Joe Lafferty

In light of recent reports about Stevie Wonder and Colleen Henry, sister of journalist Ed Henry, upcoming organ transplant surgeries this story couldn't be timed any better. Joe Lafferty was dealt a hand in this life like no other I've ever heard. With grace and a gentle determination he's triumphed. You want to be motivated? Feeling sorry for yourself and your problems? You need to listen to this story.

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SHR # 2372 :: A Story About Faith And The Fight For Life

Show Notes:

[5:00] Joe was a competitive swimmer at a young age.

• He had a swollen neck at the age of 8. This turned out to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• He was given a 70% chance of survival and underwent 2.5 years of chemo therapy.
• His dad urged him to remain active.
• Around this time, he also developed pancreatitis.

[7:55] Was his thyroid affected?

• More recently Hoe had a growth on his thyroid and had to have it removed.

[9:30] Joe became an insulin dependent diabetic.

• He played college football through it all and ended up working in sports.

[10:54] He got a staph infection in his left eye. It had to be removed.

[15:55] Heart damage from ionizing radiation.

[18:55] Joe’s kidney issues.

• He developed end stage renal failure.
• His kidney function went from 54% to 14 %.
• He was placed on dialysis and a renal diet.

[32:50] Doctors found that Joe had inconsistencies in his heart workup.

• He had two leaky heart valves.
• He ended up having heart surgery.
• After surgery, he flatlined.
• He revived and was placed in a medically induced coma for six days.
• 34 days after, Joe was coaching on the sidelines at a Dallas cowboys’ game.

[48:00] Joe had plans to end his life.

• He didn’t want someone to die so that he could get a kidney.
• He reached out for help, and it worked!
• His book, Justin Time is banging down the doors to encourage organ donations.
• His donor, Justin, died in a car accident while attempting to protect his sister.

[53:50] The only organ that couldn’t be donated was Justin’s heart.

• Justin was truly a kid that lived to make others’ lives better.

[1:03:07] President Trump signed an executive order to reverse the numbers of renal failures in the U.S.

• Living people can donate organs as well.
• Liver donors’ livers will regenerate.
• 22 people/day die waiting on the transplant list.
• UPMC is encouraging people to get off of the waiting list for livers and come to them.

[1:08:50] Vigil care actually inhibits recovery.

[1:10:03] Chronic kidney disease.

• Baking soda can keep chronic kidney damage from progressing at 600 mg 3x/day.
• Table salt has been shown to do the same.
• Resticting minerals in the dieat actually forces the kidneys to work harder.
• Sodium lowers viscosity of the blood.
• Tailormade pharmacy is making it possible for TB4 to be legally prescribed.
• TB4 reverses fibrotic build up in the kidneys.

[1:18:30] Joe’s sleep cycle.

• He has woken up at 5 a.m. since the day he was born.
• He loathes the need for sleep.
• He takes a 3-4 hour nap at least once a week.

[1:22:12] Joe comments on Dr. Scott Stevenson’s thoughts on extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation.

• You have to enjoy the journey. It is not enough to just keep your eye on the end goal.

[1:25:40] Who is Joe’s father?

• Not very optimistic.
• He is a realist.

Show Transcript SHR # 2372 :: A Story About Faith And The Fight For Life