UP NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." >> APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH.

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY FOUR PANELISTS TO EXPLORE ORGAN DONATION AND ADDRESS THE MYTHS, REALITIES AND LOGISTICS SURROUNDING THE DONATION PROCESS.

>> I WILL BE CELEBRATING 16 MONTHS NEXT WEEK.

>> FANTASTIC.

>> OF HAVING A NEW KIDNEY.

AND THOSE 16 MONTHS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL!

HELLO AND WELCOME TO "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

I'M Dr. RICH O'NEILL.

APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH.

SOMEONE NEW IS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL ORGAN TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST EVERY 10 MINUTES.

TRAGICALLY, ON AVERAGE,20 PEOPLE DIE EACH DAY WHILE AWAITING A TRANSPLANT THAT NEVER COMES TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY FIVE PANELISTS TO EXPLORE THE COMPLEX WORLD OF ORGAN DONATION, AND ADDRESS THE MYTHS, FEARS, AND LOGISTICS SURROUNDING THE DONATION PROCESS.

LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS.

NANCY RYAN, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FINGER LAKES DONOR RECOVERY NETWORK DR. DORGAM BADRAN, ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIAN AT ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH AND CHAIR OF THE ORGAN DONOR COUNCIL DR. ANGELA WRATNEY, CHIEF OF PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE FOR THE UPSTATE GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND JOSEPH DOVIAK, A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

>> LET'S START OFF WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT NATIONWIDE?

>> AS OF TODAY, OVER 107,000 PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE WAITING FOR A LIFE SAVING TRANSPLANT.

8,000 IN NEW YORK STATE.

AND AS OF THIS MORNING, 800 PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS REGION WOKE UP TODAY WONDERING IF TODAY WAS THE DAY THEY WERE GOING TO GET THAT PHONE CALL THAT THEY HAD A LIFE SAVING GIFT COME TO THEM.

>> SO JOE IS ONE OF THE LUCKY PEOPLE WHO COULD STOP WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL.

JOE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> I WAS ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THREE YEARS.

>> THREE YEARS, WOW.

>> IN MY OPINION, THE WORST PART OF THE WAITING LIST WAS WHEN YOU DID GET THAT CALL BECAUSE YOU ARE PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIDNEY, WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION VERY, VERY QUICKLY IF YOU WANT THAT KIDNEY OR NOT.

SO THAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR ME.

>> SO THERE ARE SOME CRITERIA FOR DECIDING WHETHER IT'S A GOOD MATCH FOR YOU OR-- WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WITH HAVING DISEASED KIDNEYS.

WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE?

>> OKAY, THE BIGGEST THING IN MY MIND WAS HAVING TO GO TO DIALYSIS.

I WAS ON DIALYSIS FOR A LITTLE OVER, WELL, THREE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS, BEFORE I ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE NEW KIDNEY.

AND THAT WAS FOUR HOURS A DAY, THREE TIMES A WEEK.

>> FOUR HOURS A DAY.

>> AND NOT ONLY DID YOU SACRIFICE THAT TIME OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR USUAL ACTIVITIES, BUT THEN YOU REALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE DRAINED AFTER THE EXPERIENCE.

AND SO PRETTY MUCH, YOU COULD CHECK OFF THOSE THREE DAYS THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO ACCOMPLISH TOO MUCH.

>> AND THEY SAY THAT WHEN A PATIENT IS WAITING, REMEMBER SO IS THEIR FAMILY, SO ARE THEIR CO-WORKERS, THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

I MEAN IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A RIPPLE EFFECT.

SO THOSE DAYS, OF COURSE, ARE SO INTENSE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SPECIFICALLY WAITING.

BUT THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND NETWORK, TOO.

>> SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT ORGAN DONATION, I ALWAYS THINK HEART AND KIDNEY.

ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS WHEN I WAS A KID, THIS DIDN'T EXIST.

THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS DONATING A HEART BACK THEN.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MEDICAL MIRACLES.

BUT WHAT IS IT LIKE ON YOUR SIDE, WHAT IS DONATED FERS OFF?

WHAT ORGANS DO YOU WORK WITH?

>> SO FOR ORGAN DONATION, ANY SINGLE DONATION DONOR CAN SAVE UP TO EIGHT LIVES.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT HEART, LUNGS, KIDNEYS, LIVER, PANCREAS, INTESTINES AND OTHER ORGANS.

AND THERE IS TISSUE AND EYE DONATION.

>> TISSUE AND EYE?

>> YES.

AND THAT IMPROVES THE LIVES UP TO 80 INDIVIDUALS.

>> DID YOU SAY 18?

>> 80 INDIVIDUALS.

DEFINITELY IS A LIFE SAVING IMPACT OF THE ORGANS AND REALLY IMPROVES THE LIVES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE TISSUE AND EYE DONATION.

>> SO THIS IS LIKE THE ULTIMATE REDUCED REDUCE, RECYCLE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, 80 PEOPLE.

>> PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT TISSUE AND EYE CAN PROVIDE OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST TISSUE AND EYE, BUT DEFINITELY CAN GIVE SIGHT TO PEOPLE.

TISSUE INVOLVES BURN VICTIMS, WOUND CARE GRAFT FOR SPORT INJURY, ACL RECONSTRUCTION.

>> IN THE KNEE?

>> IN THE KNEE.

BONE GRAFTS, CARTILAGES, ALL THAT.

TISSUE OF THE VALVES.

>> OF THE HEART?

>> OF THE HEART, CORRECT.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER DONATION OPPORTUNITIES.

>> HOW ABOUT FOR CHILDREN?

YOU ARE A PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE DOC.

>> SO JUST FOR THE AUDIENCE, I WORK IN PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE.

SO OUR AGE RANGE IS ANYWHERE FROM A NEWLY BORN CHILD TO USUALLY UP TO THE AGE OF 19, 20 OR 21.

AND SO WE WILL SERVE CHILDREN THAT ARE ADULT SIZED OR ADULT AGED BUT THAT'S CONSIDERED PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE.

CHILDREN ARE ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST.

THERE IS OVER 1900 CHILDREN WAITING EACH YEAR IN THE U.S. FOR A TRANSPLANT.

COMMONLY CHILDREN ARE ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST WHEN THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY'RE BORN WITH THAT GENETICALLY OR JUST WASN'T STRUCTURED CORRECTLY.

IT MIGHT BE THEIR INTESTINE, THEIR LIVER MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY OR THEIR HEART.

SO I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT FOR FAMILIES, THAT'S DEVASTATING.

THEY SPEND A LONG TIME IN THE HOSPITAL.

ANY TIME YOUR ORGAN DOES NOT WORK WELL, YOU MAY REQUIRE MACHINES TO HELP YOU SURVIVE.

SO IN INTENSIVE CARE, WE OFTEN HELP FAMILIES GO THROUGH EITHER LIFE SAVING PROCESSES TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR LIVES ARE GETTING BETTER.

AND FOR SOME OF THOSE CHILDREN, IT WOULD INVOLVE OR REQUIRE A HEART TRANSPLANT, A LIVER TRANSPLANT, INTESTINE TRANSPLANT OR SOME OTHER TRANSPLANT TO JUST TRY TO SURVIVE.

AND AGAIN, GO ON TO A VERY LONG LIFE, WHICH CHILDREN CAN LEAD VERY SUCCESSFULLY FOLLOWING A TRANSPLANT.

>> AND PEOPLE JUST DON'T THINK THAT ORGAN DONATION OR TRANSPLANT IS GOING TO IMPACT THEIR LIFE UNTIL IT DOES.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART WHAT HAVE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, IS THIS, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ORGANIZE AND EYE AND TISSUE DONATION CAN DO, THE IMPACT IT CAN MAKE.

