UP NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH," OUR PANEL EXPLORES ORGAN DONATION, DEMYSTIFYING THE TRANSPLANT PROCESS, DEBUNKING COMMON MYTHS AND DISCOVERING THE CORRECT CREDIBLE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.

AND DOCTOR RICH SITS DOWN WITH THE MOTHER OF A YOUNG MAN WHO LOST HIS LIFE BUT SAVED MANY OTHERS BY BECOMING AN ORGAN DONOR SUPERHERO MUCH AND IN THIS WEEK'S MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, JACOB SCARES SHARES HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF A STROKE.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH.

I'M YOUR HOST, DR. RICH O'NEILL.

ON TODAY'S SHOW WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU, YES, YOU, IN FOUR MINUTES OR LESS, CAN SAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, MAYBE MORE PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND IMPROVE MANY OTHERS, AND IT'S FREE, AND NOT ONLY PAINLESS BUT YOU'LL FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.

TODAY'S TOPIC: ORGAN DONATION AND TRANSPLANT.

JOINING US TODAY ARE MS. NANCY RYAN, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT FINGER LAKES DONOR RECOVERY NETWORK; DR. REZA SAIDI, DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF TRANSPLANT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE TRANSPLANT CLINIC AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY; AND DR. SCOTT SCHURMAN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AND DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT AND NEPHROLOGY, AKA KIDNEY STUFF, ALSO FROM UPSTATE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH NEED IS THERE FOR DONORS.

>> THERE IS A BIG NEED.

AS OF THIS MORNING, OVER 105,000 PEOPLE WOKE UP IN THIS COUNTRY IN NEED OF A LIFE SAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT.

>> IS 05,000.

>> 8,000 IN NEW YORK STATE ALONE.

AND SADLY, EVERY DAY 13 PEOPLE PASS AWAY BECAUSE THE ORGAN THEY NEEDED DIDN'T COME IN TIME.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NEEDED IN UPSTATE IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION.

>> IN THE UPSTATE PROGRAM WE HAVE MORE THAN 400 PATIENTS ON THE LIST WAITING TO RECEIVE AN ORGAN.

I WANT TO ELABORATE MORE, WHY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE NEED ORGAN TRANSPLANT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT PATTERN OF DIS' ARE CHANGING AROUND THE WORLD AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

IN EARLY 20th CENTURY, MOST PEOPLE DIED OF INFECTIOUS PROBLEM, PNEUMONIA OR INFLUENZA AND NOW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE DIE OF CHRONIC DISEASES.

THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THE TREATMENT FOR THESE PATIENTS IS ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION.

THAT'S WHY EVERY DAY WE SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ADDED TO THE LIST.

AND AS YOU ELABORATE, EVERY YEAR ABOUT 5,000 TO 6,000 PEOPLE ON THE LIST WILL DIE UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUITABLE ORGAN AVAILABLE TO TRANSPLANT TO THE PATIENTS.

>> IS THIS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM ALSO FOR CHILDREN; THAT HAVING DONORS FOR CHILDREN MUST REALLY BE HARD.

>> YEAH, CHILDREN HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS IN REGARD TO THE SIZE OF ORGANS THAT WILL WORK FOR THEM.

WE RECEIVED A CALL LATE LAST NIGHT WITH AN OFFER FOR A KIDNEY FOR ONE OF OUR PATIENTS, BUT THE ORGAN WAS GOING TO BE TOO BIG FOR THE LITTLE CHILD.

AND WHO IS ON DIALYSIS.

SO THERE WILL BE A DONOR EVENTUALLY FOR THAT CHILD, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, SHE IS NOT IN SCHOOL AS OFTEN AS SHE OTHERWISE WOULD BE AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME LIFE THAT SHE WILL HAVE AFTER A TRANSPLANT.

>> SO REALLY TRANSPLANTS NOT ONLY SAVE LIVES, BUT THEY IMPROVE LIVES BECAUSE DIALYSIS, I HEAR, IS REALLY A VERY UNPLEASANT WAY TO LIVE.

BETTER THAN DYING, BUT... >> ANOTHER POINT BESIDE PEOPLE LIVE LONGER AFTER TRANSPLANT, THEY HAVE BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE COST TO SOCIETY IS LESS AFTER TRANSPLANT COMPARED TO MAINTAINING THE PATIENT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON DIALYSIS.

MAINTAINING SOMEBODY ON DIALYSIS COSTS $120,000 PER YEAR.

