September 25, 2025 • 37 mins
We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!
The disappearance of Christopher Bird…disappeared on Sunday, July 29, 1984. He was last seen by a friend at the D&Q Stables in Windham.
Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Cold Case Files Reporter & Blotter Tales columnist
Mass General Brigham will soon bill you when your doctor consults a specialist about your care.
Guest: Jonathan Saltzman – Boston Globe reporter
Gov. Maura Healey releases ‘vision’ for statewide high school graduation requirements Guest: Chris Van Buskirk – State House Reporter for the Boston Herald
What is the disorder PANDAS or PANS? 33,000 (or one in 200) children in Massachusetts suffer today from what is now known as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (P.A.N.D.A.S.) or Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (P.A.N.S). -Upcoming Walk – Making Strikes for PANS & PANDAS. Saturday, Oct. 4 – Boston Common. Guest: Jennifer Vitelli – Executive Director of the Look Foundation – also her son has PANDAS
The disappearance of Christopher Bird…disappeared on Sunday, July 29, 1984. He was last seen by a friend at the D&Q Stables in Windham.
Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Cold Case Files Reporter & Blotter Tales columnist
Mass General Brigham will soon bill you when your doctor consults a specialist about your care.
Guest: Jonathan Saltzman – Boston Globe reporter
Gov. Maura Healey releases ‘vision’ for statewide high school graduation requirements Guest: Chris Van Buskirk – State House Reporter for the Boston Herald
What is the disorder PANDAS or PANS? 33,000 (or one in 200) children in Massachusetts suffer today from what is now known as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (P.A.N.D.A.S.) or Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (P.A.N.S). -Upcoming Walk – Making Strikes for PANS & PANDAS. Saturday, Oct. 4 – Boston Common. Guest: Jennifer Vitelli – Executive Director of the Look Foundation – also her son has PANDAS
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Nights with Dan Ray. I'm going you Easy Bondon's
news Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Well, here we go on a Thursday night. We are
about four hours away from Friday morning right now, and
if you stay with us, we'll take you all the way, virtue,
all the way to Friday morning. My name is Dan Ray,
host of night Side. I am here every Monday through
Friday night from eight until midnight. I'll be here this
Tomorrow night. We've been here all week. It's been kind
(00:26):
of a very at times tragic at times sad at
times interesting month of September. And we still have a
few days left. We are now in the fall, as
I think all of you know. And Rob Brooks is
back in the control room tonight. He will be here
tomorrow night as well, I believe, so we will finish
the week strong tonight and tomorrow night. Coming up tonight,
(00:47):
we're going to introduce you to an organization of which
I have some knowledge. Is called the Day of AI.
It's a group that actually comes to us. Was formed
over at MIT and this organization, which now is headed
in part by Jeff Riley, the former Commissioner of Education
(01:09):
here in Massachusetts, has taken it upon themselves to develop
a program whereby they would teach teachers across the country
how to teach AI to students. Very interesting concept. We'll
also talk later on tonight with doctor Alfred Miller about
his thoughts, and I will tell you that he has
(01:30):
some very strong thoughts on the White House's claim earlier
this week that a set of mitafin or thailanol as
it is called, actually causes autism. He does not buy
that at all. He has another theory. And I've never
heard doctor Miller as angry. He's a very gentle and
(01:53):
nice man. And we will hear him tonight at ten o'clock.
But first we have four great guests here at the
eight o'clock. We're going to start off as we do
Thursday nights, with Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe Cold Case Files
reporter and Blater Tales columnist. And Emily. Tonight, we're going
to talk about disappearance that goes back to nineteen eighty four,
(02:15):
so this is now forty one years ago, and it's
kind of intriguing the disappearance of Christopher Bird. Welcome back
to Night Side. Tell us about this cold case.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, Dan, thank you so much for having me. This
is a weird case. Christopher Bird was twenty five years old.
He was from Haverol and he was a teacher and
you know, very well liked guy. You know, I was
very young, only twenty five when he disappeared. The last
(02:48):
known sighting of him was July twenty ninth, nineteen eighty four,
and the last sighting of him was at this place
called B and Q Stables up and Windom, New Had, Hampshire.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So this is in July. He's a teacher, so he's
kind of in the middle of summer vacation here. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Absolutely, he was married and he told his wife at
the time that he was going to go hiking or
camping with a friend and he never came home and
that the wife reporting reported him missing. And it's really
interesting because his friend, you know, has been questioned by
(03:27):
police for his disappearance. Police think, you know, he didn't
just disappear on his own, you know that this is
definitely suspicious, but his body has never been found. His car,
he was driving, a Mercury Comet at the time, was
found a few days later after he didn't come home,
(03:47):
and it was found at the Mathuin Mall with a
couple of tires that were deflated. And yeah, very strange.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Again, I asked these questions because you know the case,
I don't when did his friend report the friend was
that the person who was who reportedly was last seen
by the bye of the victim at the D and
Q Stables in Wyndham.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yeah, so the police believe that friend was the last
person to see him alive. And his wife reported a
missing when because she had gone away with her sister
for the weekend and so when she came home, you know,
you know, he hadn't been home for a few days,
and she was the one that went to police. So
(04:38):
the friend is Richard Brunt, and he moved to Florida
and he was never charged with us and but you know,
police did question him. And again, you know, we're putting
this out there and so our investigators just if anybody
has any information, because media sports see Richard Brunt has
(05:01):
passed away. I'm in the process of getting his death
certificate just to make sure, you know, And yeah, we're
just putting it out there if anybody you know.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
So, okay, so let me just in terms of background,
you've looked at this, was there any suggestion that this
meet up with his friend was a disagreement over money, gambling, drugs,
any anything of that nature. I mean, this is a teacher.
Was he an elementary school teacher, high school teacher. He
couldn't teach.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
So you know, actually I just spoke with one of
Chris Bird's old friends that knew him grown up in Harol,
and she was telling me that, you know, he had
a teaching job at a school called New Life Christian
Academy and Harol and apparently Brunt was a principal there
or head of school there, and that's probably how they met.
