Throughout January, Maryland Public Television presents MPT's Your Health 2012, a compelling lineup of documentaries, which look at the lives of people profoundly transformed by cancer, autism, fragile X syndrome, depression and end-of-life choices. The common threads running through these inspirational stories are empowerment in the face of devastation and the quest to shed lingering social stigmas by raising awareness.
Conquering The Dragon Breast Cancer: Survivors Race for Life
January 2, 2012: 11:00-11:30pm
A documentary about breast cancer survivors reaching for the stars and creating triumph out of tragedy, never letting up in their determined fight against the dragon. In their quest to regain their lives, thousands of breast cancer survivors around the world discovered Dragon Boat Racing, a very demanding water sport, requiring mental and physical toughness.
Not As I Pictured
January 3, 2012: 8:00-9:00pm
An autobiographical 54-minute film following Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist John Kaplan's unexpected cancer journey. One in three women get cancer. For men, it's one in two. That means virtually every family is touched by it. This film can truly help cancer patients face their treatment with new courage, and the belief that one can make it through difficult treatment back to health, with the knowledge that many cancers today can be treated like chronic illnesses and no longer as instant death sentences.
Decoding Autism
January 3, 2012: 9:00-10:00pm
Autism is a major public health crisis. More children will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder this year than with childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. It is a devastating neuro-developmental disorder that affects a child's communication and social skills, ability to empathize and often IQ. Nationally, one in 110 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
life @ the end: caring in the face of loss
January 9, 2012: 11:00-11:30pm
For Mark, Katie and Robert it is about to happen now. To them. As they travel towards death, startling truths emerge. In the face of death, they see life. Where they expected to find fear, some will find profound happiness. And all will discover that death is not a light that goes out, but a light that goes on.
Last Rights: Facing End of Life Choices
January 10, 2012: 8:00-9:00pm
Focusing on end-of-life care. Raising awareness of the complexity of end-of-life care and respect for individual choices, Last Rights: Facing End-of-Life Choices encourages conversations: honoring the sanctity of life while assuring ethical and moral treatment of the dying; the ability of medical technology to keep a patient alive while life is ebbing; individual rights versus society's mandate to preserve life; and the importance of family, the role of physicians, and the value of honesty.
A Portrait of Emotion
January 23, 2012: 10:00-11:00pm
Following the course of four years the life of 14-year-old Jonathan Lerman, an artistic prodigy who is diagnosed with autism, a lifelong developmental disability that affects learning, communication and social interaction. While capable of drawing astonishing portraits that capture the nuances of human emotion, Jonathan is unable to effectively verbally communicate his feelings. By answering questions about why people with autism act the way they do, this film will make viewers more comfortable with people who are "different," and will help ameliorate society's attitudes toward the disabled. Sometimes heart-wrenching, at other times comedic, Jonathan's story encourages people to reevaluate their assumptions about intelligence, talent and disability.
The Pain of Depression: A Journey Through the Darkness
January 23, 2012: 11:00pm -12:00m
The film explores the physical and emotional challenges of an illness which afflicts more than 30 million Americans each year. Compelling stories from depression sufferers reveal its devastating impact on families, friends and communities. Nationally recognized experts discuss the role of family and friends in an individual's recovery. The documentary also touches upon the stigma of mental illness within various ethnic communities including the Latino population.
Living with Fragile X
January 30, 2012: 10:00-11:00pm
The goal of "Living with Fragile X" is to educate audiences about the syndrome, but the documentary is also meant to reveal a new view of those in our society that are traditionally considered "flawed" or "abnormal". Who decides what's normal? Because an individual is different than you and me, should he or she be "fixed"? "Living with Fragile X" takes a rare and intimate look at the lives of several families who live with a member affected by fragile X syndrome. Fragile X is the leading cause of inherited mental disability and the leading known cause of autism."Living with Fragile X" explains what fragile X is and how it is passed, exposes the day-to-day challenges faced by those who have fragile X and reveals the frustrations of parents and their fears for what the future holds.
The Whisper: The Silent Crisis of Ovarian Cancer
January 30, 2012: 11:00pm-12:00m
More than 13,000 women this year will be struck down by ovarian cancer, which is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Ovarian cancer statistics are staggering; nearly 3 out of every 4 women with this disease will die because of it. Chances of survival can improve if it is detected early and confined to the ovaries. Unfortunately, only about 25% of women are diagnosed with early stage disease because there is no reliable early stage screening test available.
On January 2nd, Direct Connection will explore the topic of childhood obesity.
On January 5th, Your Money & Business will feature Dr Scott Rifkin, Managing Member, Mid-Atlantic Health Care talking about the business of health care.
On January 6th, State Circle will focus on a yet-to-be-determined health care topic.
