SEASON.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT WHAT VACCINES ARE RECOMMENDED AND FOR WHAT AGE GROUPS... ALSO TONIGHT: A NEW STUDY LOOKS AT SENIOR HEALTH-CARE IN ARIZONA... AND, WE'LL MEET A YOUNG MAN WHO WENT FROM AN APPARENTLY HEALTHY ARIZONA COLLEGE STUDENT TO NEEDING AND RECEIVING A HEART TRANSPLANT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

THIS HOUR MUCH >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TODAY GRANTED FULL APPROVAL FOR THE 1ST TIME TO AN EXPERIMENTAL ALZHEIMER'S DRUG.

THE MEDICATION IS CALLED LEQEMBI, AND IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO MODESTLY SLOW COGNITIVE DECLINE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE DISEASE.

THERE ARE SAFETY RISKS WITH THE MEDICATION, SO MUCH SO THAT THE FDA ADDED A WARNING THAT IN RARE CASES THE DRUG CAN CAUSE, QUOTE, "SERIOUS AND LIFETHREATENING EVENTS."

THAT SAID, THE FDA GAVE FULL APPROVAL AND MEDICARE SAID IT WOULD COVER 80-PERCENT OF ITS $26,000 COST.

OTHER HEADLINES: VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS MADE A STOP IN THE VALLEY TODAY.

SHE ARRIVED AT SKY HARBOR THIS AFTERNOON FOR A VISIT TO THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY.

THE VISIT WAS TO PROMOTE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FOCUS ON TRIBAL NATIONS, INCLUDING THE GILA RIVER COMMUNITY'S SECURING OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR A WATER PIPELINE THAT COULD CONSERVE UP TO 125,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER OVER THE NEXT 2-YEARS.

WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT SPOKE TO THE ARIZONA PBS PROGRAM, INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY, WHICH PLANS TO RUN THE INTERVIEW NEXT MONDAY.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS REPORTEDLY SOURING ON RECRUITING KARI LAKE AS HIS VICE-PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE DAILY BEAST, WHICH REPORTS THAT LAKE, WHO LOST HER ELECTION HERE FOR GOVERNOR, IS CONSIDERED BY TRUMP TO BE A, QUOTE, "SPOTLIGHT HOUND," AND THAT HER DEMAND FOR ATTENTION HAS NOT GONE OVER WELL WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

A TRUMP ADVISOR ALSO REPORTEDLY DESCRIBED LAKE AS A, QUOTE, "SHAMELESS, RUTHLESS DEMAGOGUE."

A SPOKESPERSON FOR LAKE CALLS THE REPORT A, QUOTE, "PATHETIC ATTEMPT" TO DIVIDE TRUMP SUPPORTERS BY THOSE SUPPORTING RON DESANTIS AS THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

COUPLE OF ECONOMIC NOTES: MORTGAGE RATES WENT UP AGAIN LAST WEEK.THEY'RE NOW AT 6.81-PERCENT FOR A 30-YEAR FIXED, THAT'S THE HIGHEST RATE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

IT'S ALSO ONE AND-A-HALF PERCENT HIGHER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

ECONOMISTS SAY THAT THE HIGHER RATES, ALONG WITH LOW INVENTORY LEVELS, ARE KEEPING SOME POTENTIAL BUYERS OUT OF THE MARKET.

AND, MIXED NEWS FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR JOBS.

THE U.S.

PRIVATE SECTOR SAW A MASSIVE SPIKE IN HIRING IN JUNE.

497,000 JOBS WERE ADDED LAST MONTH ACCORDING TO PAYROLL PROCESSOR ADP.

BUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REPORTS THAT THE NUMBER OF JOB "OPENINGS" IS DOWN.

BUT THOSE NUMBERS RELEASED TODAY ALSO SHOW AN INCREASE IN WORKERS QUITTING THEIR JOBS.

THE RATE OF WORKERS RESIGNING IS CONSIDERED AN INDICATION OF WORKER CONFIDENCE IN THE JOB MARKET.

AS WE SAID, MIXED SIGNALS AT BEST.

THIS FALL IS SHAPING UP TO BE VACCINE SEASON, WITH COVID, RSV AND FLU VACCINES ALL EXPECTED TO BE READY AND RECOMMENDED.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE VACCINE FRONT.

