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Life & Times Transcript
5/22/07 Val Zavala>> Tonight on Life and Times -- It's spread by fire, earthquakes and dry dusty winds, three things southern Californians know well. But how much do we know about Valley Fever? Dr. Royce Johnson>> I had an individual who came here to interview for a position from the Midwest who had never been in California. When he came back in the days when we had a skin test, he turned positive, so he had actually caught the disease in the one day he was here. Val Zavala>> And then, the animals boarded two by two, by there's room for everyone on board this enchanting Noah's Ark. It's all straight ahead on tonight's Life and Times. Announcer>> Life and Times is made possible through the generous support of the L.K. Whittier Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life by supporting innovative endeavors in the fields of medicine, health, science and education. And by a generous grant from Jim and Anne Rothenberg. With additional support for Life and Times from The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Val Zavala>> It lives in dry, dusty climates and, in some rare cases, it can be fatal. It's a fungus called Valley Fever, Valley as in the Central Valley. There's not yet a vaccine and Bakersfield has been especially hard hit. That's where Sam Louie went to speak to some victims who've suffered some devastating effects. Sam Louie>> Bakersfield sits at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley about a hundred twelve miles north of Los Angeles. It's known for its oil, agriculture and ranching. But now Bakersfield has become known for something more troubling, a respiratory disease dubbed Valley Fever. In some rare cases, it can leave a person disabled or even lead to death. In California, Kern County is considered the hub of Valley Fever with more than sixty percent of the cases diagnosed during the past fifteen years. Every Tuesday at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, Valley Fever patients come in for their checkups. Maria Mendez>> "Actually, he's talking a little bit more, but it's like whispering." Sam Louie>> On this day, Maria Mendez brought in her forty-three year old husband, Carlos Mendez, to see Dr. Johnson. Dr. Royce Johnson>> "But he does seem to understand what you're saying better?" Maria Mendez>> "He understands everything I tell him. I ask him questions and he'll answer me with movement sometimes." Sam Louie>> Carlos caught a severe case of Valley Fever. His wife believes he got it while working at a fruit storage facility three years ago. Maria Mendez>> They had to put tubes in him because they said he had gone into a coma. He was like that in ICU for like two days. After the two days, he woke up and he woke up like this. Sam Louie>> Carlos is now bound to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and has trouble speaking. Maria Mendez>> Now that I think about it, it's kind of hard because I have to see him every day the way he is and sometimes it is kind of dispiriting to see him not recuperate so fast like before. Sam Louie>> So how do you catch Valley Fever? Valley Fever is a fungus that lives in the soil most often in hot, dry climates. But the seeds of the fungus, known as spores, can travel across hundreds of miles. You get it by inhaling the spores. Dr. Royce Johnson specializes in treating patients with Valley Fever. Dr. Royce Johnson>> Well, Valley Fever is an infectious disease, but not a contagious disease, caused by inhaling the spores of Coccidioidomycosis, a fungus that dwells in the soil throughout the southwest, but most particularly here in the southern San Joaquin. Sam Louie>> More than half of the people who breath in the spores don't get sick at all. Others develop symptoms similar to a cold or the flu, but there are those on the other end of the spectrum, a small percentage, less than one percent, who come down with a more severe form of the disease. And Bakersfield residents aren't the only ones at risk. In Los Angeles County, there were two hundred confirmed cases last year. Dr. Royce Johnson>> The area probably with the highest rate is the Antelope Valley and then, as you move down off the mountains towards the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita and that area, you certainly can have higher rates than that. Sam Louie>> Dr. Jonathan Fielding is the Director of Public Health for Los Angeles County. Dr. Jonathan Fielding>> You can stir it up from the soil so it gets into the air. That's really the issue. Not that it's going to go a long distance, but if you have a significant wind, for example, anything that disturbs this soil has the potential of then putting up into the air these spores which you can then inhale. Sam Louie>> Other events like earthquakes and fires can also disrupt the soil and send the spores flying over hundreds of miles of terrain. People who