YOUR HEART?

>> I JUST KEPT IT IN MY HEART.

>> HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THAT AS A FATHER, SO YOU HAD LITTLE KIDS AND NOW YOU ARE TAKING IN A 15-YEAR-OLD WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU AND THAT MIGHT BE A FEAR OF PARENTS SAYING OH, I AM GOING TO ADOPT A TEENAGER?

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FEARS, AND MANY PROBABLY WELL FOUNDED BUT IN REAL LIFE A LOT OF THOSE FEARS IN THE LATER DAY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED.

DEVIN FEET NEATLY INTO OUR FAMILY, I WILL SAY THAT.

AT THAT TIME BEFORE THE LITTLE GUYS HE WAS STACKED IN WITH EVERYBODY SO HE WAS THE SECOND OLDEST.

THE OLDER BOYS HAD THEIR COLLEGE JOURNEY SO IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR FAMILY BUT NOT CHANGE THE END GOAL, THE AGE WHEN YOU HAVE EVERYBODY OFF TO COLLEGE, SO IT FIT WELL, BUT DEVIN WAS A REMARKABLE KID.

I TEACH PARENTING CLASSES, AND I ALWAYS SAY IT'S A BIT LIKE FALLING IN LOVE.

THE PEOPLE SAY HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I FOUND MY CHILD?

HOW DO I KNOW?

YOU JUST KNOW.

>> AND YOU MET AT A PARTY.

>> SO PART OF WHAT WE OFFER IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES HAVE GONE THROUGH THE HOME STUDYING AND TRAINING PROCESS TO GET TOGETHER WITH WAITING CHILDREN IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS, AND SO ONE OF OUR BIG SPONSORS IS A FURNITURE STORE AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT EVENTS, I WAS AT AN EVENT AND DEVIN WAS THERE WITH HIS WORKER, AND WE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A BRIEF ENCOUNTER.

WE DID NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER THAT DAY.

BUT HE REALLY JUST, FOR SOME REASON, JUST CLICKED, AND SO WE PURSUED GETTING MORE INFORMATION THROUGH HIS WORKER AND WENT THROUGH THE CHANNELS, AND IT BECAME VERY OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS A GREAT FIT, BUT AS A TEEN, AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT TIME, 14, ALMOST 15, YOU ARE ESTABLISHED, AND YOU ARE A YOUNG PERSON, AND SO IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT DEVIN FELT LIKE HE WAS A FIT WITH US SO WE TOOK TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS THE CASE.

>> SO YOU ARE A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING NEXT YEAR?

>> TO NAVY.

>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THANK YOU DEVIN AND JOSEPH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY, AND IF PEOPLE WANT MORE INFORMATION THEY CAN GO TO YOUR WEBSITE?

>> MAREINC.ORG.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US, GUYS.

>> END OF LIFE CAN BE A HARD TIME AND IF SOMEONE HAS NO FAMILY OR CLOSE FRIENDS TO SHARE THAT WITH, IT'S EVEN WORSE.

THIS IS THE MANAGER OF SPIRITUAL SERVICES FOR BAY STATE MEDICAL CENTER AND SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT NO ONE DIES ALONE, IT'S A VOLUNTEER EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE IN OUR AREA IS WITHOUT SUPPORT AND COMPANIONSHIP IN THEIR FINAL DAYS.

>> WE ATTEND TO THOSE NEEDS.

PEOPLE ASK THEMSELVES REALLY DEEP QUESTIONS, WHY AM I HERE, WHAT'S COMING AFTER THIS?

AM I STILL THE PERSON I USED TO BE?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH ME?

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

ESPECIALLY OLDER PEOPLE ASK THAT QUESTION, BUT ALSO THE YOUNGER, THE YOUNGER PEDIATRIC PATIENTS ASK THOSE QUESTIONS ALREADY, AND THAT'S FASCINATING FOR US.

>> WE BROUGHT YOU IN TODAY TO TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY SOMETHING THAT I HAD JUST HEARD ABOUT AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A PROGRAM THAT -- THE NAME SAYS IT ALL, NO ONE DIES ALONE.