GOOD TO EYOU AGAIN.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

LOTS OF VACCINES COMING AROUND THE PIKE.

>> THEY'RE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT.

WE'LL START WITH INFLUENZA.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW SHOT.

THEY'RE ADDING WHAT'S CALLED ANTIGEN FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE THAT FIRST APPEARED IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR'S TO TARGET WHAT WAS CIRCULATING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

CDC IS RECOMMENDING THAT FOLKS WAIT AT LEAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER SO DON'T JUMP ON IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S AVAILABLE.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S THE BEST STRATEGY BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR ANTIBODIES LAST INTO JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH RANGE.

>> SOMETIMES THE FLU SEASON CAN EXTEND LONGER.

SHOULD WE WAIT LONGER?

>> TYPICALLY ARIZONA, WE USUALLY PEAK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH.

LAST YEAR WAS EARLY.

IT WAS REALLY AROUND THANKSGIVING AND INTO DECEMBER.

SO IT CAN BE EARLIER LIKE IT WAS LAST YEAR.

BUT TENDS TO BE LATER.

SO, EARLIER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER.

IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO GET THE VACCINE OF COURSE.

BUT JUST GETTING IT REALLY EARLY MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST STRATEGY.

CDC SAID THAT IN THEIR PRESS RELEASE.

INTERESTING.

COVID VACCINES.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE.

HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM WHAT WE ARE GETTING ALL ALONG?

>> THE FDA'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS URGED THE FDA TO PUT FORWARD OUR APPROVE A NEW VACCINE THAT GETS RID OF THAT OLD ANCESTRAL STRAIN.

THE BIVALENT VACCINE HAS THE OLD WHAT WE CALL THE ANCESTRAL STRAIN, THAT ORIGINAL STRAIN IN IT BUT ALSO THE OMICRON.

THIS ONE THIS FALL WILL BE STRICTLY FOCUS ON THE NEWEST VERSION OF OMICRON SO IT'S THE BEST PROTECTION FOR WHAT IS LIKELY TO CIRCULATE LATER ON IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

BY THE WAY THERE IS NOT MUCH CIRCULATING RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUR SUMMER -- THIS THING HAS COLBY ON A 6-MONTH CYCLE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND WE'RE NOT SEEING AT LEAST SO FAR THIS SEASON A BUMP IN COVID CASES.

HAVING SAID THAT, THE REPORT ISN'T AS GOOD -- >> DO WE KNOW WHY THE CASES ARE DOWN?

IS IT REPORTING PRETTY MUCH?

>> IT'S STILL REPORTING.

THEY'RE STILL GETTING REPORTS.

BUT NOT FROM THAT RAPID ANTIGEN TEST AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

EVEN AN HE CANECDOTE ANECDOTALLY I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT ABOUT A MISSIONS OR ED VISITS.

>> THIS NEW VACCINE XB115 VARIANT IS WHAT THEY'RE TARGETING?

>> YES.

IT'S THE NEWEST VERSION OF OMICRON AND THAT'S WHAT'S AVAILABLE THIS FALL.

>> SHOULD YOU GET THE FLU SHOT AND THIS NEW COVID SHOT AT THE SAME TIME?

>> YOU CERTAINLY CAN.

IT'S JUST LIKE WHAT YOU WANT DO KIND OF THING.

IF YOU WANT TO GET ALL HAMMERED OUT IN ONE VISITED THEN IT'S A PERFECTLY FINE STRATEGY.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TWO SORE ARMS ON THE SAME WEEKEND OR WHATEVER.

SO IT'S JUST A CHOICE THING.

>> BUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE IS NOT DIMINISHED BY HAVING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE SAME TIME?

>> CORRECT.

>> DID THIRD VACCINE, RSV.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE, HAVE WE?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> ADULTS CAN GET IT.

IT'S RECOMMENDED.

>> OH.

OKAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS BREAKING NEWS.

WE'RE GETTING RSV BUT WE'RE GETTING THEM BACK.

ARE THEY KNEW THIS FALL?

DIFFERENT?

WHAT?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

>> REALLY?

OKAY.

AS FAR AS RSV LAST YEAR PEAKED?