(05:54):
His wife told police, you know, when he was went
missing that you know, him and Brunt had been hanging
out for like a few months, you know. And yeah,
so it's very strange. And again, you know, nobody knows
what happened to him. No, you know what, somebody does.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
No criminal record activity in either of the background of
these two gentlemen, well.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You know, not for bird Bird. You know, he was
very clean cut, good, you know, good guy, good student.
Richard Brunt, though, actually did time in a Florida prison
for stabbing his roommate to death in nineteen seventy five, and.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Nine years later he's up in Boston the head of
a Christian academy school of some sort.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yes, yeah, whoa yeah, and he moved around a lot too,
And that's another thing I want. I'm really I'm glad
you're putting a focus on the stories in because I
just wanted to you never know, there.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Could be you know, if this has kicked off anything
in anyone's mind. Who happens to be listening and what
someone would like to get in touch with you confidentially
or whatever. How did they reach you? What's the easiest
way for them to reach you?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah, well you can always email me at the Globe.
My email address is Emily dot Sweeney at Globe dot com.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
More than that, Emily, Emily dot Sweeney at Globe dot com.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Okay, yeah, yeah, and yeah, it's it's a you know,
I'm still working on this and the story should be
coming out the next couple of days. So this is
a little preview. Dan, I'm still well, I really do appreciate.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Look, here's the deal. What you got to not you
want just better than anybody. But but the audience needs
to understand is this disappearance forty one years ago. So
the person who has disappeared was twenty five if he
were to be alive today, hit be sixty six and
probably retired. The person who last saw him him has
(08:01):
apparently some things of interest in his background, despite the
fact that did he stay very long in that position
as the headmaster at this Christian academy school. Do you
know that off hand?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
You know, I've been trying to put together taught You know,
he did have a teaching he was teaching in Florida
at the time of when he got arrested for killing
his roommate. You know, he was teaching at a high school.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
And yeah, well, I'll tell you. The other thing, which
I think people should understand is probably a tip from
someone might be the solution. I would assume that the
detectives who worked this case in nineteen eighty five, forty
one years ago are now long since retired. So that
(08:48):
also is a complication because their institutional knowledge leaves the
station when they retire. They leave notes and pictures and
observations and sage questions and conjecture. But there's probably a
new set of detectives up there by now. So Emily,
I wish you best of luck. My sense is you're
(09:09):
going to get a tip on this well.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I'm hoping crossing my fingers.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Dan, Well, we didn't even scratch the surface. Maybe if
we do this one again at some point we can
get into what happened to the rest of Christopher's family.
Uh is his wife and he have any children? I
just got so many questions. We're just flat out of
time here. But yeah, I's like a fascinating case. You
(09:34):
have a great job, and you're and you're doing great work.
Emily is always thank you so much, thanks for being
with us, sir in night Side.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Thanks Dan, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
All right, we'll talk soon. Well, that's an interesting case.
That one that that's solvable. In my opinion, that's solvable,
and if anybody can do it, it'll be Emily Sweety
of the Boston Globe Cold Case Files. In a moment,
we're going to come up going to talk about a
new billing practice at Mass General Brigham. I think you'll
find it interesting. I'm going to talk with Jonathan Saltzman,
(10:05):
a really solid reporter at the Boston Globe. Be right
back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Delighted to welcome Jonathan Salzman, Boston Globe reporter really solid reporter, Jonathan,
welcome to Nightside.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
I admire your work, so thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
So Mass General Brigham, which had some layoffs earlier this
year that really rattled a lot of people's cubicles and
and office of spaces at Mass General, now is going
to build your personal care physician. When your personal care
(10:47):
physician in treating you consults with a specialist about your care.
There's something about that that doesn't sound right to me.
What is mass How does Mass General Brigham justified that?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
To be clear, the new the new policy is that
Mass General freedom is going to build patients and their insurers.
If the primary care doctors uh consult specialists on a
digital platform that mgb uses and patients are going to
(11:26):
be are going to be charged for those consultations.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So fair enough, but uh a digital platform. You A
lot of people have been led to believe that you
have a personal care physician. And would this include personal
care physicians who are affiliated with Mass General Brigham.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Yeah. Yeah, So if you go to your PCP and
at Mass General Brigham and the doctor has a question,
uh about a diagnosis or whatever, very often doctors will
consult specialists and they used to be called curbside consultations
(12:11):
as though the doctor was running into a specialist outside
the hospital. And so since twenty fourteen, MGB has been
using this digital platform called e consults And what happens
is the primary care provider will reach out to a
(12:33):
specialist from time to time to see if he or
she's got the right diagnosis. But for years, for more
than a decade, no one has been charged. The MGB
has been absorbing the cost of that. And starting like
next month, the hospital the specialists will build patients. So
(12:58):
to have insurance, you know that you or you're insure're
going to have to have to pay for.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
That, right.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
I guess what strikes me here is if you were,
let's say, living in California and your personal care physician
was separated apart from Mass General Brigham and they had
to consult with a specialist there, I kind of get that,
But once you're a patient of a doctor who's associated
(13:26):
with a hospital, some might argue, and maybe even I
might suspect that this is just opening up another revenue
stream from Mass General Brigham. Am I being too cynical here?
I mean, I have no idea who authorizes that consultation?
That is the primary care physician obligated to say to
the patient, look, by the way, I'm going to do
(13:47):
a consult on your situation today. I think you need it,
and they will tell the patient in advance, depending upon
their circumstance. Your insurance is going to cover ninety percent
of it. But this is what it's going to cost you,
or you don't have insurance, this is do they need
to get the permission? Boy, there's there's more questions here
that I have in my mind about this. It just
seems to me it's once again the hospitals, you know,
(14:12):
taking it out on the patients and the insurance companies.
It's it's to do it for free and for eleven years.
I'd love to know what prompt to change.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Well, you're not alone in being concerned about it, thank you.