BUT TO BE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS IN ADVANCE BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU MAY NOT EVEN YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS THOUGHT IN YOUR HEAD ABOUT ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION UNTIL YOU EITHER NEED A LIFE SAVING ORGAN OR YOU HAVE A SPORTS INJURY THAT YOU NEED, YOU KNOW, SOME DONOR TISSUE TO HELP REPAIR.

OR IF, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ARE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE SUDDENLY LOST A LOVED ONE AND THEY ARE-- THEY'VE LOST THEIR LIFE OR THEY'RE GOING TO PASS AWAY AND NOW YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE THE ORGANS AND TISSUES TO HELP OTHERS AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND MAKING THAT PERSONAL DECISION FOR YOURSELF, IF YOU WOULD WANT TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE, IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO DO.

BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT THEM AND IT MOST CERTAINLY CAN AND OFTEN DOES, UNEXPECTEDLY WHETHER YOU ARE WAITING OR IF YOU ARE GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE.

>> YEAH, I KNOW I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL MY MOTHER WAS GETTING VERY OLD.

SHE DIED, I THINK AT 97.

AND THEN SHE WAS A NURSE, AND LOVED MEDICINE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE LOVES OF HER LIFE.

SO WE DECIDED-- WE HAD THE CONVERSATION WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT DO YOU WANT TO DONATE.

SHE DECIDED ULTIMATELY TO DONATE HER WHOLE BODY TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL, WHICH I UNDERSTAND FROM YOU EARLIER IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS.

DIFFERENT REGISTRY.

>> DIFFERENT PROGRAM.

BUT STILL SUCH A SELFLESS ACT FOR MACHINE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO DEE NATE THEIR WHOLE BODY FOR WHOLE BODY RESEARCH OR THE GIFT OF ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONATION BUT THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE REGISTRIES.

IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN WHOLE BODY, THEY NEED TO CONTACT THEIR REGIONAL WHOLE BODY PROGRAM.

>> WHAT I'M FASCINATED WITH, AS WE WALK AROUND, WE GO INTO OUR COMMUNITY, WE REALLY DON'T SEE ORGAN AND TISSUE RECIPIENT, DO WE?

BUT THEY'RE ALL AROUND US.

THAT GIFT IS OUT THERE.

AND I THINK WHAT IS REALLY AMAZING IS TO THINK OF THE FAMILIES WHO, I AM PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH IN MY CAREER, WHO HAVE MADE THAT COURAGEOUS DECISION THAT THE GIFT OF LIFE WILL POI PROVIDE LIFE LONG BENEFIT TO ANOTHER FAMILY, IN MY INSTANCE, ANOTHER CHILD THAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT AND WILL POSSIBLY NEVER MEET.

BUT AGAIN, ALL AROUND US ARE TISSUE, EYE RECIPIENT, ORGAN RECIPIENTS LIKE JOE.

AND JUST REALLY THOSE WHO PROFESS THAT THE GIFT OF LIFE TRANSFORM WHAT THEY CAN DO NOW.

>> WHAT IS THAT PROCESS LIKE, DOC, AROUND, YOU KNOW, IF A CHILD IS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND IT'S CLEAR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT, WHAT DO YOU DO AT THAT POINT?

>> YEAH, WELL, I ANY WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE AUDIENCE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IS THAT AS CLINICIANS-- SO I'M A PHYSICIAN AND I WORK WITH AN ENTIRE TEAM OF NEARLY 60 PEOPLE.

AND THAT INCLUDES NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, PHARMACISTS, AND CASE MANAGERS, SO MANY PEOPLE, THAT WHEN THIS FAMILY COMES TO US A: WE KNOW THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE.

TO FAMILY DECIDES TO HAVE A TRAGEDY OCCUR.

AND NO FAMILY DECIDES IT SHOULD OCCUR TO THEIR CHILD.

