Hello, and welcome to the gifted like podcast where we have conversations about organ tissue and I donation and today we're Celebrating we are celebrating 100 folks I'm Laurie Steele. I'm Sally. I'm Sally. I'm so glad that you choose to listen This is our hundredth episode if you would have asked us back on the first episode.
What do we see this day? We would not have had a competent yes Here we are now thanks to you guys exciting and boy Do we have an episode for you because we're kind of going Hollywood right? Yes, we are we talking donation in Hollywood I want writer is making a difference and today rather than our regular mental health break We're going to talk with everyone here wait to share what's happening. I wasn't filled in Birthday surprise.
Okay, so we need to talk about that in the meantime We want you to share this episode guys our goal as always is to save more lives and we do that by spurring healthy conversations By educating ourselves by listening to all of our partners and learning and we just ask that you share the podcast and share the knowledge Read us and subscribe you can find us on Apple podcast Google Play or your favorite podcast app or on our website the gifted life Dot org yeah on social media Facebook the gifted like podcast Twitter and Instagram at gifted life pod We try to be as easy as possible to find guys because we need you helping us. It's such an important cause you are part of our team You you right there and we thank you you guys ready to get going. I'm a little nervous about Sally's part But still excited and excited about going to Hollywood you guys ready? Yeah, here we go Here on the gifted life we are so excited we are visiting with miss Chirin Raisac if you don't recognize the name you'll definitely recognize her work.
Have you been watching new Amsterdam show? We had your wife been watching this show Of course yeah, yeah It's an amazing show we are gonna focus on one specific episode that Chirin had a lot to do with and what we thought was so Incredible was her tie to donation right the gifted life podcast we're talking about spurring those healthy conversations one person making a difference Chirin we're gonna say that's you we're gonna add you to our our list here. Welcome. Thank you for joining us Oh, thank you for having me It's actually great honor for me to be able to do this so talk about new Amsterdam I mean it's all the buzz I see it on my Twitter feed and Instagram Of course the cute folks from the show people are talking about but give us your gist of what that is New Amsterdam is all about breaking the rules and fixing the system so what we try and do with the show is take on important issues about health care and important issues out in the world and how it can relate to healthcare and Trying to light on a lot of stuff that we as as writers or we as people in the community would love to see changed or improved upon nice Now I want to specifically focus on this episode called the domino effect I mean just on on social media the buzz like you definitely got people talking got people thinking and this is a personal episode for you So give us a little bit about that and then you know tell us where that idea came from well actually back in 1999 my mom was a liver transplant recipient and it was back before living donors were even a thing and it was still kind of like The early years I think of you know, so if I'm right my mom had contracted What was called hepatitis non-anambi before I was born and it damaged her liver to where her liver slowly degenerated over the course of the next like 20 years or so where she needed a transplant and when they put her on the list she was given six months and The amazing thing they actually thought it was something very difficult to match her because of her body was like a very small frame Once you know insurance did all their stuff and she was officially on the list It was only oddly a matter of days before she got in Oregon So we didn't even have as a family time to really acknowledge the fact that this was happening Yeah, the people at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas were absolutely amazing I think a lot of the transplant surgeons that were part of that team are still there And I love them dearly and all the nurses that were on the kidney liver transplant floor were amazing And the support that we got from them and from just other transplant families who were also on that floor was just I mean it was like a new family that had to be a very scary time obviously knowing you know me being clinical I can tell you basically there was a bump a really big jump in donations around that time You know it happened around 98 99 2000 a big spike and a lot of that was with CMS and different You know things that happened with the hospitals that they had to call in every death and you know We were a lot more focused on donation But it was still a time where we didn't really know even in the clinical realm a lot about donation I can imagine as a family of someone who's now waiting, you know How scary that must have been to find out that oh my goodness She's got six months to live in maybe we won't ever have a chance well to I guess to my parents credit I will say that they didn't tell us that the doctors told them but they didn't tell the kids that there was only six months So I was actually grateful to find that out afterwards So as you tell us the story I can hear you remembering and I can hear you painting these vivid pictures like you lived this and built upon that To hopefully change some hearts out in the community, but I think you mentioned we were prepping for this at your mom's name Was Gloria?