THE COST OF TRANSPLANT IS A QUARTER OF THAT COST.

BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM AS WE DISCUSSED, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ORGANS TO TRANSPLANT EVERYBODY.

>> SO, BUT OUR KIDS, I MEAN TO THAT IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE, I MEAN AFTER TRANSPLANT, THEY GO TO SCHOOL, THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

THEY GET JOBS.

THEY'RE OUT AND PRODUCTIVE IN SOCIETY.

THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND-- >> IT'S PRICELESS.

>> FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, IT IS A BARGAIN.

>> YEAH THAT'S AMAZING.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE, NANCY?

YOU KNOW, IF YOU REGISTER FOR A DONOR, AS A DONOR, DO HAVE YOU TO DIE IN THE HOSPITAL?

WHAT-- HOW DOES IT GO.

>> FOR ORGAN DONATION, YES.

BECAUSE THE PURPOSE FOR THAT, IN ORDER FOR YOUR ORGANS TO MAINTAIN OXYGENNIZATION AND THE PATIENT NEEDS TO BE ON A VENTILATOR RIGHT UP UNTIL RECOVERY OF ORGANS, SO IMAGINE THAT IF SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND DIES AT THE SCENE OR THEY PASS AWAY AT HOME, IMMEDIATELY YOUR ORGANIZE-- YOUR ORGANS START TO GO INTO THE DIEING PROCESS.

SO WITH ORGAN DONATION, WHETHER SOMEONE IS COMING IN FROM AN ANEURYSM OR HEART ATTACK OR EVEN , YOU KNOW, AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING, AND THEY NEED THAT MECHANICAL VENTILATION TO KEEP THEM, YOU KNOW, BREATHING IN ORDER FOR THE CARE TEAMS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO SAVE THEIR LIVES,BEFORE THE MACHINE IS TURNED OFF, MECHANICAL VENTILATION IS TURNED OFF, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE, MY ORGANIZATION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE FAMILY ABOUT THAT INDIVIDUAL'S END OF LIFE DECISION TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A DONOR, IS IT IMPORTANT TO TALK TO YOUR FAMILY ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, IT IS.

MANY TIMES WE FIND THAT FAMILIES ARE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THEIR LOVED ONE HAD ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO BE A DONOR.

THE THEY'RE RELIEVED, THEY'RE VERY RELIEVED.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT'S ONE LESS REALLY SIGNIFICANT DECISION THEY HAVE TO MAKE AMONGST ALL OF THESE VERY PAINFUL AND, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS.

>> END OF LIFE DECISIONS.

>> EXACTLY, RIGHT.

SO WE ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE NOT ONLY TAKE THE STEP TO PUT YOURSELF ON THE REGISTRY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

IF YOU WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR.

THE SECOND THING IS TO TELL YOUR FAMILY SO THEY'RE NOT SURPRISED BY THAT DECISION.

SOME FAMILIES ARE JUST UNSETTLED BY THAT.

IT TAKES THEM A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO, YOU KNOW, ABSORB THAT, EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO ABSOLUTELY TELLING YOUR FAMILY.

I ALWAYS SAY SIGNING UP AS MUCH A GIFT TO SOMEONE WHO YOU MIGHT SAVE THROUGH ORGAN DONATION AS IT IS A GIFT TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION ON YOUR BEHALF WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU.

>> BUT IF YOU SIGN UP, HOW DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> OH GOOD I ASKED A GOOD QUESTION.

>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION.

ALL OVER THE HOSPITALS, THEY HAVE-- THEY'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO CONTACT THE ORGAN AND TISSUE AGENCIES IF THEY HAVE A PATIENT THAT IS MEETING CLINICAL TRIGGERS FOR ORGAN DONATION OR FOR TISSUE AND EYE DONATION IF THERE HAS BEEN A CARDIAC DEATH IN THE HOSPITAL.

THOSE REFERRAL PHONE CALLS COME TO AGENCIES LIKE FINGER LAKES RECOVERY NETWORK AND THAT'S WHAT THE HOSPITAL THAT THERE IS A PATIENT IN THE HOSPITAL THAT IS AT END OF LIFE OR HAS ALREADY PASSED AWAY.

>> SO THERE IS NO DELAY, SO THEN THE TEAMS OVER HERE, THEY CAN COME IN AND DO THEIR STUFF OR IN A TIMELY WAY.