>> I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT WITH MY KIDS AND THEY'RE 35 AND 31 AND I STILL DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND WE, AS CLINICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE FIND IT OUR PROFESSION TO HELP FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING TRAGEDY.

THEIR WORST DAYS IN THEIR LIVES.

AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FAMILY FEELS THE CARE THAT WE HAVE; THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THEY ARE AND FOREVER WILL BE FANTASTIC PARENTS.

THEY DID NOT CHOOSE THE OUTCOME.

AND IMPORTANTLY, THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEIR DECISIONS ARE, WE WILL STAND WITH THEM THROUGHOUT.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY TEAM, THAT FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROCESS IS ALL ABOUT THEIR DECISION.

AND SO AS THEY GET TO MEET MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, THEY MAY MEET SOMEONE LIKE NANCY, AND IT IS NOT MY DECISION TO DECIDE ORGAN DONATION OR NOT.

MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THE CHILD STAYS AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED SOMETIMES THAT FATAL OUTCOME, THERE IS AN OBVIOUS IMPACT OF NOT SURVIVING.

AND SO AT THAT POINT, THE FAMILY HAS TO FACE DECISIONS THAT THEY DO HAVE.

AND SOME FAMILIES, MEANINGFULLY, DERIVE INTENSE MEANING FROM BEING ABLE TO GIVE TO OTHERS AND SOME OF THEM WILL SAY THAT THEIR CHILD WOULD HAVE WANTED THIS; THAT THEY WANTED TO LIVE ON AND AGAIN BESTOW THAT ENERGY TO OTHERS.

SO WE ARE ABOUT BRINGING TEAMS TOGETHER.

SO THE PROCESS IS REALLY ABOUT THE FAMILIES' CHOICE.

>> SO REALLY, YOU ARE ABOUT TRANSFORMING THE WORST DAY OF A PARENTS' LIFE INTO THE BEST DAY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> IN A LOT OF WAYS, I WOULD SAY IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, I WOULD SAY WE ARE HERE THERE HELP THE FAMILIES SEE THAT THEY CAN AND WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

THEY NEED ALL OF THEIR FAITH COMMUNITY.

WE UNVIET THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS MEANINGFUL TO THEM AND WE MAKE IT A PROCESS THAT THE FAMILY WE HOPE WILL BE ABLE TO JOURNEY THROUGH AND AGAIN BEYOND.

>> AND I THINK, TOO, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN Dr.

THE KRATNEY'S GOAL OF SAVING A PATIENT'S LIFE AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

IF ALL HAS BEEN DONE AND THERE IS UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO SAVE THAT INDIVIDUAL, AT THAT TIME, THEN, AN ORGANIZATION LIKE MINE THEN DOES COME IN AND HELPS TO FACILITATE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE FAMILY AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOR THE PUBLIC, COMOOT UNIT TO THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THESE ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE TEAMS, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM THAT TAKES CARE OF THE PATIENT AND THE FAMILY AND THEN IS TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO COORDINATE TRANSPLANTS.

I THINK THAT'S MAYBE WHERE ONE OF THE MYTHS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION COMES INTO PLAY.

PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAVE MY LIFE IF THEY KNOW I'M AN ORGAN DONOR.

THEY'LL LET ME DIE AND TAKE MY ORGANS.

AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS NOT, YOU KNOW, AT ALL THE CASE.

>> EXCUSE ME.

I THINK DEFINITELY THAT'S ONE OF THE MYTHS THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME AS A PHYSICIAN WORKING IN THE ICU EVERY DAY TO TRY TO SAVE MY PATIENTS AND THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY DOCK DOCTORS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ARE NOT TRYING TO SAVE MY LOVED ONE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GIVE AWAY THEIR ORGANS.

THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG.

THEY ARE OUR PATIENT, THE SAME THING AS THE PATIENT WHO IS WAITING FOR A LIFE SAVING ORGAN, SO WHEN WE TREAT PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR IN THE ICU, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE REGISTERED DONORS.