And primary care primary care doctors told me that they're
worried about this because they think they're going to face
the blowback from patients when patients get billed for having
(14:46):
a specialist way in on on their medical cases. So
there are a lot of primary care doctors who who
are upset about this and fear that they're the ones
who are going to get blame.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Well, I wonder if even if there's been a protocol established,
I mean, if my doc felt that he needed to consult. Uh,
my attitude would be, hey, I want you to consult,
But maybe every patient would feel the way. I'd like
to know in advance, what's the consultation going to cost
and and and what benefit might accrue to me? Uh. Now,
maybe it's going to cost me to spend some time
(15:22):
with the PCP to determine whether or not it becomes
very bureaucratic and very expensive and simultaneously inconvenient.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
I well, that's why I did the story.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, okay. And as a reporter, I know that you're
you're a good, great reporter. You're going to stay right
down the middle. Uh. And and I very much appreciate
the acknowledgment why you did this story, because when I
read the story, it was yesterday's good I believe. I
read the story and I said, Uh, this is one
we need to think more about. We're gonna we'll talk
(15:58):
about this some night. And I'm I won't put you
on the spot because you're a reporter. I as a
talk show host, have an opportunity sometimes to ask questions
which might somehow suggest how I feel about this. If
you get my drift. Hey, Jonathan, thanks so much for
being available. I did. If I wasn't trying to put
(16:19):
you on the spot, I just was trying to ask questions. Okay,
I got it. Thanks Jonathan, appreciate it very much. Thank
you for your jograph. Look forward to having you back.
Thank you, good night. All right. It is now exactly
eight thirty, which is perfect timing when we come back
on and talk with a state house reporter for the
Boston Herald, Chris Vann Buskirk, about a new vision for
(16:41):
state high school graduation requirements here in Massachusetts. Mcast is gone,
but there's I guess six goals vision. It's it's a
very amorphous kind of characterization. So we'll we'll talk with
the state house reporter for the Herald, Chris Buskirk, and
then later on time at eight forty five, we're going
(17:04):
to talk with the executive director of the Look Foundation
about a rear disorder called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated
with Strep de caucus. It's called pandas I got a
lot of questions on that one. We'll be back on
(17:24):
nightside right after the news at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
You're on Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
All right, Chris Vann Buskirk, Boston Herald reporter, Chris, Welcome
back to Nightside.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Thanks for joining us, Hey, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
We're going to be talking with the former Secretary of Education,
Jeff Riley. But the secretary of the current Secretary of
Education made some news yesterday. We've got rid of the
mcast standards here in Massachusetts, which I think was a
mistake personally, but I'm just one person. However, the state
(18:03):
now has come up with what they're calling a vision.
Kind of an odd phrase, but a vision for statewide
high school graduation requirements. Can you explain that. I watched
some news reports yesterday and I think I got it.
But I think that probably a lot of people like
me are saying, where is the standard here? Other than
(18:24):
you know, sixth a vision. I have a vision that
I want to pitch for the Red Sox in the
World Series, but I don't think that's likely to happen.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Well, Dan, I'd love to see you pitch for the Socks.
That'd be great, But you're right, this is just there
was a day.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
There was a day many years ago.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yeah, this vision is it's just kind of like an
initial finding from the Governor's office. You'll remember that in
January during her State of the Commonwealth, she laid out
that she still thinks, Governor Morehey, still thinks that the
state should have some sort of state wide graduation require
after you said, voters last year got rid of the
(19:03):
mcast is our graduation requirement. This is just an outline
of what the state is thinking. We won't actually get
whatever statewide graduation requirement the Governor's office is putting together
until later this fall. They're going to unveil initial findings
later this fall, with a final report in a more
detailed romance next year. What we got this week was
(19:25):
an outline with three broad categories. Students in Massachusetts need
to be thinkers, contributors, and leaders, and within that academically
prepared critical problem solvers, self aware navigators, intentional collaborators, effective communicators,
and responsible decision makers. So there's really not a lot
of detail to meet. This is just an outline of
(19:46):
you know, the Governor's office saying, Okay, here's what we're
thinking students need to learn. What students need to be
when they graduate high school. It's not yet that statewide
standard that the Governor said she's still looking to put
in place.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
It's I would use would I would use its aspirational.
I mean, you know, I'm not saying it's a bad aspiration,
but not as a bad aspiration for me to dream
about pitching for the Red Sox. I hope they get
to the World Series with or without me. By the way,
So how is this received? You know, up at the
(20:20):
State House? Was there? You know again I realized you're
a straight reporter. You're not going to give me any
editorial commentary. But I this sort of like some skepticism
that I feel with this, and I can sort of
express that because I'm a talk show host. Most of
your your colleagues at the State House buying into this.
(20:43):
Do they think that, hey, this is a great uh,
you know, compromise. Now that mcast has gone, how are
they characterizing it?
Speaker 5 (20:51):
Yeah? I think a lot of people are still left
with questions. When the governor laid out the fact that
she still wanted a statewide graduation requirement even after we
got rid of the mcast last year, a lot of
us were wondering how is that statewide graduation requirement, whatever
it's going to be going to be enforced. The Governor's
office this week said that they'll roll out whatever mechanism
(21:14):
that's going to be later this year and next year.
But you're right, this is just an outline. This is,
you know, as you said, aspirational. I still want to
see how this is going to be translated into regulations
or an actual requirement, And most importantly, it still remains
to be seen how any of this can be enforced
(21:37):
or required, if at.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
All, let me ask you about another situation up there,
which I've kind of lost track of, And if this
is an unfair question, please tell me. Has there been
any progress made that you're aware of by the state
auditor to actually effectuate the audits that she would like
to conduct of the state legislature of the House and Senate.
(22:00):
It seems to me that that we're now into the
new fiscal year on a federal level, but we're into
sort of like summer's over and everybody's got to kind
of get back to work in school. Are you getting
a sense We had the auditor on here about a
month ago, and she seemed really frustrated at the lack
(22:23):
of cooperation from the from the state legislature. Is there
any movement afoot that you're aware of?