work or play outside may be more susceptible to catching Valley Fever. Dr. Royce Johnson>> I had an individual who came here to interview for a position from the Midwest who had never been in California. When he came back in the days when we had a skin test, he turned positive. So he had actually caught the disease in the one day he was here and there are lots of stories like that. Sam Louie>> Forty-three year old Edwin Mitchell caught Valley Fever in 2005. Today he needs a cane to walk and a neck brace for support. Mitchell says he lost fifty-five pounds and has yet to regain enough strength to return to work. Edwin Mitchell>> Very slowly it hit me, but it hit me hard where it just took everything out of me where I couldn't do nothing. It took all my weight, so I think I was weighing about a hundred twenty-three. Sam Louie>> He believes he caught Valley Fever after working the past year at an oil field. Edwin Mitchell>> I was always outdoors. In the oil field, you're always outdoors. You don't come in until it's time to go home. A lot of dust, mountains and all that. Like when the wind blows, a lot of dust blows, so, you know, that too. Sam Louie>> So to keep his condition in check, Mitchell takes oral medications and must also get a weekly anti-fungal drug given intravenously. Edwin Mitchell>> I worried about dying because the doctor told me, well, you know, if you don't take care of this, you can die. Dr. Royce Johnson>> There is no real way to prevent catching it that's practical other than a vaccine, which unfortunately we don't have at this point. [Film Clip] Sam Louie>> At the Ranch Market in Bakersfield, volunteers talk to customers about the Valley Fever Vaccine Project of the Americas. Mike Cooper is the President. Mike Cooper>> We're giving some medical information if they need it with regards to clinics and doctors they can see if they require treatment for it. Sam Louie>> The organization is also trying to get four million dollars in federal funding for a vaccine. Mike Cooper>> Now with the modern technology and everything and the improvements in molecular biology, we're on the verge of having a vaccine for Valley Fever now. Dr. Jonathan Fielding>> Well, I'd love to see a vaccine develop. Having said that, there are a lot of other pressing priorities, so the question is, would I invest a hundred million dollars, two hundred million dollars in that rather than drug treatments or AIDS programs or treatments for other problems? That's a different kind of question. Sam Louie>> But Dr. Fielding says the reality is that a vaccine is still hampered by funding issues and the low profile of this disease. Dr. Jonathan Fielding>> It's a relatively rare problem compared to many others. If you look at most vaccines today, they're for common problems or, in a few cases where diseases which are known to be fatal if they're not treated, the issue of rabies, as an example. Cheryl Youngblood>> Well, if they get a vaccine, one shot and my husband would be alive. If the first vaccine worked, none of this would be happening for me. Sam Louie>> Cheryl Youngblood lost her husband, Mike Youngblood, in January of 2001. This is a picture of Mike before he caught Valley Fever. This is a picture of him taken just two weeks before he passed away. Cheryl Youngblood>> He had lost over a hundred pounds. He was six foot tall and weighed under a hundred forty pounds, so he was literally skin and bones. Sam Louie>> When Mike was first diagnosed with Valley Fever, Cheryl and her family were unaware of the disease and its deadly potential. Cheryl Youngblood>> We were all excited, which was stupid because we thought it's only Valley Fever. He'll get well and take medicine and that will be done. Sam Louie>> After taking drugs for treatment, Cheryl says her husband's health improved for a short time, but then started to fail. Cheryl Youngblood>> He just went downhill. He started having strokes. He lost excessive amounts of weight. He had bad skin rashes and he finally literally faded away mentally and physically and was gone in January of 2001. He was forty-nine. Sam Louie>> As for Carlos, his condition has improved, but Dr. Johnson doesn't think it will improve enough to allow Carlos to go back to work or to live independently. Dr. Royce Johnson>> "And he became brain-damaged in all that process, so he has trouble talking and he has trouble walking." Sam Louie>> Cheryl is hoping a vaccine will be developed soon so that no one else will have to suffer like she has. Cheryl Youngblood>> How easy would that be to get one shot and never have to worry about Valley Fever? I mean, it's like polio. We don't worry about it anymore. Sam Louie>> But until a vaccine is ready, doctors will do their best to treat those with Valley Fever, and volunteers with the Valley Vaccine Project of the Americas will continue to get the word out to the public about a tiny spore that can be devastating. I'm Sam