YOU, SOME OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AT BAY STATE, VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU LEARN, WHETHER IT'S A PATIENT LEAVING HOSPITAL CARE, GOING BACK TO HOME OR SOME OTHER SITUATION WHERE, PERHAPS, THEY DON'T HAVE FAMILY, DON'T HAVE CLOSE CAREGIVERS, WHATEVER THE SITUATION MAY BE, IF SOMEONE IS TERMINALLY ILL YOU WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE IS WITH THEM IN TOES FINAL DAYS OF LIFE.

>> INDEED WE DO.

AND IT GOES BACK TO 2005, WHEN SOME NURSES AND OUR CHAPLAINS IDENTIFIED QUITE A FEW PATIENTS WHO PASSED ON ALL BY THEMSELVES WITH NO FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS AVAILABLE, AND IT BROKE OUR HEARTS, AND WE FELT STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OUR REALLY OUR FIRST IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PATIENTS, IF YOU ARE CARED FOR AT ANY TIME OF THE ILLNESS BUT ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES.

WE ALSO TALKED, NURSES, PHYSICIANS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND WE CHAPLAINS TALKED ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO AND WE DISCOVERED THE NO ONE DIES ALONE PROGRAM FOUNDED BY A FLURRIES IN 2001, AND IN EUGENE, OREGON, AT SACRED HEART MEDICAL CENTER, AND SHE WAS A NURSE WHO HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF NOT HAVING TIME FOR ONE OF HER PATIENTS, OUT OF THAT HEARTBREAK SHE DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AT SACRED HEART, THIS PROGRAM, NO ONE DIES ALONE PROGRAM, THAT WE BASICALLY FOLLOW, MODIFIED IT TO OUR NEEDS BUT WE FOLLOWED, A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TRAINS VOLUNTEERS, AND TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THE HUMAN PRESENCE, A TOUCH, A WORD, AND THEIR GENTLE, CALMING, SOOTHING PRESENCE FOR SOMEONE AT THE END OF LIFE, SOMEONE ALONE OR SOMEONE WHOSE FAMILY, BASICALLY, NEEDS A BREAK, SOMETIMES FAMILIES HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOPE, AND FOR THEM IT IS A COMFORTING THOUGHT TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS SIT WITH THEIR LOVED ONE WHILE THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR HOUSE BUSINESS OR OTHER THINGS.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO IN ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT BUT IT CANNOT BE AN EASY THING TO DO.

IT IS A TOUGH TIME OF LIFE, IT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY THINKS ABOUT, AND MOST OF US ARE A LITTLE FRIGHTENED ABOUT ANYTHING UNCERTAIN, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL COME OR HAPPEN BEFORE DEATH, AND THE DIFFICULTIES AND THE INDIGNITIES THAT MAY BE PART OF IT, TO WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH THAT MUST BE TAXING ITSELF FOR YOUR VOLUNTEERS, YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

HOW ARE THEY PREPARED?

HOW DO YOU PREPARE TO DO THIS?

>> THE VOLUNTEERS ARE CAREFULLY SELECTED.

WE USUALLY ADVERTISE AT BAY STATE, ITSELF, BUT IN THE ORGANIZATION, AND BEYOND, COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND CHURCHES, AND WE INTERVIEW OUR VOLUNTEERS TO SEE WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM THE AND THE MOTIVATION AND THE MATURITY LEVEL AND WE HAVE A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT CONSISTS OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS, WE MEET THREE TIMES OVER THREE WEEKS, AND TRAIN THEM IN LEARNING ABOUT DEATH AND DYING AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE PHYSICALLY AND WHAT IT MEANS PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR THE PERSON, AND WE TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND NOT PROJECT THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THE PERSON.

>> I IMAGINE YOU ARE DEALING A LOT WITH PEOPLE IN OUR SECULAR WORLD TODAY FOR WHOM SPIRITUALITY, IDEAS OF FAITH OR RELIGION, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT KIND OF WAS LEFT ASIDE, FELL BY THE WAYSIDE AS THE YEARS PASSED THROUGH LIFE, AND NOW FACING THE END, OLD BELIEFS COME BACK OR YOU WANT TO HAVE BELIEFS, IT MUST BE IN SOME WAYS FASCINATING IS A TERRIBLE WORD TO USE, BUT QUITE A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH WITH SOMEONE, I WOULD THINK?