Speaker 5 (22:30):
You know, I have to be honest with you, Dan,
that's something that's kind of slid into, you know, just
under the radar, certainly still simmering. I mean, as your
as your listeners clearly know. You know, Question one past November.
It gave the State Auditor's Office the explicit authority to
crack open the books of the legislature.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And it was and it was I remember it was
not a close felt. I believe it was.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Seventy two, that's correct, and yeah, it was. It was
not a close vote. From my understanding. It's still a
back and forth between Auditor Diana Desaglio and Attorney General
Andrea Campbell. Both sides feel that, you know, the other
is not giving them enough information, and I think that's
where the roadblock is and until some sort of breakthrough
(23:18):
happens there. You know, I don't know if it needs
to come from the Auditor's office or it needs to
come from the AG's office. I'm I'm sure if you
ask either side it'll need you know, they'll say it
needs to come from the other. But I think until
we see a breakthrough there, it's probably just going to
be the salemate that has been since the election last fall.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah, and which means that that the the audit never occurs.
So mean, since I don't get a chance to talk
to you frequently, I read today that the State Senate
President Spilka said she thinks it's time to get a
new flag for the carwalth of Massachusetts, and I know
(23:55):
that that's an ongoing saga at the State House. Does
does her pronouncement move that process forward?
Speaker 5 (24:04):
I'm not sure it moves the process forward so much
as it's just trying to get the you know, top
democrats in power. We think of the three most powerful
Democrats in Massachusetts, Governor Moore Heally, House Speaker Ron Mariana,
Senate President Karen Spilker at least in you know, state
wide offices, and then the legislature. You know, Spilka backing
this effort won't necessarily move it forward. I think it
(24:26):
might give you know, her rank and file members of
Q of where she stands. You know this, this effort
to replace the state flag has been going on for
quite a while. I'm sure, I'm sure you know Dan.
We've had two state commissions now, one of them failed
to come up with recommendations, and there are contentious arguments
on both side of whether you know, the current flag
is offensive or if it's you know, a respective historical symbol.
(24:49):
So Spilka today told me that, you know, she thinks
it needs to be more inclusive, something that people can
rally behind. I don't know whether that's gonna, you know,
really push it at all, but certainly it's it's important
to know where Spilka, one of the most powerful Democrats
in the state House, stands.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, my last comment. You may not be aware of it,
but I have proposed a compromise, and that is that
they have to have a new motto and also a
new state seal. There they're thinking about that, and I'm
suggesting we just take the head of a seal, make
it the state seal, and put it on the flag
from Massachusetts, because there's nothing cuter than those little seals
when you're in the harbor down the cape and they
(25:23):
stick their heads up with the furry little fur whiskers
and all of that. But no one seems to be
buying into it. I just thought that would be the
perfect compromise. Hey, thanks Chris. I'll take that as a win.
Chris Finbuskrekt, state House reporter for the Boston Herald. Chris,
thanks very much. I really appreciate you coming time on Thursday.
(25:45):
I have a great weekend. Okay. You know, since you're
at the State House, I feel it's okay for me
to wish you a great weekend on Thursday evening. If
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Thank you. Good one. When we get back, we're going
to talk more seriously. Although that was kind of serious conversation.
We're going to talk a little bit more seriously about
a disorder. It's known as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated
with streptococcus. And we're going to talk with a mom
(26:17):
who was the executive director of the Look Foundation. Her
son has this condition, and there's an upcoming march on
October fourth at the Boston Common and we'd like to
get some of you involved in out there. We'll be
back on Nightside right after this very quick commercial break.
My name is Dan Ray and it is our Thursday
(26:37):
night here in WBC Boston Land.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
It's Night's Eye with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Sometimes we don't understand the circumstances that other families are
dealing with. And we're going to speak with Jennifer Vitelli.
She's the executive director of the Look Foundation. First of all, Jenny,
I'm assuming the Look Foundation has a lot to do
with the situation that your son is dealing with pandas
(27:08):
before we describe Candace, tell me a little bit about
the Look Foundation.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
Absolutely, Dan, thank you first of all having me on.
The Look Foundation is thanks is a nonprofit organization and
we are dedicated to redefining the course of mental health
by ensuring that no child or young adult with pandas
PANS is missed, and we do that through providing well
we have like three pillar areas, support, education, awareness, so
(27:36):
we support families. We do that through financial support. We
have a grant program. To date, we've done a lot
over four hundred thousand dollars in healing grants for families
to help them, and we provide actual resources. We've surprised
emotional supports and education. We go into schools, communities, medical
(27:57):
providers educating them on pandas and pants and then awareness
is at the forefront of everything. We do because often
people don't know what pandas pants is and it is
very important it is estimated.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
No, I got to tell you, I had never heard
of this condition before today, and and I'm you know,
honored that you will talk about it. We're also going
to talk about the walk on Saturday, Autoby fourth. I
was done to find out that thirty three thousand children,
or one in two hundred, that would be a half
of one percent of children. And I assume that means
(28:35):
people under the age of eighteen here in Massachusetts suffered
from what known as a pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated
with strep to Caucus, which now strep to Caucus is
you know, a really bad I believe sore throat lining
(28:57):
of the sore throat, and obviously that is horrific, but
it then mutates into this condition that's called pandas.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Is that, yes, So then this PANDA is that, like
you said, with the strip is the trigger, but then
there's like the overarching it's called PANS pediatric acute neuropsychiatric syndrome.
Both are medical conditions that are brought on by an infection.
So it can be strapped mono COVID line and what
happens is it creates a misdirected immune response resulting in
(29:31):
brain inflammation. And then what happens after that, and some
of these children is our young adults, is that they
start exhibiting life changing mental health or behavioral health symptoms
such as OCD, motor and vocal texts, restrictive eating, ADHD,
sleep disturbances, unfounded fear is, depression, suicidal ideations. It can
(29:53):
come on rather abruptly, hence the acute, although for some
kids it's a little more gradual. But in either case,
the child or young adults is just not themselves anymore.