>> WE MAY HAVE TO RUN A CORRECTION, TED.

[LAUGHTER] >> I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS RSV.

WHO SHOULD GET IT?

>> MCC HAS THE WHOLE SHEET MOSTLY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE SMALLER KIDS.

AND SO THE VACCINE IS REALLY TARGETING KIDS.

BUT ADULTS CAN GET IT TOO.

AND SENIORS.

IT'S RECOMMENDED.

>> SENIORS ESPECIALLY I WOULD IMAGINE?

>> I HOPE I'M NOT MESSING THIS UP WITH PNEUMOCOCCAL.

>> LAST QUESTION ON THIS.

TRIPLE WITH THE RSV AND COVID AND THE FLU.

ARE WE EXPECTING THAT THIS WINTER?

>> I REALLY DOUBT IT.

YEAH, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT THAT DID HAPPEN THIS YEAR WHERE WE HAD THE COVID-19 SPIKE, WE HAD THE RSV WHICH WAS OFF THE CHARTS.

>> LAST QUESTION.

BEFORE WE GET -- THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE FOR COVID, HAVE THEY ALTERED IN ANY WAY HOW SOCIETY AND GENERAL POPULATION ARE REACTING TO THE RSV'S AND FLU AND COVID FOR THAT MATTER?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY -- I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

I GUESS WE'LL FIND OUT.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE JUST ON OBSERVATION SEEMS LIKE THIS COVID VACCINE IS COMPARTMENTALIZED AND PEOPLE -- THAT'S NOT TRANSLATING TO PEOPLE AGAINST THE INFLUENZA VACCINE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING FOR YEARS.

>> BUT CASES, THE CASELOADS OF THESE THREE THINGS, WERE THEY ALTERED BY RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE?

>> THIS LAST YEAR?

>> NO.

>> NOT THE ALL?

>> NO.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING.

>> LET'S GET TO SOMETHING WE BOTH KNOW IS TRUE.

IT LOOKS LIKE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS NOW AVAILABLE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTIONS?

>> CORRECT.

PEOPLE -- WOMEN WHO WANT TO GET ORAL BIRTH CONTROL CONTRACEPTIVES CAN GO TO THE PHARMACY AND THEY'LL HAVE TO FILL OUT A SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE AND THEN A DECISION ABOUT FILLING THAT PRESCRIPTION UNDER A STANDING ORDER FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ISSUING A STANDING ORDER THAT THE PHARMACIST WOULD BE WORKING UNDER.

SO IT'S NOT TOTALLY UNREGULATED.

AND THEN THE STATUTE PROVIDES AND THE PHARMACY RULES PROVIDE FOR A QUESTIONNAIRE THAT THE PHARMACIST WOULD LOOK AT BEFORE FILLING THAT PRESCRIPTION.

>> IN TERMS OF HEALTH PER SPETIVE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S -- THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS BECAUSE IT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPACE PREGNANCIES IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND GIVES THEM MORE CONTROL OVER THAT PART OF THEIR LIFE.

ON THE DOWNSIDE, I THINK THERE'S A CHANCE THAT SOME WOMEN MAY SKIP WHAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE GONE IN, AN ANNUAL WELL WOMAN CHECK, WHERE THIS WOULD HAVE NORMALLY GOT THAT PRESCRIPTION AND I HOPE NOT TOO MANY WOMEN DECIDE NOT TO GO IN FOR THAT ANNUAL VISIT.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THAT WILL HAPPEN IN SOME CASES, I THINK THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH RISKS IN THIS SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> THE COST, HOW IS THAT AFFECTED?

>> IT'S NOT.

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> WE'LL END IT RIGHT THERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE'LL LOOK AT A REPORT ON THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ARIZONA'S SENIOR POPULATION.

THE UNITED HEALTH FOUNDATION RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT STUDYING THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OLDER AMERICANS.

WE LOOK AT THE REPORT TONIGHT AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY AARP-SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA.

JOINING US NOW IS DR. ARCHANA DUBEY, UNITED HEALTH-CARE'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.

>> DOCTOR GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

AN ANNUAL REPORT ON SENIOR HEALTHCARE.

HOW IS IT MEASURED?

>> YES.