AND YOU WERE TELLING US ABOUT DONATE LIFE THAT-- THIS IS GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

>> SO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> ALL OF OUR ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONORS ARE HERO AND NONE MORE THAN OUR PEDIATRIC DONORS.

AND IMAGINE THE LOSS THAT FAMILIES HAVE WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR YOUNGSTER, RIGHT?

WELL, WE HAD A YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO WAS AN ORGAN DONOR AND LOVED COMIC BOOKS AND ESPECIALLY HEROES IN COMIC BOOKS.

>> WHAT KID DOESN'T, RIGHT?

>> AND HIS MOM HAD REQUESTED THAT MAYBE HER SON HAVE A HERO CAPE TO WEAR IN HIS HONOR WALK WHERE WE TRANSPORT DONORS TO THE OPERATING ROOM FOR THE RECOVERY OF ORGANS.

>> IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PERSON DIES.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> GO TO THE O.R.,.

>> SO WE'VE CREATED THESE HERO CAPES, DONATE LIFE HERO CAPES, DIFFERENT SIZES FOR INFANTS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH YOUNG ADULTS.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

THIS IS FOR A LITTLE PERSON.

>> IT IS.

WE OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EVERY DONOR FAMILY WHO AGAIN HAS LOST A YOUNG PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE TO PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN NEED.

AND IT'S AWFULLY SPECIAL AND WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF IT, YEAH AND GRATEFUL TO-- VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR DONORS.

>> EL WITH, FOLKS,I SPOKE WITH MISS GINA RICHARDSON WHO YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, TO HEAR THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF HER SON TY'SEAN-- AN ORGAN DONOR SUPERHERO.

HERE IS A PREVIEW OF THAT INTERVIEW.

>> THERE IS TYSEAN.

>> CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO US.

>> GINA RICHARDSON.

>> AND YOU ARE THE MOM OF TYSEAN RICHARDSON.

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF EVERY PARENT'S NIGHTMARE.

YOUR SON DIED, IN HIS CASE, 20 YEARS OLD.

>> WHEN A PERSON IS GIVING ORGANIZE APRILS, THEY ANNOUNCE THAT THE HERO WALK IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND THE HALLS OF THE HOSPITAL ARE LINED WITH PATIENTS NURSES, DOCTORS.

>> THERE WAS A CAPE.

>> FINGER LAKES ASKED ME IF I NEEDED ANYTHING FOR HIS HERO WALK AND I SAID HE NEEDED A CAPE.

SO THEY BOUGHT ME A CAPE FROM A LOCAL STORE.

SO WE DRAPED THE CAPE OVER HIM AND THEN WE WENT FOR HIS WALK ME AND MADISON WERE BEHIND HIM.

AND TOOK HIM TO THE OPERATING ROOM TO SEE HIM THROUGH WITH HIS ORGAN DONATION.

>> HE HAD HIS CAPE ON.

>> HE HAD HIS CAPE ON.

>> SPIDERMAN UNDER HIS ARM.

>> AND HE WAS READY TO GO.

ON HIS NEXT JOURNEY.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FINGER LAKES DONOR RECOVERY NETWORK WAS SO MOVED BY TYSEAN'S STORY THAT'S THEY DECIDED TO CREATE A TRADITION.

>> THEY DID.

>> TELL BUS THIS.

>> -- TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CAPE THAT IS ALL BOXED UP WITH TYSEAN'S STORY AND 16 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE WHEN THEY DONATE AN ORGAN, THEY GET A CAPE.

THIS IS HIS CAPE.

IN MY EYES, ORGAN DONATION WAS A WAY TO MAKE HIM A SUPERHERO.

>> THAT WAS HIS DREAM.

>> THAT WAS HIS DREAM.

>> TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> HE DONATED SEVEN ORGANS TO SIX DONORS IN FOUR STATES.

HE BROUGHT SIX PEOPLE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

>> THAT'S A SUPER POWER.

>> THAT'S A SUPER POWER.

>> ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT PATIENTS?

>> WELL, OUR PATIENTS ARE GOING TO NEED AN ORGAN FOR NOT JUST YEARS, BUT DECADES.

AND THEY'VE GOT A LONG LIFE TO LIVE AND AS A RESULT, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED DONORS THAT ARE RELATIVELY YOUNG, USUALLY YOUNG ADULTS.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT-- I MEAN YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR REASONS EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, NEVER THINK THAT THE WORST IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.

