Last Chance Surgery

Saturday January 8 at 5.00pm on BIO

Hosted by former Australian Medical Association president, Dr Kerryn Phelps, the series provides an insight into the cases of patients whose only chance of survival is major and potentially fatal surgery.

8:00pm – Tuesday, November 10 on Seven

Tonight on LAST CHANCE SURGERY, meet Shirley, who four years ago had to have her leg amputated, but now has fresh hope of walking again with a brand new first in Australia – a surgically implanted prosthetic leg. Plus, we revisit Baby William to see how he has coped with his heart surgery, and Merryl who is about to receive prognosis on her future after brain surgery.

Four years ago, mother of two Shirley, went to hospital for a knee replacement and ended up having her leg amputated. She tried prosthetics but none worked. In fact one failed so badly that she fell and broke her other leg. Shirley gave up on ever walking again but now there is hope with a brand new first in Australia – a surgically implanted prosthetic leg. Will this mean Shirley may walk again?

It’s been five days since baby William’s life saving surgery his anxious parents are now hoping that when the Doctor removes his breathing tube that little William will be able to breathe on his own.

In a 10 hour operation, Merryl’s malignant brain tumour has finally been removed. Her family are relieved that Merryl has survived the surgery now they are waiting to see if there has been any neurological damage. Dr Teo is about to see Merryl and give his prognosis on her future.

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

8:00pm – Tuesday, November 3 on Seven

Tonight on LAST CHANCE SURGERY, Merryl is a mum, a grandmother and loving wife, but she has Chordoma, a very rare cancer and has only months to live. So her daughters sought a second opinion from Dr Charlie Teo. And we see how newborn, baby William is coping after his heart surgery. The crucial moment comes when Professor Winlaw tries to start the tiny bubs heart again.

Baby William’s congenital heart condition is complex. Professor Winlaw will need to put William on Bypass and stop his heart to try and correct the veins that are going into the wrong side of William’s heart causing William’s heart failure. The crucial moment comes when Professor Winlaw tries to start the tiny bubs heart again.

Merryl is a Mum, a grandmother and loving wife. Her husband and family adore her. Merryl is dying. She has a Chordoma, a very rare cancer that started in the bone in her skull and has grown into her brain. Merryl has a tracheostomy to help her breathe… that’s why she cannot talk. She has only months to live so her daughters sought a second opinion from Dr Charlie Teo. Merryl wants to take the risk and have the surgery so that she can have more time with her family. Will she survive the surgery?

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

8:00pm – Tuesday, October 27 on Seven

Tonight on LAST CHANCE SURGERY, Shannon’s parents and Dr Teo are anxiously waiting for Shannon to wake up ….. will there be any neurological damage to this brave little girl? If all goes well the next hurdle will be getting Shannon’s pathology results. Regardless, Shannon’s parents are grateful to Dr Teo as they would have lost Shannon five years ago without his operating skills.

Kate has received the call that a donor heart is available….this is Kate’s last chance ….. she is now about to undergo delicate and difficult surgery to get a new heart. Kate’s immune system has been weakened by her failing heart and even when the operation is over, the next twenty four hours will be critical.

Baby William was born five days ago in Canberra….Doctors diagnosed a rare Congenital Heart condition that could not be surgically treated there…….William was transferred urgently by NETS – ( Newborn Emergency Transfer Service) to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Cardiothoracic Surgeon Prof. David Winlaw tells William’s distraught parents that he will not survive without risky life saving open heart surgery .

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

8:00pm – Tuesday, October 13 on Seven

Tonight on LAST CHANCE SURGERY, Kimberley has Cystic fibrosis and needs new lungs; Claudius is going blind, but without surgery he could not only lose his sight, but his life; and Shannon is an outgoing nine year old with a smile that would melt your heart, who has been fighting cancer all her short life. Tonight we follow the inspirational stories of these three brave patients who are undergoing last chance surgery.

Kimberley has been given a second chance at life – the gift of new lungs after her old ones were destroyed by Cystic Fibrosis. Before the transplant Kimberley only had months to live, now her outlook is more promising. In this episode she faces her first physical challenge since surgery to see how well her lungs are performing.

Claudius has travelled thousands of kilometres away from his wife and children in the Solomon Islands to have last chance surgery in Sydney. Tests have confirmed what Claudius knows – he’s going blind. Claudius is about to learn it’s not just his eyesight at risk – he has a massive tumour in his Pituitary Gland which controls many bodily functions like blood pressure and metabolism. If this tumour is not removed he could not only lose his sight, but his life.

Shannon is an outgoing nine year old with a smile that would melt your heart… amazing considering what this little girl has endured. At the age of three she was diagnosed with malignant brain tumours called Ependymoma’s and since then has under gone 15 brain operations. Now the cancer is back and her parents are hoping Dr Teo can once more save her life.

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

8:00pm – Tuesday, October 6 on Seven

Tonight on LAST CHANCE SURGERY, Kimberley has been waiting for her new lungs and has now received the call she wanted; Christine had to have last chance surgery but it’s come at a cost; and we revisit Jesse who is recovering from the marathon surgery that saved the use of his legs but now he and his family have a new battle.

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

[Updated] Here’s how channel 7 is looking for the biggest week in TV since the first week of the ratings year in February.