THIS IS THE 11TH EDITION SO FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS WE LOOKED BACK AT OVER 52 DIFFERENT MEASURES ACROSS DIFFERENT LOCATIONS LIKE THE CDC AND 22 DIFFERENT UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE LOOK AT HOW WELL OUR SENIORS ARE DOING.

MOST OF THESE MEASURES, SPECIFICALLY 40 MEASURES ARE 2021 AND BEYOND.

SO THEY'RE RATHER RECENT TO GIVE US THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AND ON HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF OUR SENIORS.

>> AND LOOKING AT THIS REPORT ARIZONA RANKING 30TH IN OVERALL HEALTH.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> ARIZONA DID RANK AT 30TH.

THERE ARE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AND A FEW OF THE STRENGTHS THAT WE SEE IN ARIZONA.

SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE DIDN'T DO THAT WELL WAS IN THE HIGH SUICIDE RATE LINKED TO HIGH LEVEL OF FIREARM DEATH AND OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS.

WE KNOW THAT SENIORS HAVE PAIN ISSUES LIKE WITH ARTHRITIS AND THIS LEADS TO OPIOIDISH EYES AND LEADS TO DEATHS.

MOST OF OUR SENIORS DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED PHYSICIAN THAT THEY'RE SEEING ON AN ONGOING BASIS AND HAVING MULTIPLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT WE ALSO FOUND IN THE CLINICAL OUTCOMES REPORT IN ARIZONA THAT WE DO NEED THAT CONSISTENT CLINICIAN.

AND THEN OF COURSE EVEN THOUGH MOST OF ARIZONA SENIORS DID WELL ON EXERCISE, BUT THE VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION WERE CHALLENGED AREAS.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS WHO HAVE DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY CORRELATES TO BETTER ACCESS TO CARE AND THEN ALSO LESS SOCIAL ISOLATION.

AND MUCH, MUCH HIGHER USE OF HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE CARE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY SOME GOOD AND SOME NOT SO GOOD.

DISPARITIES WHEN IT COMES TO RACE, GENDER, AGE?

DID WE SEE MUCH OF THAT?

>> THE AGE IS DEFINITELY THE MORE THE PERSON IS OLDER AND SENIOR SENIOR THEIR CONTINUOUS HEALTHCARE NEEDS BECOMES IMPORTANT&WE DID SEE THAT AGE-RELATED IMPACT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS OF POVERTY THAT'S THE OTHER THING AND POVERTY TRANSLATED INTO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ELEMENT AND THEN THE SUICIDAL RATE TOO.

>> SO, AGAIN, ARIZONA'S 30TH HERE.

AS FAR AS THE U.S.

NUMBERS EARLY DEATH RATE AMONG OLDER ADULTS INCREASED FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> 43% INCREASE IN THOSE RELATED DEATHS AND MOST OF THE DEATH RATE IS NOT COVID AS WE WOULD THINK, RIGHT?

YES, IT IS TRUE IN 2020 AND PRIOR COVID WAS A HUGE IMPACT SADLY.

BUT WE ARE SEEING MUCH, MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF DRUG DEATH.

>> AND LIVING IN POVERTY.

YOU MENTIONED INCOME AS FAR AS ARIZONA IS CONCERNED.

IN ARIZONA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY SENIORS LIVING IN POVERTY THAT NUMBER IS UP TOO.

>> IT'S ABOUT 10% IN OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY AND MUCH, MUCH HIGHER AND ABOUT 13% IN ARIZONA.

SO IT IS DEFINITELY RELATED.

BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY ON THE SAME VEIN, SILVER LINE FOOD INSECURITY GOT BETTER.

WE DID A GOOD JOB TO DELIVER HOME MEALS AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT SOCIAL DETERMINE INFORMANT OF HEALTH.

>> IT WAS A UNICORN KIND OF THING AS FAR AS STUDIES.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT GOING FROM HERE.

HAS COVID CHANGED THAT?

>> CARE HAS IMPROVED.

I COULD GO ON YOUR PHONE OR DO A VIRTUAL VISIT THROUGH THE PHONE OR COMPUTER WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOME AND IT'S CRITICAL ESPECIALLY IN A SENIOR WHO IS HAVING ABILITY ISSUES OR MULTIPLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS OR EVEN NEEDING TO GET MEDICATIONS DELIVERED AT HOME.