Yes Yeah, so Gloria was able to have her life extended because someone said yes Yes, exactly. I mean we had another 10 years with her which were amazing. She got to see all this graduate from college She saw two of us get married. Mm.
Yeah, it was she would have had any of that if it hadn't been for this amazing donor family And so you this girl going through this you live it and then you go on to live your your dreams And then you see this potential to help open folks eyes about donation on this project new Amsterdam So the episode is called the domino effect your the writer for that breakdown what you wanted folks to get from that episode The biggest thing is that just shining a light on how important donation is it's truly the gift of life And it is I mean me personally and I've definitely discussed it with my my husband is that you know if there's no hope for me Then everything goes everything's very good I just wanted the show the selflessness that it is and I mean with living donors especially it's like you're giving a piece of yourself while you're still alive and It's it's a big decision, but it's also just an amazing gift that you can give someone So surely and how did this crew and the rest of the staff respond when you brought this topic up? I have an absolutely amazing showrunner and when before we even started the writers room He said you know send us send me pictures of something that you are passionate about that You want a story that you want to tell and immediately I send in I want to do an organization story And what's funny is that we also have a doctor on staff dr. David Foster who's amazing He said and he wanted an organ donation stories And our showrunner David Schulner he was like a string beat you So big part of the episode is you mentioned living donation is about living liver chain donation and living lung donation And you know again I've been in a clinical realm for now in donation for about 16 years and I hadn't heard of it But I had heard of course we've been really pushing kidney pair donation Which is essentially the kidney chains and that's been something that's really taken off over the last you know two or three years And when I first heard about it I was like is this really a thing and then oddly enough in looking at it I saw that there was one done in in Japan so hopefully you're starting something up here in the United States Love it so can you tell us a little bit about the living chain and the Actually a friend of mine was part of a kidney chain a few years back and it was again It was an amazing thing one of his co-workers He lives in I think he lives in Houston now and his co-worker in Los Angeles donated a kidney to the chain So that he could get a kidney from the chain and I just again It's like when I found out about this I just thought what an amazing thing a co-worker not even a family member giving this gift of life And without hesitation without without any you know reservation really that really inspired me to tell this particular story because living donors are Breathing to themselves are truly amazing people so and so just for those in the audience that don't completely understand it She mentioned the fact that living donors how amazing that is and it is and a lot of times what happens is you know the person that you're donating to in these Situations but in a chain what happens is that the person that you would you know the person that you've got the connection with maybe you guys aren't compatible So then what happens is it starts the chain of where one person might donate to another person and that person's in the same situation where they're not compatible So he don't a different person and it ends up closing the loop to where you know every donor has a recipient You know, it's just not necessarily to that particular person that they know So it's it's a pretty amazing thing that's happening on nation That's that's really saved so many more lives and then would have been saved So if you want to watch this episode You can go on the NBC app and watch new Amsterdam episode 7 is called the domino effect So we know that you guys got people talking we were talking about it. We're in the donation world Did you guys get any feedback positive or negative about the show about donation about what you guys did with that episode?
Yes, we did get donate life did a survey and also did a special URL for registrations for donations With that episode and they got very positive feedback We're waiting on like we got metrics that because we don't understand the numbers yet In terms of like is this good or is this bad? I can't really speak I can't speak intelligently about it But the donate life people seem very very happy with the metrics that they got back. Yeah, so register me dot org is our national registry So register me dot org slash campaign slash new Amsterdam So this was pretty clever marketing So you can go and you can see the the the teas to that episode and then you can actually sign up to be a donor So I'm expecting we'll see a bump following just what we experienced here in Louisiana, which was pretty neat So I mean this was exciting. I love to hear that they did this and that you guys worked with I'm don't like America with you know So that was amazing because we need positive stories We work with some LSU seniors who help us with donation and they said in our research a lot of what you see on TV tied to donation It's not true.
So to have somebody who knows who's been there who's walked the walk helping. That's amazing. Oh, thank you I'm very very happy to be doing it And I'm so excited that the show is reaching so many people and can have a positive effect All right, misterine raze act one person making a difference. I'd like to have you here on the gift of life.
