The Story

In the developing world, deaths and injuries from orthopedic trauma now outnumber malaria, TB and AIDS combined. Often local medical facilities have no way to fix the broken bones. That's changing thanks to a simple invention by a Washington state orthopedic surgeon named Lew Zirkle. Also in this episode: Sharon MacNeil's husband Eric died of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 17 months after they were married. He left just one sperm sample. Close to ten years later, Sharon has conceived and she is now carrying twins - a boy and a girl.

Dick speaks with forest ranger Klaus Echle about a wild female fox who was curious and allowed him to take astonishing close-up photographs of her in the Black Forest.  

About ten years ago, Christopher Swain developed a crush on a river. He was living in Eugene, Oregon and became fascinated with the Columbia River, which runs from the wilds of Canada into the Pacific Ocean northwest of Portland. When Lewis and Clark explored the Pacific Northwest, the river was 'clear at any depth', no pollution, no dams, and full of fish. Christopher saw that the river had been abused and contaminated over the years, and wanted to do something to help.

Most home builders in Florida have been struggling to get by, but Steve Ellis' construction business is thriving. Steve renovates older, smaller houses to be cooler and more energy efficient. And in the process he's made green living affordable. Steve tells Dick Gordon how the values his father taught him shaped both his business plan, and Steve's plans for his own new green vacation home.Also in this episodes: tubes tied at 27. And an update on our story of shark finning.