And however, when properly diagnosed and treated, these children heal.
And so I am so grateful for this opportunity and
any opportunity to be able to talk about pandaspands and
(30:15):
bring awareness to this illness because it's not rare.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
It's just being really so okay, when you say that
children heal, how do we define what does healy mean?
Speaker 6 (30:29):
Yelling? So they are have been previously diagnosed with OCD
or a eating disorder, or they have depression, and all
of a sudden, you know, not sun, I mean, there's
a process to the yelling, but they are you know,
they figure out the root cause they are looking and
get the proper treatment. And you know, the treatment is
(30:51):
different depending on your case, from mild to severe, and
the treatment can be something as simple as believers not
antibiotics and anti inflammatories to up to immune modulating treatments
that can help alleviate the symptoms.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And so this is not I just want what I'm hearing.
I want to make sure this is not necessarily a
lifelong condition, correct.
Speaker 6 (31:19):
I mean I saw it with both of my children.
I have four sons. But yes, I've seen the healing
and I see it every day in the foundation and
the families that we support.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Is there any commonality of the again, is the strip
to caucus is that bacterial or viral or does it make.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
It It's a great question. It actually doesn't make a
difference with PAN does it is specific strip that you
know is the trigger? But with PANS it is. It
can be a viral trigger, it can be a bacterial trigger,
and it creates thisness directed immune response.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
And it is so therefore, what what I think I'm
here and you tell me is that this is not
when we when we talk about autism for example, generally
there's a period UH in the toddler's life anywhere from
eighteen months to three years, where there's this onset of
(32:21):
you know, not interacting, of changing personality, and they eventually
can lead to a diagnosis of autism. This is much
more of a diagnosis that can be treated and can be,
if not cured, at least reversed so that these children
(32:43):
can can continue to develop UH and will not show
signs of this set of circumstances. There's a lot of
hope with this particular, just a.
Speaker 6 (32:54):
Lot of hope, Okay, especially in the middle of a
mental health crisis where we have one in five children
being diagnosed with a major mental health disorder, and you know,
the suicide being the second leading cause of death between
ages ten and twenty four. Pandas pans actually brings hope
to this if we're looking underlying you know, ever, before
a child or young adult goes down the path of
(33:16):
a mental health diagnosis, they should be doing a medical
rule out every single time.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Okay, So now the walk, let's talk about the walk.
The walk is a week from this Saturday. It's on
Boston Common.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
What time of day, So it's Saturday, October fourth, in
the Boston Common. We are really excited. This is our
second annual. It was pretty incredible last year. Families, patients,
medical providers, legislators, business leaders. We had you know, the
mascots will be there from the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics,
(33:50):
all locking arms to raise critical funds, drive awareness, push progress.
And yeah, it was really really an incredible, incredible day
and pandaepant. Families in the community at large just you know,
walk away for support.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Am am okay, well that's good. I don't want people
showing up too early. I don't want them showing up
too lay.
Speaker 6 (34:12):
Thank you, thank you, am.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Where do you gather? Where do you gather? Do you
gather near the Parkman Bandstand?
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Do you gather by the steps Stuck House right at
the Parkman Bandstand? The walk takes place through the Common.
We'll go past the State House. And for more information,
people can visit our website lookfoundation dot org. And it's yeah,
it's going to be an amazing day.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Is it a fund is it? Is it a fundraiser
or is it a day to raise awareness as opposed
to funds or both? It's both.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Thank you for asking. We our goal is two hundred
thousand dollars and all the funds raised will go to
our grant program that supports these children and their families
and young adults with hands and pans. So we do
one annual fundraiser a year to support that program. And
that's this is this is it.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
On the Boston Common And well, this is this is,
this is It's amazing. I have learned so much in
this segment. You've explained it really well. Jennifer McCormick vy
Telly vy Telly, who is the executive director of the
Look Foundation. How long has this foundation been in existence?
Speaker 6 (35:28):
The foundation? In twenty thirteen, we started one foundation called
any Pans and then twenty seventeen there was another foundation,
JBC Pandas Pans Foundation, and the two came together. It
was all the same and we founded the Look Foundation.
We rebranded to the Look Foundation a couple of years ago,
but the foundation itself has been doing work for over
(35:50):
a decade.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Yeah. And then my last question, and I'm willing at
about a minute left here, when was this again your
character rise it as a disorder, this either pandas or
peans disorder with you, which is so well described. When
was that first determined to exist. I'm sure this is
not something that is has been you know, it may
(36:13):
have been around for a long time, but when was
it first designated as this specific disorder? How long ago?
Speaker 6 (36:21):
Doctor Susan Sweeto down the NIMH in the late nineties
point the term pandas when she was studying yes, once
she was studying STRIP and OCD and rheumatic fever down there.
But it's not new. I mean, this has been if
you look at the Spanish flu and the neuropsychiatric soquela
(36:41):
that came after that in the nineteen eighteen. I mean,
this is not new, right, And if anything, COVID shed
a light on, you know, the neuropsychiatric and mental health
symptoms that can come after a infection.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
So all right, Jennifer, we're right up on the time
here again. I so appreciate again, give us one more time.
The website where people can get information for the walk
on onctob of the fourth at ten o'clock on.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
The Common Thank you Look Foundation dot org.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Perfect well done, Jennifer, Thank you very much. You're a
great guest. Appreciate it and thank you. When we get back,
we're going to talk about a relatively new organization called
Day of AI, which may lead the way as we
move into the future, into the future of artificial intelligence.