WE HAVE NO IDEA.

WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE REGISTRY.

SO-- >> YOU DON'T PUT A BIG R ON THEIR FOREHEAD WHEN THEY COME IN SAYING, OKAY.

DON'T TAKE CARE OF THIS PERSON BECAUSE WE WANT THEIR ORGANS?

>> NO, CERTAINLY NOT.

AND WE REALLY TRY EVERYTHING WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AS ANGELA WAS MENTIONING, IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, DOCTORS, NURSES, EVERYBODY IS WORKING AND USING ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR PATIENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY SOME PATIENTS CAN'T MAKE IT.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT'S WHEN ORGAN DONATION OR THE GIFT OF LIFE COMES INTO THE EQUATION AND THEN WE CAN OFFER THAT GIFT FOR THEM.

AND THAT'S WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE CALL THE ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP US FACILITATE THAT GIFT.

OBVIOUSLY ORGAN DONATION CAN HAPPEN ONLY IN, I WOULD SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE HOSPITALS IN TWO WAYS.

EITHER THE PATIENT IS DECLARED BRAIN DEAD OR THE PATIENT IS VERY SICK TO THE POINT THAT A DEIS I GOES IS TO WITHDRAW LIFE SUPPORT IS DECIDE.

>> THESE ARE PAID MY THE PATIENT.

>> THE PATIENT OR THE FAMILY.

USUALLY THE FAMILY AT THAT POINT.

>> BECAUSE THE PATIENT IS REALLY NOT ABLE TO.

>> AND THEY COULD HAVE MADE THE DECISION BY DECIDING TO BECOME DONORS AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT EASER IF THEY TALKED IT WITH THERE I FAMILIES AND THE ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION, THEY CAN FIND OUT IF THEY'RE ON THE REGISTRY AT THAT POINT ONLY.

THAT'S WHEN WE TRY, AS DOCTORS AND NURSES TO ACTUALLY FULFILL THEIR WISHES AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

IT TAKES A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN ALL THE TEAMS TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND IF THE DECISION WAS MADE ALREADY, BY THE FAMILY OR THE PATIENTS THEMSELVES BY THEIR CONSENT TO REGISTER TO BECOME DONORS, THAT'S WHEN A VERY MINDFUL AND VERY SPECIAL SURGEONS AND DOCTORS COME FROM ALL OVER THE NATION TO RO EVER THOSE ORGANS FOR THEIR PATIENTS.

>> WHEN THAT TEAM COMES IN, YOU DON'T DO THAT SURGERY?

>> IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TEAM AGAIN COMPLETELY SEPARATE TEAM.

THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE NATION AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PATIENT, THEIR OWN RECIPIENTS WAITING, THEY'RE IN DISTRESS, WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL, WAITING ON THE OPERATING TABLE IF IT'S A HEART, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, THEY COME IN, THEY DO, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

VERY REGULATED PROCESS DOCTORS HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATION AND BY THE CODE AND THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WILL MAKE THAT BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF LIFE HAPPEN.

>> I IMAGINE THAT ONE-- THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM SIGNING UP.

THAT IF I DONATE MY ORGANS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAVE ME.

ARE THERE OTHER THINGS IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE SIGNING UP?

>> THIS WOULD BE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

AGE SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER TO BEING A DONOR OR A RECIPIENT.

>> SO YOU THOUGHT THAT MAYBE I'M TOO OLD.

>> DEFINITELY.

WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO PUT ON DIALYSIS, I SPOKE TO MY DOCTOR AND HE WAS ENCOURAGING ME TO GET ON THE WAITING LIST.

I SAID I'M TOO OLD FOR THAT.

HE SAID NO, NO, NO, DON'T WRITE YOURSELF OFF.

AND BOY, AM I THANKFUL FOR HIS SUGGESTION AND GLAD THAT HE DID THAT BECAUSE HERE I AM.