Thank you're on the gift of life Episode 100. Can you guys still believe it like I'm still like what is happening? We have a bit of Hollywood with us right here on the podcast are we excited or what? Yeah, I mean in the three minutes I talked to her tonight and I became really good friends tonight.
Well, it's founder donate life Hollywood Hey, I know it sounds fun. Doesn't See yeah, we have so many questions for you, but we appreciate you being here we talk a lot about donation and how the public perceives what we're putting out So we try to push positive and then you go to watch a movie or you pick one up you rent one and then it's like oh Donation wasn't that wasn't right. I mean made for good TV drama, but not accurate, right? And so we all kind of feel deflated in the donation world because you know we want the facts to get out so people can say yes So donate life Hollywood.
What is your focus? What do you do ma'am? The goal really is to see authentic and positive storylines on television and in film with the goal of inspiring more people to Register to be organized issue donors that day and I I want to be clear about those who work right authentic and positive And you notice I do not say accurate storyline because Hollywood and the entertainment community They are storytellers and they're not always going to be just right. It's hard.
I know I know and there's a day I know not only do we feel deflated after we see a great anatomy with an inaccurate storyline We feel outraged and we yell at the television sense, you know that we take to social media justice. Yes Right, and don't it like Hollywood actually started pre social media where there was a series of research that came out in 2007 by a woman named Dr. Susan Morgan and what she found is that is something that we all sort of knew You know when we were out there and we were doing tabling events people would come to us Maybe they say things like all they're not gonna say my life or they're a black market for organ And we knew they were getting this information from television shows and for movies And they were taking on that kind of dark and scary part of organ donation that we just don't see on an everyday level because we see the power And the beauty of organ donation and transplantation So what Dr. Morgan did is he did a series of research and she had people who were not registered as organ donors What television episodes and then she asked them if they were more or less likely to register as donors and when the television show Included missed the misconceptions about donation people were less likely to register as donors So this is the first time we had data that said inaccurate storylines storylines that perpetuate misinterception stop people from registering to be organ donors and that Series of research came out and I read it and I got outraged of words And I said we need to do something about this And so pomone who is the CEO of one legacy and David Fleming the head of donate like America said take fine And I had to go do something and that really was the origin of donate like Hollywood And when was that that was in 2008 that I did like the first press release taking the information that Dr.
Morgan had put together and Saying to the world the donation and transplant community now has an organized campaign with the goal And you know at the time I actually said for more accurate story lines But something changed my mind about that word of accuracy And it was a lesson that I learned in working with three rivers you guys remember three rivers I'm from the jump it was on CBS for a little while no no Alex and Alex a lot like we big fan about the lot Then who's now on Hawaii five oh Do you have a number that I mean I can call and tell me actually okay? So with Alex I love Alex he's the best but he a couple of years ago sent an email to Tom because he he's Australian So he was becoming an American citizen And so he wanted like a letter that said that he had done some good work with us as part of his Application to become a citizen so Tom sent it me and I wrote this lovely letter about how amazing Alex was and so yes I do have his email address. I'll talk to Naimin. Yeah, well, thanks You know that whole relationship a relationship with Alex that relationship with three rivers I was sitting at my desk one day and a gentleman who was the creator of the show who pitched to the show and got it Bought by CBS he was a transplant coordinator for a short period of time And then he went to film school and he wrote this pilot in his pitch He said to me I want to make sure that they get it right I want to make sure that they have a relationship with the donation and transplant community And so can you have a conversation with a woman who's gonna be the show runner or the head writer for a three-bird?