(37:34):
I will explain to be talking with Jeff Riley, the
former Commissioner of Education both primary and secondary education here
in Massachusetts. This will be a very interesting hour stay
with us
It's Nights with Dan Ray. I'm going you Easy Bondon's
news Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Well, here we go on a Thursday night. We are
about four hours away from Friday morning right now, and
if you stay with us, we'll take you all the way, virtue,
all the way to Friday morning. My name is Dan Ray,
host of night Side. I am here every Monday through
Friday night from eight until midnight. I'll be here this
Tomorrow night. We've been here all week. It's been kind
(00:26):
of a very at times tragic at times sad at
times interesting month of September. And we still have a
few days left. We are now in the fall, as
I think all of you know. And Rob Brooks is
back in the control room tonight. He will be here
tomorrow night as well, I believe, so we will finish
the week strong tonight and tomorrow night. Coming up tonight,
(00:47):
we're going to introduce you to an organization of which
I have some knowledge. Is called the Day of AI.
It's a group that actually comes to us. Was formed
over at MIT and this organization, which now is headed
in part by Jeff Riley, the former Commissioner of Education
(01:09):
here in Massachusetts, has taken it upon themselves to develop
a program whereby they would teach teachers across the country
how to teach AI to students. Very interesting concept. We'll
also talk later on tonight with doctor Alfred Miller about
his thoughts, and I will tell you that he has
(01:30):
some very strong thoughts on the White House's claim earlier
this week that a set of mitafin or thailanol as
it is called, actually causes autism. He does not buy
that at all. He has another theory. And I've never
heard doctor Miller as angry. He's a very gentle and
(01:53):
nice man. And we will hear him tonight at ten o'clock.
But first we have four great guests here at the
eight o'clock. We're going to start off as we do
Thursday nights, with Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe Cold Case Files
reporter and Blater Tales columnist. And Emily. Tonight, we're going
to talk about disappearance that goes back to nineteen eighty four,
(02:15):
so this is now forty one years ago, and it's
kind of intriguing the disappearance of Christopher Bird. Welcome back
to Night Side. Tell us about this cold case.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, Dan, thank you so much for having me. This
is a weird case. Christopher Bird was twenty five years old.
He was from Haverol and he was a teacher and
you know, very well liked guy. You know, I was
very young, only twenty five when he disappeared. The last
(02:48):
known sighting of him was July twenty ninth, nineteen eighty four,
and the last sighting of him was at this place
called B and Q Stables up and Windom, New Had, Hampshire.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So this is in July. He's a teacher, so he's
kind of in the middle of summer vacation here. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Absolutely, he was married and he told his wife at
the time that he was going to go hiking or
camping with a friend and he never came home and
that the wife reporting reported him missing. And it's really
interesting because his friend, you know, has been questioned by
(03:27):
police for his disappearance. Police think, you know, he didn't
just disappear on his own, you know that this is
definitely suspicious, but his body has never been found. His car,
he was driving, a Mercury Comet at the time, was
found a few days later after he didn't come home,
(03:47):
and it was found at the Mathuin Mall with a
couple of tires that were deflated. And yeah, very strange.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Again, I asked these questions because you know the case,
I don't when did his friend report the friend was
that the person who was who reportedly was last seen
by the bye of the victim at the D and
Q Stables in Wyndham.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yeah, so the police believe that friend was the last
person to see him alive. And his wife reported a
missing when because she had gone away with her sister
for the weekend and so when she came home, you know,
you know, he hadn't been home for a few days,
and she was the one that went to police. So
(04:38):
the friend is Richard Brunt, and he moved to Florida
and he was never charged with us and but you know,
police did question him. And again, you know, we're putting
this out there and so our investigators just if anybody
has any information, because media sports see Richard Brunt has
(05:01):
passed away. I'm in the process of getting his death
certificate just to make sure, you know, And yeah, we're
just putting it out there if anybody you know.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
So, okay, so let me just in terms of background,
you've looked at this, was there any suggestion that this
meet up with his friend was a disagreement over money, gambling, drugs,
any anything of that nature. I mean, this is a teacher.
Was he an elementary school teacher, high school teacher. He
couldn't teach.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
So you know, actually I just spoke with one of
Chris Bird's old friends that knew him grown up in Harol,
and she was telling me that, you know, he had
a teaching job at a school called New Life Christian
Academy and Harol and apparently Brunt was a principal there
or head of school there, and that's probably how they met.
(05:54):
His wife told police, you know, when he was went
missing that you know, him and Brunt had been hanging
out for like a few months, you know. And yeah,
so it's very strange. And again, you know, nobody knows
what happened to him. No, you know what, somebody does.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
No criminal record activity in either of the background of
these two gentlemen, well.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You know, not for bird Bird. You know, he was
very clean cut, good, you know, good guy, good student.
Richard Brunt, though, actually did time in a Florida prison
for stabbing his roommate to death in nineteen seventy five, and.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Nine years later he's up in Boston the head of
a Christian academy school of some sort.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yes, yeah, whoa yeah, and he moved around a lot too,
And that's another thing I want. I'm really I'm glad
you're putting a focus on the stories in because I
just wanted to you never know, there.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Could be you know, if this has kicked off anything
in anyone's mind. Who happens to be listening and what
someone would like to get in touch with you confidentially
or whatever. How did they reach you? What's the easiest
way for them to reach you?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah, well you can always email me at the Globe.
My email address is Emily dot Sweeney at Globe dot com.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
More than that, Emily, Emily dot Sweeney at Globe dot com.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Okay, yeah, yeah, and yeah, it's it's a you know,
I'm still working on this and the story should be
coming out the next couple of days. So this is
a little preview. Dan, I'm still well, I really do appreciate.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Look, here's the deal. What you got to not you
want just better than anybody. But but the audience needs
to understand is this disappearance forty one years ago. So
the person who has disappeared was twenty five if he
were to be alive today, hit be sixty six and
probably retired. The person who last saw him him has
(08:01):
apparently some things of interest in his background, despite the
fact that did he stay very long in that position
as the headmaster at this Christian academy school. Do you
know that off hand?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
You know, I've been trying to put together taught You know,
he did have a teaching he was teaching in Florida
at the time of when he got arrested for killing
his roommate. You know, he was teaching at a high school.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
And yeah, well, I'll tell you. The other thing, which
I think people should understand is probably a tip from
someone might be the solution. I would assume that the
detectives who worked this case in nineteen eighty five, forty
one years ago are now long since retired. So that
(08:48):
also is a complication because their institutional knowledge leaves the
station when they retire. They leave notes and pictures and
observations and sage questions and conjecture. But there's probably a
new set of detectives up there by now. So Emily,
I wish you best of luck. My sense is you're
(09:09):
going to get a tip on this well.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I'm hoping crossing my fingers.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Dan, Well, we didn't even scratch the surface. Maybe if
we do this one again at some point we can
get into what happened to the rest of Christopher's family.
