Stav and Abby: Best Bits: Recent Episodes
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With Caitlyn Jenner being a touch point in the news recently, we reached out to the Brisbane Gender Clinic – an organisation helping the Transgender community locally with support in individuals own transitions – to gain a greater understanding of how someone begins to cope and understand their need for change. We introduce to you Parker, a female to male transgender person. This is his story.
Slapchat with Stav and Abby reveals a little something about Redfoo co-star relationships on Dancing with the Stars.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTENT MAY BE CONFRONTING. LISTENER DISCRECTION IS ADVISED.
With the Death Penalty in the news lately, Stav & Abby wanted to hear from someone who’s job it is, is to carry out the final punishment. They had a chance to talk to Jerry Givens, a former executioner from Virginia USA, who while being responsible for the deaths of 62 people, now has changed his position on capital punishment.
Samantha was only three when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This brave little girl has undergone endless hospital stays, regular lumbar punctures, chemotherapy and its gruelling side effects, radiation treatment and a bone marrow transplant. She also knows what it’s like to spend Christmas in hospital, to be in isolation for weeks at a time, and not to be able to play with other children.
Willow has an allergy to dairy milk protein and multiple other allergies. She was admitted to RCH soon after birth and spent 2 1/2 months straight in RCH. So far, she has only had 27 days at home.
Camryn was walking back from the water with her mum, Nicole, who was a few metres ahead of her. They had just set up camp with some other families on Stradbroke Island. Suddenly Camryn started screaming. Nicole thought it was a spider or stinger of some kind... she rushed over, felt the heat, and realised what had happened. An ambulance was called, treatment given and then they were rushed via Marine Rescue to RCH. Camryn has had surgery, skin grafts, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, with many more grafts and checkups to come for years. She also wears a compression garment 24/7 and will need to continue this for at least two years.
When Millie was 15 months old, she was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition that weakens the body’s muscles and makes it impossible to stand or walk, and difficult to breathe. It’s the breathing weakness that can often have fatal consequences. Despite her many challenges, Millie is a happy and bright little girl who gets into life with energy and enthusiasm.
On 3 August 2012 Charlotte was diagnosed with standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after undergoing a bone marrow procedure. Charlotte spent one month in the oncology ward where she immediately began chemotherapy, but after four weeks of initial treatment her family was given the devastating news that Charlotte’s leukaemia would require further aggressive treatment. Charlotte underwent a transplant and then spent 100 days in the transplant unit, over twice as long as the usual six weeks for most patients. Charlotte is now in remission and enjoying being a little girl again.
"At her 18-month health check up, the GP was concerned that she wasn’t yet speaking, and wanted to have her hearing checked.Tests showed that Paige had blocked hearing on both sides. She could still hear deep in her brain, but because of the blockages, she couldn’t process what she was hearing. Paige has botox every four months in her calves and hamstrings, then a rest, then 3-4 weeks of serial castings on her legs, and then a 6-8 week block of weekly physio. Paige can walk with a walker, but only short distances. She can’t walk without it as she walks too high on her toes and has no balance. She goes long distances in a wheelchair. "
Finn, usually a happy little boy, was unsettled and clingy with a high temperature, before mum Sarah noticed little dots on him. She took him straight to Redcliffe Hospital and he was then taken to RCH by ambulance, after doctors stablised him. Finn spent time in ICU and was a very sick little boy. He lost his leg from the knee down, his other foot, a hand, and some fingers. He is having rehab and is again a happy little boy.
In January of 2013, Scott was diagnosed with osteosarcoma -- bone cancer. He had a large tumour on his arm and shoulder area, and tumours in his lungs. In March that year he had his arm, shoulder blade and collar bone amputated to prevent the spread of the tumour. He then underwent chemo for his lung tumours. Scott sadly passed away in March 2014
Diagnosed Feb 2012 just after his 14th Birthday with DSRCT, a very rare and aggressive sarcoma. Main tumor was in his abdomen with mets to liver and possibly lung. He is currently 1 of just 2 children in Australia. 6 months of intense chemo, 20 doses of whole abdomen radiation and a 12 hour surgery that could only be done in Sydney, achieved NED which lasted about 6 months before relapse in the abdomen and liver. Currently tweaking treatment at the moment to find what is tolerable. Spot in abdomen is stable, but at last scan liver disease is continuing to grow. As you can see from the pic, he has never let cancer dictate or slow him down and all treatment options are considered around his ability to keep racing!
Ethan was born with multiple medical complexities --verterbrae, anus (born without one), kidneys, trachea, limbs, heart defects. Acquired brain injury during surgeries and is learning to walk and talk again. Eyesight returning.
Jai & and his younger brother, Eli both suffer from acquired communicating hydrocephalus (excess fluid on the brain). They also have multiple food allergies and cannot absorb nutrients from food, so require daily feeding via tube. Eli is also autistic.