>> YES, INDEED, IT CAN BE CHALLENGING AND IT CAN BE MOVING, AND LET ME CLARIFY THAT NO ONE DIES ALONE PROGRAM IS A NON-RELIGIOUS, NON-SPIRITUAL PROGRAM.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE HUMAN PRESENCE.

THAT IS UNIVERSAL.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE UNDERSTAND SPIRITUALITY, TOO, AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I USUALLY CALL THEM MEANING QUESTIONS, EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AT THE END OF LIFE.

AND WE, AS CHAPLAINS, ARE TRAINED TO ATTEND TO THOSE QUESTIONS WITH AN OPEN MIND.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WE BRING OUR BELIEF SYSTEM INTO THE PATIENT'S ROOM.

IT'S ABOUT ATTENDING TO WHAT GIVES MEANING TO THE PATIENT, AND SO IT IS -- THAT'S HOW I ALSO ENGAGE WITH THE VOLUNTEERS.

I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO HAVE ANY PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL BELIEFS.

IT'S ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS TO BRING YOUR HUMAN PRESENCE INTO THE MOMENT.

AND THAT, IN ITSELF, IS VALUABLE, WORDS WHILE AND MEANINGFUL.

>> REVEREND, MANAGER OF SPIRITUAL SERVICES, CLINICAL PASTOR OF BAY STATE MEDICAL CENTER, THANKS FOR COMING IN AND TELLING US ABOUT NO ONE DIES ALONE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INVITATION.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR GOVERNOR BAKER SIGNED A LAW REQUIRING ALL SCHOOLS TO HAVE AEDs, THOSE ARE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.

THEY CAN SAVE THE LIFE OF SOMEONE IN CARDIAC ARREST.

THE BILL WAS INSPIRED LARGELY BY THE DEATH OF KEVIN MAJOR, A 19-YEAR-OLD ATHLETE WHO DIED IN 2011 WHILE SWIMMING.

HE HAD HYPER TROPIC CARDIO MYOPATHY.

WE SPOKE WITH HIS MOTHER ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT THE LAW AND THE EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES.

>> AS OF JULY 2018 WHEN IT GOES INTO EFFECT EVERY SCHOOL UNDER THE TWINS OF THE SCHOOL, EVERY SCHOOL WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR IN THE BUILDING.

IT ALSO GOES SO FAR TO SAY THAT ANY SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENT WHETHER IT BE A SCIENCE FAIR, A THEATRICAL PLAY, OR A SPORTING EVENT, AN AED MUST BE PRESENT WITH SOMEBODY WITH THE AED KNOWING HOW TO USE.

>> OK.

SO THERE IS ALSO TRAINING, THE TRAINING COMPONENT THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS AS WELL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO THIS WAS INSPIRED, OF COURSE, BY YOUR SON, KEVIN, KEVIN MAJOR, AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT HIM.

>> RIGHT, KEVIN, MY YOUNGEST SON, PASSED AWAY IN 2011 DUE TO A CONDITION CALLED HYPERTROPIC MYCORDAPATHY.

I HAD NO IDEA OF CARDIAC ARREST IN OUR YOUNG ADULTS, AND ACTUALLY ONE IN EVERY THREE DAYS WE LOSE AN INDIVIDUAL IN THIS COUNTRY DUE TO CARDIAC ARREST.

AND WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THAT WAS KEVIN'S CAUSE OF PASSING, WE NEEDED, AND I NEEDED AS A MOM, TO RAISE AWARENESS, IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAMILY FROM THIS TRAGEDY, THAT CAN BE PREVENTED, THAT'S MY MISSION, AND THAT'S MY GOAL.

>> BUT TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT KEVIN HE WAS AN AMAZING ATHLETE, AN INCREDIBLE HOCKEY PLAYER.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE NO REASON TO SUSPECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.

KEVIN, WE FELT WAS AN AMAZING ATHLETE, AND HE HAD PLAYED HOCKEY SINCE THE AGE OF 3.