Uh is his wife and he have any children? I
just got so many questions. We're just flat out of
time here. But yeah, I's like a fascinating case. You
(09:34):
have a great job, and you're and you're doing great work.
Emily is always thank you so much, thanks for being
with us, sir in night Side.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Thanks Dan, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
All right, we'll talk soon. Well, that's an interesting case.
That one that that's solvable. In my opinion, that's solvable,
and if anybody can do it, it'll be Emily Sweety
of the Boston Globe Cold Case Files. In a moment,
we're going to come up going to talk about a
new billing practice at Mass General Brigham. I think you'll
find it interesting. I'm going to talk with Jonathan Saltzman,
(10:05):
a really solid reporter at the Boston Globe. Be right
back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Delighted to welcome Jonathan Salzman, Boston Globe reporter really solid reporter, Jonathan,
welcome to Nightside.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
I admire your work, so thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
So Mass General Brigham, which had some layoffs earlier this
year that really rattled a lot of people's cubicles and
and office of spaces at Mass General, now is going
to build your personal care physician. When your personal care
(10:47):
physician in treating you consults with a specialist about your care.
There's something about that that doesn't sound right to me.
What is mass How does Mass General Brigham justified that?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
To be clear, the new the new policy is that
Mass General freedom is going to build patients and their insurers.
If the primary care doctors uh consult specialists on a
digital platform that mgb uses and patients are going to
(11:26):
be are going to be charged for those consultations.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So fair enough, but uh a digital platform. You A
lot of people have been led to believe that you
have a personal care physician. And would this include personal
care physicians who are affiliated with Mass General Brigham.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Yeah. Yeah, So if you go to your PCP and
at Mass General Brigham and the doctor has a question,
uh about a diagnosis or whatever, very often doctors will
consult specialists and they used to be called curbside consultations
(12:11):
as though the doctor was running into a specialist outside
the hospital. And so since twenty fourteen, MGB has been
using this digital platform called e consults And what happens
is the primary care provider will reach out to a
(12:33):
specialist from time to time to see if he or
she's got the right diagnosis. But for years, for more
than a decade, no one has been charged. The MGB
has been absorbing the cost of that. And starting like
next month, the hospital the specialists will build patients. So
(12:58):
to have insurance, you know that you or you're insure're
going to have to have to pay for.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
That, right.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
I guess what strikes me here is if you were,
let's say, living in California and your personal care physician
was separated apart from Mass General Brigham and they had
to consult with a specialist there, I kind of get that,
But once you're a patient of a doctor who's associated
(13:26):
with a hospital, some might argue, and maybe even I
might suspect that this is just opening up another revenue
stream from Mass General Brigham. Am I being too cynical here?
I mean, I have no idea who authorizes that consultation?
That is the primary care physician obligated to say to
the patient, look, by the way, I'm going to do
(13:47):
a consult on your situation today. I think you need it,
and they will tell the patient in advance, depending upon
their circumstance. Your insurance is going to cover ninety percent
of it. But this is what it's going to cost you,
or you don't have insurance, this is do they need
to get the permission? Boy, there's there's more questions here
that I have in my mind about this. It just
seems to me it's once again the hospitals, you know,
(14:12):
taking it out on the patients and the insurance companies.
It's it's to do it for free and for eleven years.
I'd love to know what prompt to change.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Well, you're not alone in being concerned about it, thank you.
And primary care primary care doctors told me that they're
worried about this because they think they're going to face
the blowback from patients when patients get billed for having
(14:46):
a specialist way in on on their medical cases. So
there are a lot of primary care doctors who who
are upset about this and fear that they're the ones
who are going to get blame.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Well, I wonder if even if there's been a protocol established,
I mean, if my doc felt that he needed to consult. Uh,
my attitude would be, hey, I want you to consult,
But maybe every patient would feel the way. I'd like
to know in advance, what's the consultation going to cost
and and and what benefit might accrue to me? Uh. Now,
maybe it's going to cost me to spend some time
(15:22):
with the PCP to determine whether or not it becomes
very bureaucratic and very expensive and simultaneously inconvenient.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
I well, that's why I did the story.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, okay. And as a reporter, I know that you're
you're a good, great reporter. You're going to stay right
down the middle. Uh. And and I very much appreciate
the acknowledgment why you did this story, because when I
read the story, it was yesterday's good I believe. I
read the story and I said, Uh, this is one
we need to think more about. We're gonna we'll talk
(15:58):
about this some night. And I'm I won't put you
on the spot because you're a reporter. I as a
talk show host, have an opportunity sometimes to ask questions
which might somehow suggest how I feel about this. If
you get my drift. Hey, Jonathan, thanks so much for
being available. I did. If I wasn't trying to put
(16:19):
you on the spot, I just was trying to ask questions. Okay,
I got it. Thanks Jonathan, appreciate it very much. Thank
you for your jograph. Look forward to having you back.
Thank you, good night. All right. It is now exactly
eight thirty, which is perfect timing when we come back
on and talk with a state house reporter for the
Boston Herald, Chris Vann Buskirk, about a new vision for
(16:41):
state high school graduation requirements here in Massachusetts. Mcast is gone,
but there's I guess six goals vision. It's it's a
very amorphous kind of characterization. So we'll we'll talk with
the state house reporter for the Herald, Chris Buskirk, and
then later on time at eight forty five, we're going
(17:04):
to talk with the executive director of the Look Foundation
about a rear disorder called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated
with Strep de caucus. It's called pandas I got a
lot of questions on that one. We'll be back on
(17:24):
nightside right after the news at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
You're on Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
All right, Chris Vann Buskirk, Boston Herald reporter, Chris, Welcome
back to Nightside.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Thanks for joining us, Hey, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
We're going to be talking with the former Secretary of Education,
Jeff Riley. But the secretary of the current Secretary of
Education made some news yesterday. We've got rid of the
mcast standards here in Massachusetts, which I think was a
mistake personally, but I'm just one person. However, the state
(18:03):
now has come up with what they're calling a vision.