Louie for Life and Times. Announcer>> Kcet.org is the place to look for the very latest on Life and Times. You'll find previews of upcoming stories, transcripts and audio of past episodes and links to some of our most interesting features. Just go to kcet.org, scroll down the page and click on "Life and Times". Val Zavala>> They're only baby teeth, so you don't have to take care of them, right? Well, that's a fallacy too many mothers believe in and that's why so many young children have mouths full of cavities. But you may not realize that poor dental health can also delay vital medical treatment. Hena Cuevas has the story of one little girl who had no time to lose. Hena Cuevas>> When three year old Lexie was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, it became a race against time. Laura Yanez>> She had a tumor on her pelvis and it was cancer and it went to her lungs. Hena Cuevas>> Doctors told Laura Yanez that her daughter's cancer had already spread so much that Lexie had to begin radiation and chemotherapy as soon as possible. So she was sent to see oncologist, Paula Groncy. Dr. Groncy told Lexie's mother something she never expected to hear. Before treatment could begin, the little girl first needed to see, of all things, a dentist. Laura Yanez>> We were really surprised because we didn't think it would interfere with her getting chemo or anything because her teeth needed to be fixed. Hena Cuevas>> The problem? The intense treatments for cancer were going to weaken Lexie's immune system. Dr. Paula Groncy>> When she gets very low blood counts, she can get infected simply from germs from her own body such as the mouth. For that reason, we wanted to make sure that her teeth and her mouth were in good clinical condition. Hena Cuevas>> At Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach where Lexie is being treated, every child diagnosed with cancer is referred to an in-house pediatric dentist. Lexie was assigned to Dr. Afsaneh Matin. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> "How big can you open? Let me see all the way." Hena Cuevas>> Her baby teeth were in such bad shape they needed extensive dental work. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> Other than two of her teeth which have light fillings on them, everything else is covered with metal caps, and it was because her teeth were so badly decayed that we were not able to fix them by putting things in the teeth, but rather we had to cover them. Hena Cuevas>> This type of dental work takes time and, in the worst cases, can sometimes postpone the cancer treatment when every day counts. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> It can become a potential delay and, on occasion, we have had situations where even chemotherapy had to be delayed at least by days if not weeks so we could get the oral condition under control. Hena Cuevas>> For Dr. Groncy, this additional step taking care of bad teeth makes her job much more difficult. Dr. Paula Groncy>> So we do put off dental treatment if it is extensive such as extractions. A different case is for radiation therapy and that has to be postponed until dental treatment has been completed. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> It's all interconnected and any minor issue in the mouth can become complicated, can cause pain and discomfort, and can lead to more serious infections and systemic problems. Dr. Robin Su>> "He's getting a lot of grownup permanent teeth." Hena Cuevas>> According to the California Dental Association, sponsor of this free dental clinic, tooth decay is the single most common disease in children. Dr. Robin Su>> "Do you drink a lot of soda pop, honey?" >> "No." Dr. Robin Su>> "Okay." Hena Cuevas>> Robin Su is one of the volunteer dentists. Dr. Robin Su>> I've noticed that about fifty percent of the children today actually require dental work and immediate dental work because they have cavities. "You need to take care of it as soon as possible or else she could get what is called a baby root canal." Hena Cuevas>> What Dr. Su has seen today is close to what a recent study of California children found. Nearly half of those entering kindergarten already have cavities. Dr. Robin Su>> "How often are you brushing your teeth now?" >> "Not that often." Dr. Robin Su>> "Okay, try, sweetheart, in the morning and at night." Hena Cuevas>> And the primary cause for these high numbers is the same as it's always been: eating too many sweets. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> Anything that can be broken down into sugar in the mouth is potentially a source or a contributing factor in causing dental decay and, if you combine that with poor oral hygiene, then you have the recipe for major dental issues. Hena Cuevas>> And it's not just eating sweets and drinking sodas. There may be another contributing factor and that is drinking bottled water. Why? Well, according to the American Dental Association, the water in this bottle contains very low levels of a key ingredient in the fight against cavities in young children and that is fluoride, which is found in abundant quantities in tap water. To get a decent dose of fluoride, dentists recommend drinking both bottled and tap water. But it's more than just what you eat and drink. Parents also need to get children in the habit of brushing their teeth. How early should they begin? Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> As soon as the first tooth comes in. They don't have to floss and brush and get, you know, super stressed about it, but as soon as teeth come in, they're at risk of developing infections. Hena Cuevas>> Lexie's mother says she's tried to get her daughter into a routine, but it hasn't been easy. Laura Yanez>> It's hard to make her brush her teeth because she doesn't want to, and she drinks a lot of soda. Hena Cuevas>> However, to continue with her cancer treatment, they have to cut the soda to make sure she doesn't get additional cavities, so Lexie was given a new toothbrush and instructions on how to brush. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> "So make sure you go around every tooth, little circles, and clean every single tooth because even though they're covered now, the food can still stick to them and cause gum problems and still decay because she has some teeth that are not covered fully." Hena Cuevas>> Lexie's mother knows that getting Lexie to brush regularly will be a struggle. So if she doesn't like to brush her teeth, how are you going to get her to brush her teeth? Laura Yanez>> Bribe her (laughter). Tell her we'll give her something if she does it, you know. Hena Cuevas>> But in the middle of our interview, holding her new toothbrush, Lexie interrupted us. Lexie>> "I want to brush my teeth." Laura Yanez>> "You want to brush your teeth?" Lexie>> "Yeah." Hena Cuevas>> Following her mother's instructions, Lexie began to clean. Laura Yanez>> "Now look at yourself in the mirror. Up and down, yeah." Hena Cuevas>> Dr. Matin says parents need to take a more active role in their kids' oral health. Dr. Afsaneh Matin>> Good oral habits and hygiene starts early and we'll do our share to take care of them, but we expect parents to do their share of preventing it because we can help treat, but we can't really prevent. It's up to the parents. Hena Cuevas>> For now, Lexie will continue to get radiation and chemotherapy to help fight her cancer, although Dr. Groncy says her chances for a full recovery are small. Dr. Paula Groncy>> Lexie had a very highly malignant type of cancer and, unfortunately, very soon after she completed her initial therapy, the cancer came back. Hena Cuevas>> Right now, though, Lexie is focusing on discovering just how much fun brushing her teeth can be. Laura Yanez>> "You going to brush your tongue?" Lexie>> "It tickles." Laura Yanez>> "Okay." Hena Cuevas>> I'm Hena Cuevas for Life and Times. Announcer>> To send a comment or a question to our program, you can reach us by mail at this address: Life and Times 4401 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90027 You can also call our viewer comment line (323) 953-5555) or contact us the fast way by e-mail at kcet.org. Val Zavala>> It's been five years in the making and now the Skirball Center has brought to life the story of Noah's Ark in a way that it's never been told before. This is the entrance to a unique experience, Noah's Ark, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. It's designed with children in mind, but anyone with an imagination will enjoy eight thousand square feet of this marvelous menagerie. Visitors can explore, touch, climb, build and, most of all, pick up a message especially relevant to southern California, one of the most diverse cultures on the planet. The Ark was the dream of Skirball's CEO and founding president, Uri Herscher. He wanted to convey themes of hardship, community and triumph, but he didn't know exactly how. Uri Herscher>> Frankly, it became concrete when a remarkable board member introduced me to his Noah's Ark collection which he had been collecting for decades and to numerous children's books in various languages and arks created in different cultures. That's when I became aware that Noah's Ark is a story that's told in at least four hundred fifty different cultures throughout the globe. Then I knew we had a good idea. Val Zavala>> The Ark begins as it does in the Bible, with a storm. Uri Herscher>> So we have wind, we have rain and we have lightning, so let's demonstrate that. [Film Clip] Uri Herscher>> We could do this all day (laughter). Storms? We all have storms in our lives. We all yearn. All human beings yearn for shelter and they yearn for a community that knows one another, not a ghettoized community. So this Ark is meant to be "Welcome everyone. Get out of your ghettos and let's get to know one another." Val