I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HERE IF HE HADN'T... >> WE MIGHT HAVE AN EMPTY CHAIR THERE INSTEAD OF YOU.

>> AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

THERE ARE DONORS IN THEIR 80s AND EVEN EARLY 90S WHO HAVE GONE ON TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE.

SO YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, JOE.

DON'T RULE YOURSELF OUT FOR AGE.

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD AND YOU ARE NEVER NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO SIGN UP, RIGHT?

SO AT THE TIME THAT YOU REGISTER AS AN ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONOR, ICE REALLY A DOCUMENT SAYING UPON MY DEATH, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD WANT.

AND THEN AT THE TIME OF SOMEONE'S DEATH, THAT'S WHEN THE ORGANS THAT ARE TRANSPLANTED, ALL THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT WHAT COULD BE TRANSPLANTED TO HELP SAVE OTHERS.

BUT WHEN SOMEONE SIGNS UP, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT AT THE TIME.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THE JOB OF THE DOCS WHO DO THE TRANSPLANT AT THAT POINT OR THE DONOR NETWORK?

>> IT IS, CORRECT.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, TOO, WHEN YOU SIGN UP, YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DONATE.

SO THERE IS THAT CAVEAT WHEN YOU REGISTER TO BE AN ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONOR, YOU CAN BE SPECIFIC AND I ONLY WANT TO DONATE MY KIDNEYS OR I WANT TO DONATE EVERYTHING.

BUT MEDICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT CAN BE DONATED TO SAVE OTHERS CAN BE MADE AT THE TIME OF SOMEONE'S DEATH.

>> I FEEL ALSO SOMETIMES PEOPLE WOULD SAY OH MY RELIGION DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT.

OR-- >> RELIGION.

>> MY RELIGION, BUT FROM WHAT I KNOW THAT MOST-- THE MAIN RELIGIONS SUPPORT ORGAN DONATION, INCLUDING CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM AND ISLAM AND IF THERE IS A QUESTION REGARDING YOUR FAITH AND YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK YOUR FAITH LEADER REGARDING ORGAN DOUGH FACE, TO BE LIKE MORE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR MIDSTS THAT INVOLVED.

THE SAME HAPPENS WITH THE COST.

IT DOESN'T INVOLVE ANY COST.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A TEAM OF DOCTORS TO FLY IN FROM NEVADA... >> THERE IS NO COST TO THE DONOR OR DONE-- NO COST TO THE DONOR OR THE DONOR'S ESTATE.

>> FEAR.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SPENDS ENOUGH TIME THINKING THAT THEY MIGHT DIE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN, MOST OF US DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> WE DON'T-- AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, I KNOW PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT DYING.

>> WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE FAMILIES, YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT TALKING WITH YOUR LOVED ONES ABOUT LIVING.

AND LIVING WELL, BUT ALSO ABOUT THEIR WISHES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK NANCY HAS MENTIONED IS BY TALKING ABOUT IT WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, BEFORE THE TRAGEDIES HAPPEN, YOU REALLY CAN PROMOTE THEIR GIFT, THEIR DECISIONS AND MAKE IT A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THE TRAUMA ON OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TRYING TO DECIDE IN THE MOMENT IS ALSO DEVASTATING.

SO I MEAN NANCY, WHAT WOULD YOU OFFER ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF DECIDING?

>> IT IS AS MUCH A GIFT TO YOUR FAMILY HAVING MADE THOSE DECISIONS IN ADVANCE AS IT IS A GIFT TO THE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING THE GIFTS OF LIFE.

AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE IT MAYBE ONCE, IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE, YOU SIGN UP AND THEN YOU GO ON AND LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST, RIGHT?

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND THEN HELP OTHERS DO THE SAME BY PASSING LIFE ON AND GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE LIKE WHAT JOE RECEIVED.