AND THEN THE INCREDIBLY SAD CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR DONATION LEAVELY FAMILY IN A VERY TOUGH SPOT.

SO IF I WERE TO MAKE A PITCH, IT WOULD BE TO YOUNGER PERSONS TO THINK THAT THROUGH AND TO SIGN UP AS A DONOR.

>> CAN PARENTS SIGN UP FOR THEIR KIDS?

>> NO, THEY CAN'T.

>> NOW IN NEW YORK STATE, AS LONG AS YOU ARE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, YOU CAN REGISTER TO BE AN EYE AND TISSUE DONOR.

IT USED TO BE 1 BUT A FEW YEARS BACK WE CHANGED THE LAW SO ANYONE 16 OR OLDER CAN SIGN UP.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE, WHAT IS CALLED A FIRST PERSON AUTHORIZATION.

YOU HAVE TO BE SIGNING UP YOURSELF.

>> EVEN IF YOU ARE LIKE EIGHT YEARS OLD.

>> IF YOU ARE EIGHT YEARS OLD, YOUR PARENTS OR LEGAL NEXT OF KIN, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO THAT EIGHT-YEAR-OLD, THE NEXT OF KIN, THE PARENTS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION ABOUT DONATION AT THE TIME OF THEIR YOUNGSTER'S DEATH.

>> I SEE.

>> WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS, NANCY, THAT GET IN THE WAY?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE SUCH A GOOD THING TO DO.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE SIGNING UP WHEN THEY REGISTER THEIR CAR OR REDO THEIR LICENSE?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, TALKING ABOUT AGE.

IT'S THE OPPOSITE WHERE WEEM THINK THEY'RE TOO OLD TO SIGN UP >> TOO OLD I'M TOO OLD FOR A LOT OF THINGS BUT I SIGNED UP.

>> OR THEY'RE NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH, OR THEY HAVEN'T LED THE HEALTHIEST OF LIFETIMES AND, YOU KNOW-- >> PEOPLE THINK MY ORGANS ARE NO THE GOOD.

THEY RULE THEMSELVES OUT FOR AGE OR HEALTH REASONS AND WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THIS SIGNING UP TO BE AN ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONOR IS ABOUT YOUR END OF LIFE DECISION.

IF, UPON YOUR DEATH, YOU COULD HELP SAVE OTHERS THROUGH ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION, THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO.

AT THE TIME OF SOMEONE'S PASSING, THAT'S WHEN OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE DOCTORS AND NURSES WILL DETERMINE IF SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, COULD DONATE THEIR LIVER, KIDNEYS WHAT HAVE YOU, ALL THOSE DECISIONS.

>> THE MEDICAL TEAM ON THE SITE DETERMINES THAT THEN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT IN ADVANCE.

>> NO, WHEN YOU SIGN UP, THERE IS NO MEDICAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED.

YOU ARE JUST DOCUMENTING YOUR DECISION.

>> IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW,WHAT IS YOUR DATE OF BIRTH AND YOUR NAME.

THAT WAS BASICALLY IT.

>> THOSE ARE BASICALLY-- SOMETIMES RELIGION IS A QUESTION, WHETHER THEIR FAITH OR RELIGION, TO THAT WOULD I SAY ALL MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS DO SUPPORT ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION.

THEY THINK IT'S THE GENEROUS LAST ACT THAT SOMEONE COULD DO TO HELP OTHERS.

>> SO ALL BASICALLY ALL MAJOR RELIGIONS SUPPORT DOING THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT-- >> TALK TO YOUR FAITH LEADER IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT, IF IN DOUBT, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOUR PARISH PRIEST OR YOUR FAITH LEADER ABOUT THAT.

>> SO THOSE ARE THE THREE MAJOR REASONS.

WHAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME CONTROVERSY RECENTLY ABOUT PEOPLE JUMPING THE LINE IN DONATIONS, YOU KNOW, GETTING IT, BECOMING A RECIPIENT.

WHAT ARE THE FACTS ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE MYTHS ACTUALLY GIVE BAD PUBLICITY TO THE SYSTEM AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DONATING.

THEY FEEL THE SYSTEM IS FAVORING RICH OR CELEBRITIES.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

PEOPLE WHO NEED TRANSPLANTS MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON MEDICAL NECESSITY.

THEY DON'T GET RELIGIOUS FACTORS OR SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS IN THAT DECISION.