THESE ARE POSITIVE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED DURING THE COVID TIME.

>> NOT ENOUGH DEDICATED HEALTH PROVIDERS IN ARIZONA.

AS FAR AS HOME HEALTH NATIONALLY, GETTING BETTER OVERALL?

IS THERE A WAY FOR ARIZONA TO CATCH UP?

>> YES, ACTUALLY ARIZONA HOME HEALTH AND ALSO HOSPICE CARE DID RATHER WELL.

HAVING SAID THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE PROVIDERS AND SENIORS HAVE NOT CONSISTENTLY KEPT UP WITH ONE DEDICATED PROVIDER, LIKE A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR GENERAL DOCTOR.

>> LAST QUESTION, WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THIS REPORT?

>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE POSITIVES AND REALLY HELP IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE AND ALSO LOOK INTO THE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IMPACT THE SUICIDAL RATE.

SO IMPROVING OF HEALTH PRESENCE AND EARLY SCREENING AND EARLY GATHERING THE DATA SO WE CAN INTERVENE THAT WOULD HELP A SENIOR TO DO BETTER AND HAVING TO HIGHLIGHT ACCESS TO FIREARMS AND OPIOID USE.

SEW WE CAN TREAT PAIN AND THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN RELYING ON THE OPIOID USE.

>> VERY GOOD INFORMATION.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

A NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY STUDENT WAS LIVING A TYPICAL COLLEGE LIFE UNTIL HE SUFFERED A RARE AFFLICTION THAT REQUIRED A HEART TRANSPLANT.

HIS CASE WAS ONLY THE 4TH-HEART TRANSPLANT PERFORMED BY BANNER - UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER PHOENIX'S ADVANCED HEART FAILURE PROGRAM.

JOINING US NOW THREE YEARS AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANT, IS THAT NAU COLLEGE STUDENT, ANDREW HASQUET.

WE ALSO WELCOME BANNER PHYSICIAN-EXECUTIVE, DR. FRANCISCO ARABIA.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

ANDREW, I'LL GET TO YOU BUT DOCTOR, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

DOES BANNER UNIVERSITY CENTER'S HEART FAILURE PROGRAM.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> STARTING 2017 THEY BROUGHT EXPERTS IN THE AREA OF HEART FAILURE, CARDIOLOGISTS TO START A PROGRAM IN 2017 THAT THEY DEVELOP INTO A MORE ADVANCED PROGRAM OFFERING ARTIFICIAL HEARTS AND THEN IN 2020 STARTED OFFERING HEART TRANSPLANTTATION.

>> INDEED CASES LIKE ANDREW'S.

>> YES.

>> FIRST OF ALL, ANDREW, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

>> I WAS JUST WORKING OUT ONE DAY WITH MY ROOMMATE AND STARTED HAVING THIS WEIRD PRESSURE ON MY CHEST.

DIDN'T REALLY THINK TOO MUCH OF IT.

TRIED TO WORK OUT AND COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE WORKOUT SO I WENT HOME AND PAIN SUBSIDED AND CAME BACK 10 TIMES WORSE WHERE I COULD HARD ARE ALY TALK.

>> FOUND OUT 70 OF YOUR HEART MUSCLE HAD GONE.

>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THE PROCESS FROM FINDING THAT OUT AND LEADING UP TO THE TRANSPLANT WHAT WAS THAT LIKE IS THIS >> EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FULLY PROCESS EVERYTHING.

I HAD THE NORMAL EMOTIONS.

ANXIOUS AND A LITTLE WORRIED BUT NOTHING EVER REALLY OVERCAME ME.

I JUST KIND OF TRIED TO GET TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH.

>> WHEN YOU'RE PUT ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST A WEEK LATER?

>> JUST ABOUT A WEEK LATER.

>> DOCTOR, IS THAT TYPICAL?

>> IT'S TYPICAL FOR SOMEONE WHO IS VERY HIGH UP ON THE LIST.

AND HE WAS ON THE WAITING LIST.

>> WHY WAS HE HIGH UP?

>> BECAUSE OF HIS CONDITION.

HIS HEART WAS FAILING FASTER.

>> AND HE HAD THE TRANSPLANT.

