BPI Surgery on TV - Mayo Clinic Documentary Schedule Change

[EllenB]

Just learned today that the Discovery Health Channel's Mayo Clinic documentary that will feature BPI surgery has been pushed back a week. Below is the current scheduling:

AIRDATES: DISCOVERY HEALTH CHANNEL
All times are eastern, and while the 1 AM repeats are technically Saturday morning, we refer to them as Friday night in the TV scheme.

Lifeline: Mayo Clinic, (Liver transplant, Head- Neck, Brachial Plexus)
Premiere Fri, Nov 21 10:00 PM
Repeat Fri, Nov 21 1:00 AM
Repeat Sun, Nov 23 12:00 PM

[Christopher]

Thanks Ellen,
Can't wait to make my guts twist and see the talented trio at work. Sorry about the lack of communication of my behalf, been a little bit of a hermit lately. Can you forward me the email address of that marathon runner from Texas? I'm trying to create the perfect limp arm strangler of a sling so me and my bones can go for a jog without my shoulder bouncing off my chest or dragging on the pavemant. I figure he may have beaten me to it, or have some tricks up his sleeve. Hope you all are doing well, and John is back on the road racing his heart out. Take care.

Cheers,
Chrie

[EllenB]

Hey Chris!!! Great to hear from you - and I'll send you the email info you asked for.

Not sure how John's story will wrap up on the Mayo documentary... the last update tape I'd sent the producer showed him just barely moving his fingers. But last night he was able to do a full fist! Add that to excellent arm movement, and for a complete C5-T1 avulsion exactly one year ago, not too bad at all!

Are you seeing results yet from your surgeries? Since you have a couple more feet (smile) for nerves to regenerate, still might be awhile... Keep us posted.

Ellen

[Dawna]

Ellen.... My name is Dawna and my boyfriend has a complete C5-T1 Avulsion from a motorcycle accident on July 27, 2003. Could you please inform me of John's progress. We're only 3.5 months into this injury and I'd love to hear all about how someone with injuries just like his has the ability to make a fist and move his fingers!!GOOD FOR HIM What procedures and surgeries has he had? We're looking into specialists right now and hoping to get him some help soon. I'd love it if you could help me out with some info. Thanks alot and I'll definitely watch the documentary. ~~Dawna~~

[EllenB]

Hi Dawna,

As someone on this site once wrote, "welcome to the club nobody wants to join". Just before John's three month mark post accident, I'd lined up appointments with three highly respected doctors (Tiel, Nath, Mayo team). The first appointment was at Mayo, and somehow we felt we were at the right place for John... so we stayed on for surgery. (Chris, who posted earlier on this thread, actually did visit zillions of highly respected doctors and still ended up at Mayo... so I figured we just saved ourselves a lot of time & money!)

Here's what the Mayo doctors did:
- took sural nerves from backs of both legs
- gracilus muscles from each leg (1st surgery was to provide elbow flexion, 2nd surgery was for finger movement)
- moved C7 over from the good arm
- moved the phrenic (breathing) nerve. Not done much yet in US, but common in Asia. John doesn't miss it.
- four intercostals

John is 16, was in excellent health since he was/is a competitive athlete, and is highly motivated to achieve the best possible recovery (which Mayo says may not be known for ~three more years). I agree it looks as if the excellent surgeries & hard work at therapy is beginning to pay off.

Hope you're able to watch the episode. Not many folks get Discovery Health Channel, though - it's not on basic cable.

Take care & let us know how things progress with your boyfriend.

Ellen

[admin]

Ellen,

I always like to read your post because they give me and many people a lot of hope. I got in a car accident in April while I was pregnant with my first baby. Also, I had surgery in July here in Houston with Dr. Shenaq and Dr. Nath. I gave birth to my wonderful daughter in September. I avulsed C7, C8 and T1. I hope I can talk to you about the physical therapy that your son is having.

Thanks,

Susana

[admin]

Does anyone know if this TV programme will be shown in the U.K.?
Thanks Paul

[admin]

I live in the Central Time zone what time will this show air.My son had a dirt bike accident 141/2 wks ago and we are looking for help. Linda

[EllenB]

In response to the two postings above:
- http://health.discovery.com/ is the website for Discovery Health Channel. I haven't explored it, but you may be able to figure out if it's available in your area. I do know that for us, it's not part of a basic cable package, but only through enhanced cable (we probably have ~200 cable channels). Good luck!

- the times listed at the top are Eastern Time Zone. So for you in Central, the initial airing would be Friday 11/21 at 9:00 PM

Hope that helps!

Ellen

[EllenB]

PS - the following url may be helpful. On Friday 11/14 at 10:00 EST, I see Lifeline - Mayo. That is the first episode of the four part series. The brachial plexus segment will be the following week, 11/21. See if you can get a similar schedule...

http://health.discovery.com/schedule/we ... hannel=DHC

Ellen