HE WAS PLAYING JUNIOR HOCKEY WITH THE SPRINGFIELD TEAM.

>> WHICH IS A HIGH LEVEL.

>> IT IS JUNIOR HOCKEY, ABSOLUTELY, AND HE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE, AND HE HAD ALWAYS PLAYED SPORTS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, AND HE WAS ALSO PLAYING RUGBY FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RUGBY TEAM, CALLED THE RIFLES, AND AT THE TIME OF HIS PASSING.

HE HAD JUST COME OFF OF A WEEKEND OF TOURNAMENTS BOTH IN RUGBY AND HOCKEY.

SO YOU KNOW, IF I CAN PAINT THE PICTURE OF AN ATHLETIC, ACTIVE, YOUNG GENTLEMAN, HE WAS 19 YEARS OF AIM, AND HE SHOWED NO SYMPTOMS WHATEVER OF HAVING SOME TYPE OF CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUE.

>> SO HAVING THE AEDs IN THE SCHOOL AND AT DIFFERENT EVENTS, OBVIOUSLY, IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT YOU HAVE SOME PERSONAL STORIES THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEBODY GOES, AND AGAIN, MY CONCENTRATION AND MISSION IS MORE FOR THE YOUTH, BUT THIS HOLDS TRUE FOR ADULTS.

WHEN SOMEBODY GOES DOWN, STARTING CPR IMMEDIATELY INCREASES THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL.

WHEN YOU HAVE LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT READILY AVAILABLE ON HAND ON THE SITE WE KNOW THAT IT'S ALMOST A THREE-FOLD CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HAS A STATISTIC THAT EVERY MINUTE THAT GOES BY WHEN A PATIENT YOU KNOW, COLLAPSES, HAS A LESS CHANCE OF SURVIVAL SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE HAVING TO RUN TO GRAB AN AED AND RUN IT BACK YOU COULD LOSE ANYWHERE FROM THREE, FIVE, SIX, MINUTES, THAT'S A LOT OF PERCENTAGE OF NOT SURVIVING.

>> WE ARE ALSO TALKING A BIT BEFOREHAND ABOUT A RECENT EXAMPLE OF WHERE THIS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

>> SO GOING BACK AND THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, KEVIN'S YEAR, I NEVER LOOKED FOR AN AED IN A HOCKEY RINK.

IT JUST DIDN'T EVEN CROSS OUR MIND.

ONE OF OUR FIRST DONATIONS WAS TO A PARK IN WESTFIELD MASS.

IT SITS IN THE LOBBY, READY AND AVAILABLE IN CASE OF NEED.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT A YEAR AGO, A GENTLEMAN FROM THE GREENFIELD AREA CAME DOWN TO WATCH HIS SON PLAY YOUTH HOCKEY, FELT GREAT, IN HIS 40S, AND HE ENDED UP COLLAPSING ON THE SIDE OF THE RINK.

AND IT WAS THE AED WE DONATED THAT HE IS HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE TO WATCH HIS SON PLAY.

>> SO THIS HAS TO BE A REALLY GREAT MOMENT FOR YOU THAT THE LEGISLATION PASSED AND CERTAINLY THAT STORY HAS TO GIVE YOU A GREAT SENSE OF PURPOSE BUT ALSO HAS TO BE INCREDIBLY BITTERSWEET.

YOU DID NOT SET OUT AS A MOM TO BE DOING THERE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND AGAIN IF YOU ASKED ME SIX YEARS AGO I WOULD NEVER DREAM THAT I WOULD BE DOING THIS.

THE PASSAGE IS ABSOLUTELY A HOME RUN.

IT'S A HOME RUN FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S A HOME RUN FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND THE UP AND COMING STUDENTS, IN THESE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

BUT ALSO FOR EVERY COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME DURING THE SCHOOL HOURS, AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WHICH IS AWESOME.

WE WANT THEM TO BE HEART SAFE BUT THESE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO USED IN THE EVENING FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, SO IT'S NOT ONLY A GIFT FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO A GIFT TO HAVE THEM HEART SAFE DURING EVENING HOURS WHEN THE YOUTH ARE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>> SINCE KEVIN'S PASSING YOU FOUNDED A FOUNDATION NAMED AFTER KEVIN.