A REPORT CAME OUT THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE SKIPPING, OR JUMPING UP THE LIST, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

THESE ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE ORGAN WAS NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, SUITABLE FOR THIS PATIENT FOR MEDICAL REASONS, AND THE PHYSICIAN DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF GIVING THIS ORGAN TO THIS PATIENT, IT IS BETTER SUITED TO GIVE IT TO ANOTHER PATIENT AND THEY BYPASS SOME PATIENTS OR SOME PEOPLE ON THE WAITLIST.

>> AND THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS GET IN THERE AND SPIN IT IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS THAT IDEA.

>> I MEAN ONE BAD SITUATION MEANS SOMEWHERE LEADS TO AN ENDLESS TRAIL OF MISINFORMATION.

>> SOS THOSE ARE HEARTENING.

YOU GET THOSE MYTHS OUT OF THE WAY, MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.

>> IT'S SO EASY TO SIGN UP.

YOU MENTIONED THE D.M.V., SO THAT'S THE MOST COMMON WAY THAT PEOPLE SIGN UP.

THEY AFFILIATE ORGAN DONATION AND SIGNING UP TO DONATE WITH THE D.M.V.

AND MORE THAN 80% OF OUR ENROLLMENTS COME FROM D.M.V.

TRANSACTIONS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO GO TO THE D.M.V.

YOU CAN SIGN UP ONLINE, PASS LIFE ON.ORG IS OUR WEBSITE.

>> PASSLIFEON.ORG AND YOU CAN ON TO YOUR WEBSITE AND SIGN UP.

>> THERE IS A LINK ON THE TOP OF THE HOME PAGE THAT TAKES A PERSON DIRECTLY TO THE NEW YORK STATE DONATE LIFE REGISTRATION FORM AND YOU SIGN UP ONCE AND YOU ARE DONE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

SOME PEOPLE WONDER, TOO, YOU KNOW, IF DO I NEED TO SIGN UP AGAIN IF I, YOU KNOW,MOVED OR WHATEVER?

NO.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

>> A NATIONWIDE REGISTRY REALLY?

>> NEW YORK STATE HAS THEIR OWN STREJ REGISTRY.

WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP ON THE NEW YORK STATE REGISTRY.

THAT'S THE EASIEST AVENUE TO GO.

SIGNING UP ONLINE OR AT THE D.M.V., HONESTLY, TOO, NEW YORK IS UNIQUE WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO REGISTER TO VOTE, THERE IS ACTUAL LAY QUESTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION FORM THAT ASKS IF YOU WANT TO REGISTER TO BE AN ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONOR.

>> ON VOTER REGISTRATION.

>> NO OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY OFFERS THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> I'M PROUD OF THAT.

>> WE ARE ADVOCATING AND WORKING WITH OUR LAWMAKERS IN ALBANY ALL THE TIME TO FIND OTHER AVENUES, OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT QUESTION AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YES, I WANT TO SAVE LIVES.

>> WAS I UNUSUAL?

IT TOOK ME FOUR MINUTES.

IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES PEOPLE TO SIGN UP?

>> FOUR OR LESS.

IT'S PRETTY QUICK.

>> I'M A COMPUTER-- >> IT IS A VERY QUICK PROCESS.

>> AND REMEMBER TO TELL YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE DONE THAT, TOO.

>> SO THEY DON'T OBJECT WHEN YOU ARE UNFORTUNATELY IN THE E.R.

FOR SOME TURID REASON.

>> TO THAT POINT, QUICK, IT IS SOMEONE'S FIRST PERSON AUTHORIZATION SO TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, FAMILIES CAN'T SAY NO IF YOU HAVE MADE THAT LEGAL DECISION.

IT IS A LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENT.

>> CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?

>> SURE.

>> IF YOU SIGN UP, YOU CAN GO BACK IN AND CHANGE YOUR MIND?

>> YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.

I'M.

>> I'M GOING TO LIVE FOREVER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME.

>> YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE ANY CHANGES LIKE THAT?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT RESEARCH AND FEDERAL DOLLARS.

WHAT HAS SUPPORTED GETTING TO THIS POINT WITH TRANSPLANTS?

>> EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I MEAN THE MEDICATIONS THAT ARE USED TO PREVENT REJECTION, THE BASIC SCIENCE OF THAT ALL STARTED WITH FEDERAL RESEARCH MONEY, THE REGISTRIES THAT WE USE IN ADULT AND PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION TO HELP US LEARN , OVER TIME, WHAT WORKS BEST, AND HELPS IMPROVE OUTCOMES, ALL THAT IS SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL MONEY.