1. Monday Sept 28, 8.30pm. After months of advertising and sneak peaks, Flash Forward is finally here. The show centres around the premise of every body in the human race losing 2 minutes and 17 seconds out of their life. Each person sees a glimpse of their lives six months from now. When they wake up, everyone is left wondering if what they saw will actually happen.

2. Monday Sept 28, 9.30pm. Mercy is on. Mercy is a new medical drama centred around 3 nurses who navigate the daily traumas and personal dramas inside the hospital and out.

3. Still on Mondays, Boston Legal will no longer be shown from Sept 28. At 10.30, a 6 part NBC reality series called Momma’s Boys will air. Following that at 11.30 will be Style by Jury.

4. Tuesday Sept 29 – late. At 10.30, following All Saints is My Shocking Story, followed by a repeat of Scrubs at 11.30.

5. Wednesdays. City Homicide’s new home is Wednesday night at 8.30. That is followed by Criminal Minds at 9.30 which is being promoted as a “sexy new timeslot”. At 10.30 programs are Family Guy, followed by American Dad at 11 then Louis Theroux at 11.30.

6. 7.30pm Factuals. Here is the summary:

Sundays: Border Security then The Force: Behind the Line
Mondays: from Oct 5: Highway Patrol then Destroyed in Seconds
Tuesdays: RSPCA Animal Rescue then Last Chance Surgery.
Wednesdays: from Oct 7: Border Security then Medical Emergency

7. 7HD [updated]. Although you won’t see them in all TV guides, 7HD is currently playing movies at varying times most likely in an attempt to bring in some extra ratings for the network just like what GO is currently doing for 9. Check EPGs and internet guides for movies regularly as they seem to change a number of times before airing!!! To avoid embarrassment, I’m not listing them anymore. I note last night (Friday Sept 25) they actaully advertised a 7HD movie during Deal or No Deal yet the movie was not listed in any of the advanced guides I use to compile posts like these.

When 7HD began on Oct 15 2007, one of the channels’ original objectives was to show movies at least 3 times a week. Is this a hint of what is to come? A movie based new channel? Maybe, maybe not.  No announcement right now, but if the new channel is to start on Oct 4, today should be the day to release the details to the media. Or 7 might opt to advertise on their own network first. Stay tuned.

8. Thursdays. October 1: Movie – The Narnia Chronicles. No Gary Unmarried at 7.30 anymore.

And from Thursday Oct 8, the line up is:

7.30 Ghost Whisperer fast tracked season 5.

8.30 Beuaty and the Geek Australia

9.30 Amazing Race season 15 fast tracked.

Some information here from Tv Tonight and Media Spy. Programming subject to late change.

8:00pm – Tuesday, September 22 on Seven

Tonight on LAST CHANCE SURGERY, most of us live with stress, but 40-year-old Tasmanian, Christine, lives with the knowledge that the aneurysm deep in her brain could rupture at any time and could kill her.

Christine and her partner Nick have come to Sydney to see internationally acclaimed Neurosurgeon, Professor Michael Morgan, to see if he can ensure their future together.

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

8:00pm – Tuesday, September 15 on Seven

LAST CHANCE SURGERY presents the intimate and inspirational stories of patients’ determination to beat the odds. With medical statistics stacked against them, they have the choice to walk again… see again… live again… with high risk, last chance surgery.

Shaynae looks just like any other, bubbly seventeen year old with the world at her feet… but appearances can be deceiving. Shaynae is dying. She is suffering from one of the most devastating brain tumours known to man. Only one surgeon, Internationally acclaimed Neurosurgeon, Dr Charlie Teo, is prepared to operate, but even the surgery will put Shaynae’s life at risk. It’s the kind of decision you can only hope you will never have to make.

At just 20, Jesse has already stared death in the face twice, and survived. Now Jesse and his family are facing a new and devastating threat. He has a tumour in his spine and must endure an eighteen hour operation to save him from becoming paralysed.

LAST CHANCE SURGERY is hosted by DR KERRYN PHELPS.

Now that Dancing with the Stars has concluded on channel 7, there is a new line up on Sunday nights:

6:30 Sunday Night returns, after nearly 3 months of hiatus.
7:30 Border Security is back
8:00 The Force returns
8:30 Sept 13: Movie: The Bourne Ultimatum.

And a change to Tuesday nights 7.30 hour from Sept 15:

7:30 RSPCA Animal Rescue
8:00 Last Chance Surgery

Want more City Homicide?

There will be additional episodes on Wednesday night September 16 and September 23 at 8.30pm. These are in addition to the Monday night episodes which remain unchanged except for:

The Brownlow Medal 2009 – which will be seen from 7.30pm on Monday September 21 in the AFL states. A yet to be named movie will show in the NRL states. Northern AFL fans can see the Brownlow medal at 11.45pm that night.

And as already mentioned in earlier posts, The Amzaing Race will air double episodes on Sept 17 and 24. Expect a new Thursday night line up from Oct 1. Wonder if they will fast track the new series of the Amazing Race? Possible night for Beauty and the Geek Australia as well.

The last TV Burp will air Thursday Sept 10. Double Take moves to 10.30 Thursdays on the 17th and 24th.

And we are all waiting for the air date of Flash Forward, presumably the show will be fast tracked and possibly air in the last week of September. It premieres in the US on Thursday September 24. An Australian air date of Sunday Sept 27 may be possible. Another option might be Wednesday nights, but Sunday would be more likely to minimise the number of days delay.

Some information here sourced from TV Tonight as well as Media Spy.