So Carol Barbie who has done all kinds of things she and I had coffee in Santa Monica and I took her all of this research I basically said look if you do not get this right you're going to kill people when I think I scared her I think I frightened her just enough for her to realize that this isn't just another medical show because here's a thing that you and I had been watching medical shows for years yelling at the television feeling depleted being the impact of these inaccurate Storylines miss Bill's story line Mm-hmm, but here was gonna be a television show all about organization and transportation every week and it's this show didn't get it Right we were in real trouble and Carol got it. He really did she was like, okay, and her mantra became We will do no harm and will help when we can and so if you go back and you watch the river You will see that they actually try to take on some of these nips and misconceptions and try to clarify the donation and transplant process And what they allowed me to do was something that no television show ever allows any cause to do which is to read every Fripp from the first draft and give consultation to every single trip. That's right. I know Then what happened is Alex was you know the main character and he said to Carol Well, I want to get involved with organization help from a organization stuff like that and so Carol said Oh, talk to tonight So they brought me on to the Paramount lot and I got a little bit lovely at this and who's from New Orleans by the way Yeah, so we bonded because I went to Tulane So we totally bought it and so she walked me to Alex's Preler and had me sit there to wait for Alex And I really didn't know who this was because the show hadn't been on yet and in walk then both beautiful man I've ever seen in my life, which is Australian accent who's like totally committed to assisting us with organization So I said well, you could be something like a star ambassador She's like no I want to be an ambassador like a real volunteer I said well, then you have to go through a training so he organized a volunteer training on set and invited the cast and crew to come And all get trained as volunteers as ambassadors for donate life and one last fantastic.
I love him. Yes. Oh, wow So, maybe me and Alex can have a little lunch one time I mean I have to get back to Alex, you know And I want to talk about what our celebrity engagement is gonna be because for me engaging celebrities You have to have a specific thing for them to do so here with Alex super excited to help us But you know the don't like community doesn't really work with celebrities at a high level We don't have a large advertising budget like St. Jude who would say to Jennifer Anderson Hey, would you be in a series of commercials?
Here's where they're gonna run and have a real holistic campaign for celebrities And so for me, I know that we all want to engage celebrities around organization And I do and I will I promise I will have a plan But I also want to make sure that we have something that we're asking them to do something very specific and that we have some sort of budget That allows us to utilize and amplify their engagement and their voice and how they're participating with it So there's a lot of things for going at my colleague with you and working with celebrities is definitely one of them Before I go back to Alex I want to know that we have a plan and we have kind of a funding and resources and the commitment of the whole donation community to be engaged in Celebrity nice. We on the podcast talk to a writer on New Amsterdam So we were excited to hear kind of how the relationship was built there. We talked to Shireen Yeah, well and here's the other thing is that you know I joke that people think I have some sort of magic that I can just like get a television storyline Transformed and all this kind of stuff, but you know that origin story of three rivers how that happened I was sitting at my desk someone called me and I took the call and built a relationship The same thing with me Amsterdam the publicity department at ABC National contacted You know contacted and past yet, you know because that's all television or know about organ donation is that there's something called You know, right? The one thing they get right in every episode you know So you answer them contacted you know and and pasty because you know that I'm back with going a colleague with she looped me in and we were able to create a Really broke but publicity campaign around the new app channel episode we went to down allowed us to see the episodes there were two ordination episodes allowed us to see them ahead of time And then working with you know donate like America and donate by Hollywood We were able to coordinate the donation community to watch to tweet to amplify the message and to create that conversation And I think it was it was in in the call with with NBC publicity Who said what would really help us if it is if we could work proactively with your writers and help to do extra Complications while they're writing the episode not just in the publicity phase And that's when they said why don't you work with Shireen?
She'll be your point person And so that's gonna make a huge difference So of course you worked, you know heavily with New Amsterdam and in three rivers in the past So if they're not coming to you how do you find out about the projects out there in the Hollywood world about donation? Good question, you know when don't like Hollywood first started back in 2008 What we were really trying to do was put a tourniquet on this just mass amount of Misfilled organ donation and transplant story lines And so my first focus was if there's a carrot and a stick It was a stick and it was organized the donation and transplant community to write letters and say you got this right And it's going to have an impact on the people's perception of donation as well as their willingness to register as a donor So every time there was a donation and transplant episode and they got it wrong and there was a miss or there was anything We wrote letters because it was like the dark ages where we really wrote letters to do these shows And what was interesting is a lot of times those letters are what created a Relationship that then allowed us to have a more proactive approach The other thing I did was I praised story lines So for instance, there was a storyline on ER about organ donation. It was pretty good It wasn't amazing, but it's been perpetuating a misinceptions So I sent a donate life cookie back it to the writers room saying thank you so much for your organ donation storyline They were getting ready to create the season finale of ER which was George Clooney's character Approaching students and randons character to gain consent for organ donation for students random Grandma that was a storyline and so they contacted us and worked with us so actively on what I will say is the best Storyline I've ever seen about approaching a family about donation and that's because we sent them a cookie back And so they called us and then we did an expert consultation and that expert consultation led to a really powerful powerful episode So there is a carrot or the stick I also the other thing I did was I figured out that the way to Hollywood Hollywood heart is through an award and that people in Hollywood will show up Almost anywhere for anything if you say we're awarding Yeah, it's really interesting. So what I started to do was again any of those decent storylines about organ donation I would get them an award get them into the room and then we would have Donor family members and transplanters to be and see the one giving me work So they would tell their personal story about organ donation and then give me a word to the writers and what what happened was then writers Would be so overwhelmed by the real life stories of organ donation and transplantation So then they would invite us into the writers room again Proactively for the following season so that we could help in the development of new storyline There are other ways, you know Just having relationships and people knowing that's gonna call you a cure and accessing the existing relationships that we have so with different writers As they moved from one place to another with one writer I remember who wrote a CSI storyline that was god awful thought awful and so wrote her all these letters that was like This is god awful and she contacted us and was like, oh, I'm really sorry Like I didn't mean to do any harm.