>> AND TRAINING YOU GUYS, PROBABLY HAD SOME-- >> TRAINING GRANTS.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN WHEN I STARTED DOING THIS , THE ONE-YEAR GRAFT SURVIVAL FOR A CHILD UNDER 5 WAS ONE YEAR.

32% DID NOT MAKE IT ONE YEAR.

NOW IT'S 99%.

>> WOW.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> BUT FEDERAL FUNDING PLAYED A HUGE ROLE.

>> WELL, BEFORE WE WRAP OUR SHOW TODAY I WANT TO INTRODUCE CENTRAL NEW YORK'S OWN MR. JACOB SCARCELA, MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE UPSTATE'S NORTON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, WITH A HANDY ACRONYM TO HELP US SAVE LIVES ANOTHER WAY, MAYBE OUR OWN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK >> HI EVERYONE.

I'M JAKE SCARCELA, A MEDICAL STUDENT HERE WITH MY MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE.

WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO IF LITERALLY SAVE A LIFE.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IF SOMEONE SUDDENLY STARTED MOVING STRANGELY OR SLURRING THEIR WORDS, WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?

THAT'S WHERE THE MEMORY AID BE FAST COMES IN.

A SIMPLE WAY TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF A STROKE AND ACT QUICKLY.

HERE IS HOW IT WORKS.

B IS FOR BALANCE.

ARE THEY SUDDENLY DIZZY OR HAVING TROUBLE WALKING.

E IS FOR EYES.

ARE THEY HAVING TROUBLE SEEING OUT OF ONE OR BOTH EYES.

F IS FOR FACE.

ASK THEM THEM TO SMILE.

DOES ONE SIDE DROOP DOWN.

A IS FOR ARMS.

CAN THEY LIFT BOTH ARMS EVENLY OR DOES ONE DRIFT DOWN.

S IS FOR SPEECH.

ARE THEY SLURRING THEIR WORDS OR HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING AND THEN T. TIME TO ACT F. YOU NOTICE ANY OF THESE SIGNS CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE ARE CRUCIAL.

THIS IS BECAUSE STROKES HAPPEN WHEN BLOOD FLOW TO THE BRAIN IS BLOCKED.

AND FOR EVERY PASSING MINUTE, ALMOST TWO MILLION BRAIN CELLS DIE, SCARY, RIGHT?

BUT GETTING TO THE HOSPITAL FAST CAN COMPLETELY ALTER TREATMENT OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES.

SO, PEOPLE TREATED WITHIN THE FIRST THREE HOURS OF SYMPTOM ONSET ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO AVOID PERMANENT DAMAGE.

NOW, WHILE WE ASSOCIATE STROKES WITH OLDER PEOPLE, THEY CAN HAPPEN TO JUST ABOUT ANYONE; ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR CONDITIONS THAT MAKE BLOOD CLOTS.

IF YOU NOTICE ANY OF THESE SIGNS, THINK BE FAST.

BALANCE, EYES, FACE, ARMS, SPEECH AND TIME TO ACT.

YOU COULD LITERALLY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

MAYBE EVEN YOUR OWN.

I'M JAKE SCARCELA AND THIS HAS BEEN MY MED STUDENT MINUTE.

REMEMBER GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.

AND BE QUICK ABOUT IT.

SPEAKING OF BEING FAST, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS MS NANCY RYAN, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT FINGER LAKES DONOR RECOVERY NETWORK; DR. REZA SAIDI, DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF TRANSPLANT SERVICES; AND DR. SCOTT SCHURMAN, DIRECTOR OF NEPHROLOGY, BOTH FROM UPSTATE TO HEAR OUR COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.COMMUNITYFM.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS EPISODE AGAIN AND PAST SEASONS, VISIT WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEATH.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH Ms. RICHARDSON.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ON THE NEXT "CYCLE OF HEALTH," Dr. RICH AND COMPANY DISCUSS CHRONIC PAIN, PLUS THE TEAM VISITS UPSTATE'S REGIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN CLAY TO EXPLORE HOW PATIENTS ARE LEARNING TO MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN AND REGAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, MARGARET EXPLAINS HOW THE BRAIN DOES NOT FEEL ANY PAIN.