Zavala>> Next step? Loading the animals into the Ark. Uri Herscher>> These animals were created by the children of LA's BEST and every child painted the animal, put their name and the grade. Then the children come here and this is their favorite activity and, with their own hands, they're actually loading the Ark two by two. I must admit, at this moment, I am a fourth grader and I am enjoying this and I don't want to stop. Val Zavala>> There are more than three hundred animals, many of them made with reused materials like rope, mops or belts. A team of creative artists, puppeteers and architects worked together to bring the Ark to life. With the animals on board, it's time to step inside. Uri Herscher>> So this is a place in the Ark where everybody begins to get to know each other, feel safer and talk with one another and touch the animals and play with the animals. This is just another way for you to participate and see that giraffe moving. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> Everything is meant to be touched and played with, even this ark within the Ark. This is beautiful. Uri Herscher>> For those of us who may have missed having fun with these are able to do so at this time. Just bring your children in and expose it. Val Zavala>> Do any of these disappear (laughter)? Those little hands? Those little pockets? It's so tempting. Uri Herscher>> We have a major supply of these, so if one of these little animals disappear, we make them reappear and we hope that whoever might have taken them home will be enjoying them. [Film Clip] Uri Herscher>> We're now walking through a bridge from one part of the Ark into another part of the Ark, so pretend as though it's been stormy for twenty days and these are now the latter twenty days before you reach the shore. So here you know you've lived together and the only way you can survive living together is by working together. Here we are bringing nourishment to every animal on this particular Ark. Val Zavala>> (Laughter) Gotcha. Ingrained in all this fun is a message, a lesson for children who will be growing up in a world of conflict and challenges. Uri Herscher>> Here, for example, you have your hope for humankind, which is that the lion and the lamb will actually enjoy one another's company rather than devour. The lion, so much stronger, could devour the lamb, but here they're enjoying each other's company. The best of David and Goliath not destroying one another, but actually shaking hands and saying, you know, it will be better if both of us remained in the world. Val Zavala>> So after the storm and after being in the Ark together and working things out, they finally finish their journey. Uri Herscher>> They finally reach the land again and the first signal that they're safe is the rainbow because it tells you that the rains have receded and the sun has arrived and the two intersect to give you a hopeful sign that you've got another chance. But I think before we reach rainbows, we've got to work awfully hard. We are not born with rainbows. I think we're born with storms. There is a journey looking for shelter. It's clear that no one person can really build a shelter. It's a communal effort and that's what we teach when our wonderful kids come here from all over the city. Val Zavala>> And, of course, the iconic dove which means hope. Uri Herscher>> Exactly. This gallery is all about second chances. It feels awfully good to know that there is another chance for all of us and that we get it usually by working together with others in the community. Without hope, there is no life. There is just no life because you need to hope that things will change. But you need to also say, "I will be part of that change" and then you need to say, "I alone can't change anything. We will do it. We will have a communal mission of making this city a better city. We will try to get health care for everyone in California. We will try to find employment for those who are unemployed. We will find a way to feed those who are hungry." So the story of Noah's Ark is that we shall reach this rainbow, but we've got a lot of hard work to do before we actually find that rainbow. Val Zavala>> Noah's Ark is a permanent exhibit. You can get information by going on the website at skirball.org or calling (310) 440-4500. The Ark opens June 26 and tickets go on sale on June 1. And that's our program. I'm Val Zavala. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time. Announcer>> Life and Times was made possible through the generous support of the L.K. Whittier Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life by supporting innovative endeavors in the fields of medicine, health, science and education. And by a generous grant from Jim and Anne Rothenberg. With additional support for Life and Times from The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Sponsored in part by:  | |
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