I just was writing this, you know Storyline, but I didn't know any better so I invited her to speak at we did a film festival And I invited her to speak and she said in everyone hated my story line Are they gonna like throw to me? No, no what they want to hear what I want you to communicate is I didn't realize that writing these storylines about the black market and other things We're going to have an impact once I learned that then I've changed my way And so then she went on and wrote for another television show and she continued to utilize it as a resource So building those relationships with anyone in any of the writers rooms those writers So on and they do other projects and that's what we were seeing because the project I ran donate my colleague from 2008 to 2012 I started with one legacy in 2002 and then started donate my colleague What is 2008 left one legacy in 2012 and really we had sort of stopped being these knit-based storylines Occurring anywhere and so we felt like hey, maybe we we did it We stopped the mischievous conceptions about organization on television and in film Which was the goal the first and original goal of donate my colleague It was really just to stop the mischievous conception But what happened was that there have been a lot more new television shows in general and streaming and a whole new world of writers Who hadn't heard about donate my colleague what in the past and one legacy started to see that occurring last year And so they contacted me and they said we'd like to bring back donate like Hollywood in a limited capacity to address any of the Mischievous conceptions that are occurring and really with a goal now that is different than what it was in 2008 But just to help proactively place positive organization storylines on television shows So that's sort of a new goal for donating a Hollywood in his recreation. Awesome. I mean that was a lesson in Hollywood I like it so I guess the only question we have is that which stars numbers can you give to me?
Well funny is I was I had a conversation with this woman Ava who runs a nonprofit called Ava's part here in Los Angeles And she is a heart-versed idiot and I had met with her years ago And she reminded me that I actually helped her to get on three rivers which I had forgotten about Saying there's a chance to know you The idea of casting and the fact that I do have some contact and friends or casting agents and working with a casting department Especially on reality based shows to get people personally touched by donation to be part of not the negative reality shows But shows that helped you tell organization storylines There was a woman who calls one legacy yesterday and she wanted just a presentation to her Rotary Club But as it turns out her daughter works on Dr. Phil so she says if you want to be on Dr. Phil I can help you with that too. I feel like you know Donate like Hollywood just by being here being a project that is back and active and has a point person We're going to be able to harness all of these different opportunities that come our way and Create them into opportunities that really achieve the donate life goal of getting more people inspired to register as organized as she donors We love it.
Well, we have an idea for you behind the scenes of the gifted life podcast. That's what people really want to say Camera reality TV like this Or probably our Sally who's like our dr. Phil here, so we'll talk tonight I will talk we love we love what you're doing We love the progress that you're making the accomplishments the contacts that you're making and we can't wait to see what's next So I anticipate having you back on the gifted life if you will ma'am, but donate live Hollywoods tonight Oh, while is here on the gift of life podcast. Thank you ma'am.
Thank you Today is a hundredth episode of the gifted life podcast, you know, generally we talk about different mental health issues or just things That we think would be of interest for folks, but today we're not gonna do that We have really special guest here. Are you talking about me? Well, she's always here. Well, I know she is So and that's why we need mental health folks, but anyway, we have Callie random.