PART OF THAT MISSION WAS THE AEDs AND WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES DO YOU DO WITH PUBLIC AWARENESS EVENTS DO YOU HOLD?

>> WE KNOW THE BIG PART OF CARDIAC ARREST IN THE YOUTH IS TO BRING UP AWARENESS, SO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME RAISING AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO BE HEART SAFE, HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND KNOW WHAT CALL TO ACTION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE, KNOWING HANDS ONLY CPR, HAVING FOLKS CERTIFIED IN CPR, AND HAVING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT AN AED IS, AND TAKE THE MYTH AWAY AND YOU KNOW THAT I CAN'T USE IT BECAUSE I'M NOT A THE CASE.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN LAW PROTECTS EVERYBODY.

THEY ARE EXTREMELY EASY TO USE, WE HAVE TAUGHT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS EIGHT YEARS TO SIX YEARS OF AGE.

THEY ARE VERY SIMPLE.

IF YOU KNOW HOW TO TURN ON A GAME STATION, A PLAYSTATION, AND YOU KNOW HOW TO TURN ON AN AED, AND THEY WILL WALK YOU THROUGH T IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT MANUFACTURER IT IS, THEY WORK VERY SIMILAR, AND TURN THE BUTTON ON AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, AND YOU, TOO, CAN SAVE A LIFE.

>> AND JUST FINALLY, SO KEVIN WAS AN AVID ATHLETE AND LOVES HOCKEY AND HE PLAYED OTHER SPORTS AS YOU HAD MENTIONED.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO PARENTS JUST ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE IN SPORTS?

>> NUMBER ONE BE AWARE.

UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SYMPTOMS LOOK LIKE, WHETHER IT BE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, A BLACKOUT OR A SEIZURE-LIKE ACTIVITY, CALLS YOUR ATTENTION, AND MAYBE SOMEBODY THAT COMES OFF A SHIFT AND HAS TROUBLE CATCHING THEIR BREATH, BEYOND THE NORMAL SPRINTING AND JUST KIND OF CATCHING THEIR BREATH, THOSE ARE EXTREME FATIGUE.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS TO BE AWARE OF.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY PARENT WHETHER WILL NOW BE REGULATED BY LAW AT A SCHOOL EVENT BUT IF YOU ARE IN A CITY OR TOWN PLAYING SPORTS, THAT FIELD SHOULD ALSO HAVE AN AED THERE, AND I CHALLENGE EVERY PARENT TO LEARN AT LEAST HANDS ONLY AND GO ON THE INTERNET AND LEARN HOW TO USE AN AED.

IT'S THREE TO FIVE-MINUTE VIDEO, AND IT'S SIMPLE AND EASY AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> SUSAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN AND TELLING US ABOUT THIS AND SHARING ALL THE GREAT INFORMATION ABOUT AEDs.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S CONNECTING POINT FOR TONIGHT, COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY, WE GO OFF THE BEATING PATH.

>> I LOVE THE OWLS AT NIGHT, AND SOMETIMES EVEN A FEW HOOTS WITH A LITTLE FIRE IN THE BACKGROUND, AND TRY TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM BACK AND FORTH.

>> FIGHTING THE HIGH COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> AND OFTENTIMES IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS SYSTEM IS WORKING TO PROTECT THE BANK AND THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE SERVICES, RATHER THAN THE STUDENT.

>> AND NORTHAMPTON, WELCOMES IMMIGRANTS.

>> LIKE MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION, I THINK WE'RE UP TO 300 NOW, I ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

BASICALLY LAYING OUT WHAT OUR POLICY WOULD BE AS A CITY.

>> I WILL BE, I HOPE YOU ARE BACK HERE WITH US ON WEDNESDAY, I'M JIM MADIGAN, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> SUPPORT FOR CONNECTING POINT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS AND BY -- >> AS A REGIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY WE ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WGBY SHARES OUR COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING QUALITY PROGRAMMING THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF MANY.

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