When Hilary was in Grade 3, she started to feel tired and unwell much of the time. She lost weight, vomited, but still had no temperature. After she collapsed one night and ended up in RCH, she was diagnosed with diabetes. Since then, she and her family have learned to manage the disease and the complications it can bring. Hilary also has Coeliac's Disease, which further complicates her diabetes. She was one of the first patients to trial the RCH pump program which automatically calculates and administers insulin. She is now a university student.
On the 21st January, 2008 Melinda took Sharde to Ipswich hospital with pain in her hips. Days later she was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Months of full on treatment and hospital stays later, and Sharde went to maintenance and chemotherapy at home, with frequent checks at RCH. Sharde is now cancer free after 99 admissions and 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy and treatment. She has put on weight, grown taller, and is learning to run again. The running will take some time after all her body and muscles have been through. She is at high risk of relapse, so is coming regularly to RCH for blood tests and checkups. She wrote a letter to Banksia Outpatients to thank them for not giving up on her when she was sick, and for making her happy when she was sad. She is very keen to help raise money for research and awareness.
Jordan and Aidan were both diagnosed with CF from birth. They have multiple tablets, medications and physio sessions each day, as well as regular "tunes ups" in RCH. They have both had long and regular admissions. Jordan now has a feeding pump to help him gain weight and grow.
After many months to trying to find out why Liam, since birth, was failing to thrive, was covered in rashes, and vomiting, he was diagnosed with IPEX syndrome where basically, his gastrointestinal tract was attacked his own immune system. Liam was fed by a tube, underwent treatment similar to cancer, and was slowly being negatively affected by the drugs which at the same time were saving his life. After a bone marrow transplant, Liam is now eating, going to school and is symptom-free from a condition his parents were told was terminal.
"Jess developed auto-immune hepatitis and primary schlerosing cholangitis which affects the bile ducts when she was just 15 months old. At age three, Jessica jumped off a low chair at kindy, breaking her back in two places. Doctors said the combination of her diseases, plus the medications needed to control them, had lead to her developing osteoporosis. These conditions meant that her own body started to reject her liver. She had her first transplant in 2007, after waiting around 18 months and being tube fed. She also had post transplant lymphoma and has since had a second liver transplant. Jess is now doing well, is back at school and off most medications."
"Meg’s first two rounds of intense chemotherapy reduced the mass in her lungs and chest by 70% but active cells remained. This meant radiation and more chemotherapy. Meg also had two further rounds of chemotherapy, which finished on 29/6/12. The mass was treated until it was dead as there was also the chance it would spread into the bone marrow and blood. Meg was very sick but remained positive and has really encouraged the younger oncology patients. Meg is now on three-monthly checkups and will have continual scans. These will decrease over time, but she will be checked for the rest of her life"
"Jack cam to RCH as a tiny babsy and was in ICU, HDU and Robertson ward for many months. He has an omphalocele (organis outside his body) and had renal failure soon after birth. Little Jack was in palliative care and not expected to live, but a kidney transplant before Christmas last year changed everything. He is now eating, is off oxygen and many medications, and is trying to walk, talk and get into everything he possibly can! He will have rehab, checkups, treatment and other surgeries for many years to come."
"When Tracy was pregnant with Mace, a routine ultrasound at Emerald Hospital it showed that Mace had Gastroschisis. She moved to Brisbane for observation. At 30 weeks, it became clear that Mace’s bowel had not developed properly and he was vomiting in the womb. Mace was born at 35 weeks and had his first surgery at just six hours old. He spent the next three months in the neo-natal ward after doctors discovered he had only 20cm of small bowel (usually a new born have more than 2 metres). Since then he has undergone many surgeries to clear obstructions and is hooked up to TPN 14 hours a day. He has regular checkups at RCH "
Caitlyn has cystic fibrosis, a respiratory disease that has kept her in and out of hospital since she was born. In 2012 she was diagnosed with CF related diabetes and spent four months in hospital. She was struggling to gain weight, so had a feeding peg inserted surgically.So far this year, she has had 2 admissions, of 2 weeks each. She misses a lot of school but is a happy and energetic girl and keen to help out with the B105 appeal.
George Sheppard dishes the dirt on Ellen after performing their hit song 'Geronimo' on the popular show.
Just how fit are Labby and Stav? The boys headed to CBJ The Health Club to see how fit or unfit they really are. The results surprised everyone!
Abby laid down the challenge to Labby of running with boobs. He donned the 14D sports bra and took off trying to beat Stav's practice run of under 31 mins. Did he (and the boobs) survive?
Labby and Stav are running for a heavily pregnant Abby in this year's Bridge to Brisbane but Abby wants them to know what it really feels like to be a girl. Cue the fake boobs!