She's our CEO Oh, I said it sounds better than me. Yeah, yeah, I'm a big dog And so my question to her is what made you decide to put this podcast together? According to Troy, he put it together We asked because we all have a say but I will say that we were at a open meeting one of the annual meetings and there was a presentation from the Mayo Clinic and they were talking about how they Started putting information out over the internet and how it really expanded their Services and actually it's one of my go-to meds like we figured out podcast vision and Kirsten make it happen and so I did and so Troy is the real driving force behind this absolutely the brain I do silent guru right so he shakes his head. He writes his notes, but you don't really hear from him But yeah a great guy and I'm so glad Kelly's here for the hundred episode not the first right?
Yeah, that's right the first episode Only took us about six hours to record about 20 minutes of the actual episode long day I got back figure. Okay. There's no way we're gonna last 10. I'll be fired before 20 And here we are I have been off more than we can chew We gave it an effort.
Yeah, right? Oh shoot, hey, yes, I do have a question for you So so how is it that you got this the role of the head of this pocket? Right, but I love it My background is TV news I just basically like to talk a lot Joey's kind of a talker Like not like Lori different levels special talent right so TV background was my news and I always said if I transitioned out of news There was one special place. I'd love to land and through a blessing I ended up at Lopa I had to wait out of contract and the lovely Kelly Kirsten waited for me to come on board and best decision of my life So I love it and they said you want to be on this podcast and I said I'll give it a try And it's my I get to know you guys we bond more but I really learn and take what we talk about here like in the clinical side From family services and the things that you do and I go back out in the community like to me It's amazing like it's an amazing resource.
It helps me be more well around it Of course I constantly focus on the clinical aspects and how we can save more lives from that You know standpoint but being able to have these conversations with so many people who are so powerful within the industry and have such a voice Within the industry and outside of the industry, you know Like some of those like Carl Lewis who we've talked to in Jeffrey marks So it's amazing to be able to have these conversations with people who have such powerful voices and such a big message to deliver Well, and you know, I'm basically an introvert and I do I don't believe I do not And you know, I'm really good behind the scenes But when you all asked me to do this and I've mentioned this before in another episode I thought it was just a one-time thing so I said wait, you're not coming back. Well, I didn't know I was supposed to come back Well, that was what how many years ago. Yeah, and now you can't get rid of me. Well Sally They asked me to come once and then never invite you What can we say about that?
Well, you know, it is it has really been a pleasure for me to work with you guys because you know I've known you but not really known you and now well, I'm I'm no more I really need to know but but it's really I mean, it's fun for me I mean of all the things that I have done I would have never ever thought this would be something that I would be involved with But you know what's really great for me I like to laugh and I know it's a good healthy thing to do So when I get here, I'm actually looking forward to it because I know if I've had really yucky sort of week or things Didn't work the way I just knew they were going to work I know when I get here I'm gonna start laughing and I feel so much better about the whole thing so I really owe you all a debt of gratitude We're making my mental health better. So there you go I think we're a strong team. I think when we set out we wanted to debunk those myths We want to honor our heroes want to partner with folks across the country and we're doing that We certainly are and and you talk about debunking those myths as we said earlier on this episode You know, we talked a lot about those myths and the myth busters that are there or out there in Hollywood We talked to tonight of course and all the things that she does and we have to do that here on an everyday basis You know in within Lopa and out there in the communities And this is such a good vehicle, you know to be able to reach so many that we wouldn't otherwise be able to reach Oh, absolutely. So Kelly, we've had a hundred We hope you keep us on for at least the next hundred But we hear from professors and if it's nursing students like we want them to listen so they get a better understanding about donation And we have folks who are using it as a teaching tool But they talk to us because they hear our voices What what do you hear and are you proud of this podcast extremely proud of the podcast?
I don't know that I envisioned that it would grow as much as it has that people within our industry are using it for educational opportunities That other countries are using it as an educational opportunity to learn more to help them develop programs And I think it's everything that I wanted to happen and more and I hope it's more than a hundred episodes Sorry Troy. I couldn't give you your helipad by a video podcast Well, within the next 100 maybe maybe so we just have one more questions and you were here your favorite podcast person And makes us all sound great shout out to Kirsten as well and Shalana a lot of hours are put into the podcast So we come in here we get to have fun. We get to learn. It's not work.
