Original Air Date:
Thursday, January 30, 2008
Kevin Everett's Injury:
September 9, 2007 marked the NFL season opening game for the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos at Buffalo Stadium. During the 2nd half kickoff return, Bills tight end Kevin Everett attempted to tackle Broncos wide receiver Dominic Hixon. The instant the 2 hit, Kevin's body fell to the ground; he had injured his spinal cord and was motionless with his face to the ground.
Kevin Everett's Doctor and Dr. Oz:
Dr. Oz revisited the site of the accident on the Buffalo Stadium field on the show with Kevin's team doctor, Dr. Andrew Cappuccino. Dr. Cappuccino was one of the first to assess Kevin's condition.
The biggest concerns immediately after Kevin's injury were to make a diagnosis and properly stabilize him. Dr. Cappuccino described the 5 man roll technique they used to roll Kevin on to his back. Once Kevin was in the ambulance Dr. Cappuccino chose to use an unproven technique, cold therapy. This technique lowered Kevin's core temperature in an attempt to keep his spinal cord nerves alive until surgery. 35 minutes after he became injured, Kevin arrived at the hospital where he received X-Rays. Dr. Cappuccino explained that Kevin had a dislocation of his 3rd and 4th vertebrae.
Kevin Everett Walks Onto the Oprah Stage:
Statistically with this type of injury there is only a 10-20% chance of ever walking again - but Kevin defied the odds and only 5 months after surgery walked onto the Oprah Show stage.
Kevin remembers the moment he made the tackle and stated that his first thought was his family. After the hit Kevin could not feel anything which made the possibility of being paralyzed enter his mind. With both Kevin and Dr. Cappuccino on the show, Kevin had the opportunity to thank the doctor for keeping his promise to do whatever he could.
Kevin Everett's Physical Therapy:
Footage showed Kevin at home with his mother Patricia who remembered the first time he could hug her - she held on and cried for 20 minutes she recalled.
Kevin was shown attending his regular physical therapy sessions at Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Center where his physical therapist described how Kevin was nearly completely paralyzed when he first arrived at the center. Kevin's arm movement was a bigger concern than his legs; at first he could only shrug his shoulders. Kevin described that he will never be what he was but he will strive to be the best he can, that God has bigger plans for him.
The Jason Ray Story:
Jason Ray was a 21-year-old honor student at UNC who loved teaching bible studies, singing in his rock band and being the mascot of the school basketball team. While away for a game in New Jersey, Jason was walking on the shoulder of a highway on his way to get something to eat. Jason was struck by a car and was in serious condition at Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ. Jason had sustained severe head trauma and showed no sign of brain activity. An organ transplant representative was sent in to speak to Jason's parents and his father recalls thinking about everything but sharing his son's organs.
Jason Ray Saves Lives as an Organ Donor:
Jason's parents described how adamant their son was about being a donor and not wanting to be buried with an organ someone could have used. While his parents could have said no they knew it would have upset Jason. 3 days after Jason arrived at the hospital, he was pronounced dead at 8:38 in the morning. Jason's organs saved Ronald Griffin, a 58-year-old with congestive heart failure who was given Jason's heart; 40-year-old David Irving who was on kidney dialysis for 9 years and was given 1 of Jason's kidneys and his pancreas; and Antoine Hunter who at 15 had his 1 kidney begin to fail was given Jason's 2nd kidney.
Inspired By Jason Ray's Story:
David Wielhouwer saw Jason's story on the ESPN show E: 60 and had a conversation with his brother Dan about the inspiring events - it was the last conversation David had with his brother. It was Dan that had encouraged David to become and organ donor, and just 2 weeks after Jason's story, Dan passed in his sleep. The Wielhouwer family found courage in Jason's story and Dan's tissue, organs and eyes were donated to people on the donor list.
Lakshmi Tatma - Born in India with 8 Limbs:
Dr. Oz described the miracle surgery of 2-year-old Lakshmi Tatma in India, who was born with 8 limbs. Lakshmi was born with a conjoined parasitic twin, or one who did not fully develop in utero - this twin was a body without a head. The 2 were fused at the torso giving Lakshmi 4 arms and 4 legs. The parasitic twin was causing Lakshmi to become malnourished, and if she did not have surgery she would not survive to adulthood. 3 months ago, a team of more than 30 spent 27 hours in surgery to remove the parasitic twin.
Lakshmi was given a kidney from the twin and still has issues with her club feet and hip problems that will require additional surgery. Aside from these minor problems, Lakshmi has started to stand and may one day even be able to have children.