>> BASICALLY, YOU ARE ALL SAYING, HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN ADVANCE, LIKE AT A CALM TIME, WHEN YOU CAN MAKE A REASONED DECISION AND TALK WITH YOUR FAMILY ABOUT IT.

SO DON'T JUST MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN.

MAKE IT WITH YOUR FAMILY.

>> AND WITHOUT SUPERSTITION OR FEAR, IF YOU COULD, THAT SOMEHOW YOU ARE GOING TO CAUSE A PREMATURE DEATH.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT FOLKS ARE AFRAID OF, IF THEY TALK ABOUT IT, THEN IT HAPPENS, OR THEN I'M GOING TO LIVE A LONG LIFE.

>> WE CALL THAT MAGICAL THINKING.

YOU NEVER WANT TO THINK ABOUT DYING.

IF WE CAN AVOID THE DOCTORS OR DON'T SIGN THIS PAPER, I'LL LIVE FOREVER.

DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY.

>> APRIL IS A GREAT MONTH FOR THAT.

THE GIFT OF LIFE.

>> SPRING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND IN OUR INSTITUTION, WE STARTED AN INITIATIVE REGARDING ENCOURAGING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS TO TALK ABOUT ORGAN DONATION WITH THEIR PATIENTS.

>> MAKE IT MORE NATURAL.

>> BECAUSE A PATIENT TRUST THEIR DOCTORS AND THE PRIMARY DOCTOR.

IT'S A VERY GOOD SETTING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

AT THE SAME TIME THEY DO THAT ADVANCED DIRECTIVE, TALKING ABOUT DO NOT RESUSCITATE.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT GIFT?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO REGISTER TO BE A DONOR?

OR AT LEAST TALK TO YOUR FAMILY ABOUT YOUR DECISION MAKING BEFORE THE TIME COMES.

>> SO THEY KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO, IF YOU ARE DYING, THEY'RE THE ONES TO TELL THE DOC, GO AHEAD.

SO, JOE, LAST WORD FROM YOU, WHAT IS YOUR LIFE LIKE NOW THAT YOU HAVE GOTTEN YOUR KIDNEY.

>> WILL PRICH THERVEG RK-- THE PRIMARY THING WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH DIALYSIS WAS THE TIME THAT I FELT I LOST OUT OF MY LIFE.

THAT THE THREE DAYS DURING DIALYSIS,.

>> WHAT DO DO YOU WITH ALL THAT TIME YOU HAVE NOW.

>> I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE ALL MY LIFE.

I HAVE ENJOYED BEING OUTSIDE.

ALL THE ACTIVITIES.

GOLF IS ONE OF MY VICES IN LIFE.

SO I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK-- WELL, I HAD PLAYED SOMEWHAT WHILE I WAS ON DIALYSIS BUT LIKE I SAID, ONCE AGAIN, LIMITED BY THE AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> DID THEY GIVE YOU A GOLF GAME TRANSPLANT LIKE IMPROVE YOUR GAME?

YOU CAN'T GET A GOLF GAME TRANSPLANT?

>> I'M HERE TO TELL YOU I'M STILL WORKING TO TRY TO GET BACK TO MY PRESURGERY SCORES.

SO JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL TIME TO SPEND WITH MY FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, MY WIFE, FAMILY THE QUALITY OF LIFE, I WILL BE CELEBRATING 16 MONTHS NEXT WEEK, OF HAVING A NEW KIDNEY.

AND THOSE 16 MONTHS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS... NANCY RYAN, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FINGER LAKES DONOR RECOVERY NETWORK DR. DORGAM BADRAN, ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIAN AT ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH AND CHAIR OF THE ORGAN DONOR COUNCIL DR. ANGELA WRATNEY, CHIEF OF PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE FOR THE UPSTATE GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND JOSEPH DOVIAK, A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR PROGRAM AND EXTRAS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH.

TO HEAR OUR NEW COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITYFM.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

♪ ♪