It's really a family here So Kelly we know that this podcast like this is your baby, right? And then now you have your baby working on your baby, right? So talk about this intern has same last name as you like you know, she's beautiful I don't know if I ever fell in that category. So my daughter Rebecca She's very interested in Broadcasting media editing video audio and Troy was kind enough to work with her and so she's done the last four podcasts To edit and help get rid of Joey's homes as I'm kidding It's been a great learning experience for her I think it's it's been eye-opening because I looked over at her one day and she's crying and it was one of the first podcasts that she Worked on and she was like, oh my gosh I didn't realize the impact that you all have and how far reaching and the stories are sad But yet they're beautiful and so that's what I wanted from this was to have that outreach and to know that I know it's my daughter to see that a 16 year old had that kind of feeling about it and that impact from it And that's what I'd hope this would accomplish and it has and that's our one of our target audiences Those people who are going out there getting those licenses and hopefully they'll say yes to donations So awesome.
Yeah, right. Right. Well, thank you Rebecca because I know you hear us in your ear lots And you're like, oh gosh quiet Laurie. You talk a lot.
I do realize I talk a lot. We learned that today That's one of the other things I learned from the podcast now Yes, as we talk I've been watching the non-trivial you've been knowing that for a long time True true. Well, awesome. Well, here's to Here on the gift line as we have done on every episode we honor a hero that hero today is Caden Caruso We learn about Caden from his family My beautiful son was so full of life.
He loved his mama playing with his trucks and his handy-mani toolbox He was and still is my whole world He was given his angel wings in April of 2010 at the age of 16 months old due to a brain aneurysm My life has never been the same since Although his passing was so tragic he gave the ultimate gift gift of life He is our hero and lives on in us and so many others. It gives me comfort knowing he saved and improved the quality of life for so many I will forever carry you in my heart my precious child. I love you until we meet again And now we pause and say thank you to Caden for the gift of life Our question and answer segment today from the Hollywood world guys in the movie seven pounds of line man is given sight through Transplant his eyes change color to the color of the donor's eyes my question Do your eyes change color following a cornea transplant? This is something that we've tackled in previous episodes speaking about cornea transplant and unfortunately Hollywood doesn't always get it right Right and clearly they didn't talk to Tania, but in reality.
It doesn't you know the cornea is clear It's in the outer layer or that's just a clear piece I mean obviously you can change your color of the eyesight by putting contacts and things like that You got it, but no not from a transplant Yeah And you know I'm out in the community and we talked to community groups We've seen this movie that comes up a lot and so I say makes for good drama makes for good TV Just not factually, you know correct So great question guys and we really appreciate you sending us your questions It really gives a lot of good information for those folks who are wondering about the same thing So we would like to hear from you reach out to us You can find us on social media email us or even call us you can leave a voice mail your story or question is important and that email address Is info at the gifted life org or you can give us a call five zero four six four eight three four seven seven We look forward to hearing from you That's a wrap folks for episode 100 of the gifted life podcast. Can you believe? I know crazy. I know who I'm not good But here we are on to the next one hundred we want to give a special thanks to tonight Wallace of donate life Hollywood All the hard work that she does of course with those stores there in Hollywood tonight If you're listening any that number And also to a serene razac writer from a wife's favorite show New Amsterdam for all the good work that they're doing there and in highlighting donation And we also want all of our listeners more particularly our donor families to know how much we appreciate them We hope that some of this information has been very very good for you to hear and that this is why we do what we're doing So happy hundred yeah honoring heroes celebrating life making life happen the team effort guys and we see that each and every day Thank you.
Thank you for listening Thank you for being part of our team and go out today and do something that you would normally do to help us make life happen We appreciate you. I'll see you next time This is a production of the Louisiana or procurement agency or LOPA the gifted life is hosted by Lori Steele Joey Buudro and Sally Gentry Our executive producer is Kirsten Hines producer is Shalom Caraway and we are recorded engineered and mixed in our coventon Louisiana studio by Troy Perez