On this week’s program, an organ recipient reflects on his battle to overcome a life-threatening illness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the final gift from a stranger granted him a second chance at life. Dr. Joe Sirven examines the process of organ donation, common misconceptions and how organ donation advances scientific research.
Guests:
- Gerry Polcari, liver transplant patient.
- Jessica Scheidler Grossberg, public education coordinator at LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services.
Then, living with autoimmune disorders. The National Institutes of Health estimates that about 4.6% of Americans have been diagnosed with at least one autoimmune disease such as lupus, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Julius Birnbaum, author of a new book, Living Well with Autoimmune Diseases, discusses common myths about autoimmune disorders, how diet and stress affect symptoms and strategies that autoimmune patients can employ to improve their quality of life.
