Reflecting on Health

The winter holidays can be a time to reflect on our lives - a season to appreciate family, friendship and good health. Join us this December as Health Dialogues shares stories of how health - and sickness - have affected people's lives and humbled them, bringing joy, sorrow and sometimes even inspiration.

An Overview of Injury and Health

Host Scott Shafer begins the show with a discussion about how disease and injury can affect a person's health, as well as that of their loved ones. Guest: Katherine Chesla, Registered Nurse, and professor at the UC San Francisco School of Nursing.

Coping with Diabetes

Alma Garza, a Tejano music programmer and host of La Onda Tejana (The Tejano Wave) at Radio Bilingue, tells us about her life with diabetes. Alma draws inspiration from her family, the music and her listeners. Reporter: Zaidee Stavely

Hepatitis B: The Silent Killer

As an adult, Kate Wong discovered long-forgotten health records from her childhood - records that diagnosed her with Hepatitis B. Since the discovery, she has focused her own attention on spreading awareness of the often ignored disease. Reporter: Sarah Varney

Scott Shafer

Surf Therapy

Host Scott Shafer takes a trip to San Diego's Del Mar Beach, where injured veterans go surfing as part of their rehabilitation therapy. (This is a rebroadcast of a story that aired on The California Report on September 2, 2009.)

• Surf Therapy for Injured Veterans: See photos of injured veterans learning to surf as part of an innovative physical therapy program, at San Diego's Del Mar Beach.

Relearning How to Use Your Head

KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge shares a personal essay about what it was like to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Tom was hit by a car as he was riding his bicycle to work one morning.

• More: Cul-De-Sac : A blog by Tom Fudge

Forging a New Path with Multiple Sclerosis

Joan Jeanrenaud was the cellist with the avant-garde Kronos Quartet for twenty years. In 1998, she was forced to leave the group after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Rather than lamenting what could have been, Joan has found new artistic direction as she has learned to live with MS. [The music featured in this story is from Jeanrenaud's albums "Metamorphosis" (New Albion) and "Strange Toys" (Talking House).] Reporter: Nick Vidinsky

• More: Joan Jeanrenaud's website : Find out more about Joan's bio, body of work and latest news.
• More: Kronos Quartet website : Info on the group's schedule, recordings and more

• Music Video: Watch an animated video for "33 1/3," a track off of Jeanrenaud's upcoming album, slated for release in early 2010.

Living With Cancer

Robert Maiolo tells us of his love for his wife, and how together they deal with her stage IV breast cancer. Reporter: April Dembosky

Polly Stryker

Sisters on the Organ Donor Chain

Host Scott Shafer talks with Toni and Sheri Brown, two sisters in an organ donor chain. Toni plans to donate a kidney to the chain, which will allow Sheri to receive the kidney she needs.