RECOVERY PROCESS, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> IT WAS QUICK TOO.

I THINK 3, 4 HOURS HAVE A THE SURGERY THEY HAD ME STANDING UP AND WALKING TO THE SEAT TO MY ROOM AND GET THE BLOOD FLOWING A LITTLE BIT.

IMMEDIATELY I FELT 100 TIMES BETTER THAN I HAD.

FELT NORMAL AGAIN.

>> PEOPLE GET THEIR APEN DISES THEY'RE NOT WALKING AROUND THAT QUICKLY.

IS IT UNUSUAL TO BE MOVING LIKE THAT?

>> IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL DURING THE OPERATION AND THE PATIENT IS YOUNG AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING FINE, YES, IT'S NORMAL WITH 4-6 HOURS.

>> AS FAR AS THE OPERATION AND PROCEDURE IS CONCERNED WHAT WENT ON?

>> WELL, WE -- ONCE WE WERE IN THE OPERATING ROOM, WE HAD A DONOR ALREADY SELECTED.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE LOCATION.

WE WENT AHEAD AND PROCEEDED WITH THE OPERATION, OPENED THE CHEST AND GOT EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO THE BYPASS MACHINE AND ONCE THE DONOR HAD ARRIVED IN THE OPERATING ROOM WE WENT ON BYPASS AND REMOVED ANDREW'S HEART AND WENT AND PLACED THE NEW ONE.

>> THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED AS QUICKLY AS IT DID -- BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE HE PRACTICALLY DOESN'T REMEMBER IT.

IT WENT BY SO FAST.

DID THAT HELP THE ENTIRE PROCESS?

>> IT DOES.

I HAVE SEEN IT DOESN'T LET THE PATIENT THINK ABOUT IT TOO LONG OR THE FAMILY THINK AND COME UP WITH ALL POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS.

SO, SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER WHEN IT'S VERY FAST.

>> HOW LONG AFTER THE TRANSPLANT -- YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING UP AND MOVING ALONG.

HOW LONG BEFORE YOU COULD START MOVE AROUND?

>> THEY PROBABLY WANTED ME TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER THAN I DID.

SO 5, 6 WEEKS I STARTED DOING REHAB LIGHT WALKING AND GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND I THINK 8 WEEKS AFTER I WAS RUNNING ON THE TREADMILL.

>> YEAH.

I FIND IT FASCINATING.

YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S HEART IN YOUR CHEST.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> HONESTLY, I KIND OF FORGET ABOUT IT SOMETIMES BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SO NORMAL AGAIN.

LIKE EVERYONE ONCE IN A WHILE I REMEMBER, OH, YEAH, THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

IT'S SURREAL STILL.

>> IS THAT A TYPICAL RESPONSE FROM HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENTS?

>> YES.

BUT MANY PATIENTS SOME TIME LATER THEY WANT TO GET TO KNOW WHO WAS THE DONOR.

>> I WOULD THINK SO.

>> USUALLY THEY HAVE TO WAIT ONE YEAR.

THEY CAN WRITE A LETTER AND REQUEST A MEETING WITH THE FAMILY AND THE LETTER IS SENT TO THE FAMILY AND THEY DECIDE YES OR NO.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN?

>> OH DEFINITELY YEAH.

>> WHAT IS LIFE LIKE YOU FOR YOU NOW?

>> LIKE IT WAS BEFORE WORKING OUT AND HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND DOING KIND OF WHATEVER I WANT AND DON'T HAVE TOO MANY LIMITATIONS.

>> DO YOU FEEL BETTER IN GENERAL OVERALL THAN YOU DID EVEN BEFORE THE STKEPBLT STKEPBLT /-* STKEPBLT INCIDENT OR IS IT HARD TO TELL?

>> I CAN'T NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE.

I FEEL A LOT BETTER THAN THE PERIOD IN BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> MR. WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM ANDREW'S STORY?

>> THAT IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE NUMBER ONE.

AND THEN THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET HELP TO BE ABLE TO TRAY TO RETURN BACK TO NORMAL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE ANDREW HAS DONE JUST THAT.

ANDREW AND DOCTOR FROM BANNER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF BUT ESPECIALLY TO YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.