Kind of an odd phrase, but a vision for statewide
high school graduation requirements. Can you explain that. I watched
some news reports yesterday and I think I got it.
But I think that probably a lot of people like
me are saying, where is the standard here? Other than
(18:24):
you know, sixth a vision. I have a vision that
I want to pitch for the Red Sox in the
World Series, but I don't think that's likely to happen.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Well, Dan, I'd love to see you pitch for the Socks.
That'd be great, But you're right, this is just there
was a day.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
There was a day many years ago.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yeah, this vision is it's just kind of like an
initial finding from the Governor's office. You'll remember that in
January during her State of the Commonwealth, she laid out
that she still thinks, Governor Morehey, still thinks that the
state should have some sort of state wide graduation require
after you said, voters last year got rid of the
(19:03):
mcast is our graduation requirement. This is just an outline
of what the state is thinking. We won't actually get
whatever statewide graduation requirement the Governor's office is putting together
until later this fall. They're going to unveil initial findings
later this fall, with a final report in a more
detailed romance next year. What we got this week was
(19:25):
an outline with three broad categories. Students in Massachusetts need
to be thinkers, contributors, and leaders, and within that academically
prepared critical problem solvers, self aware navigators, intentional collaborators, effective communicators,
and responsible decision makers. So there's really not a lot
of detail to meet. This is just an outline of
(19:46):
you know, the Governor's office saying, Okay, here's what we're
thinking students need to learn. What students need to be
when they graduate high school. It's not yet that statewide
standard that the Governor said she's still looking to put
in place.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
It's I would use would I would use its aspirational.
I mean, you know, I'm not saying it's a bad aspiration,
but not as a bad aspiration for me to dream
about pitching for the Red Sox. I hope they get
to the World Series with or without me. By the way,
So how is this received? You know, up at the
(20:20):
State House? Was there? You know again I realized you're
a straight reporter. You're not going to give me any
editorial commentary. But I this sort of like some skepticism
that I feel with this, and I can sort of
express that because I'm a talk show host. Most of
your your colleagues at the State House buying into this.
(20:43):
Do they think that, hey, this is a great uh,
you know, compromise. Now that mcast has gone, how are
they characterizing it?
Speaker 5 (20:51):
Yeah? I think a lot of people are still left
with questions. When the governor laid out the fact that
she still wanted a statewide graduation requirement even after we
got rid of the mcast last year, a lot of
us were wondering how is that statewide graduation requirement, whatever
it's going to be going to be enforced. The Governor's
office this week said that they'll roll out whatever mechanism
(21:14):
that's going to be later this year and next year.
But you're right, this is just an outline. This is,
you know, as you said, aspirational. I still want to
see how this is going to be translated into regulations
or an actual requirement, And most importantly, it still remains
to be seen how any of this can be enforced
(21:37):
or required, if at.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
All, let me ask you about another situation up there,
which I've kind of lost track of, And if this
is an unfair question, please tell me. Has there been
any progress made that you're aware of by the state
auditor to actually effectuate the audits that she would like
to conduct of the state legislature of the House and Senate.
(22:00):
It seems to me that that we're now into the
new fiscal year on a federal level, but we're into
sort of like summer's over and everybody's got to kind
of get back to work in school. Are you getting
a sense We had the auditor on here about a
month ago, and she seemed really frustrated at the lack
(22:23):
of cooperation from the from the state legislature. Is there
any movement afoot that you're aware of?
Speaker 5 (22:30):
You know, I have to be honest with you, Dan,
that's something that's kind of slid into, you know, just
under the radar, certainly still simmering. I mean, as your
as your listeners clearly know. You know, Question one past November.
It gave the State Auditor's Office the explicit authority to
crack open the books of the legislature.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And it was and it was I remember it was
not a close felt. I believe it was.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Seventy two, that's correct, and yeah, it was. It was
not a close vote. From my understanding. It's still a
back and forth between Auditor Diana Desaglio and Attorney General
Andrea Campbell. Both sides feel that, you know, the other
is not giving them enough information, and I think that's
where the roadblock is and until some sort of breakthrough
(23:18):
happens there. You know, I don't know if it needs
to come from the Auditor's office or it needs to
come from the AG's office. I'm I'm sure if you
ask either side it'll need you know, they'll say it
needs to come from the other. But I think until
we see a breakthrough there, it's probably just going to
be the salemate that has been since the election last fall.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah, and which means that that the the audit never occurs.
So mean, since I don't get a chance to talk
to you frequently, I read today that the State Senate
President Spilka said she thinks it's time to get a
new flag for the carwalth of Massachusetts, and I know
(23:55):
that that's an ongoing saga at the State House. Does
does her pronouncement move that process forward?
Speaker 5 (24:04):
I'm not sure it moves the process forward so much
as it's just trying to get the you know, top
democrats in power. We think of the three most powerful
Democrats in Massachusetts, Governor Moore Heally, House Speaker Ron Mariana,
Senate President Karen Spilker at least in you know, state
wide offices, and then the legislature. You know, Spilka backing
this effort won't necessarily move it forward. I think it
(24:26):
might give you know, her rank and file members of
Q of where she stands. You know this, this effort
to replace the state flag has been going on for
quite a while. I'm sure, I'm sure you know Dan.
We've had two state commissions now, one of them failed
to come up with recommendations, and there are contentious arguments
on both side of whether you know, the current flag
is offensive or if it's you know, a respective historical symbol.
(24:49):
So Spilka today told me that, you know, she thinks
it needs to be more inclusive, something that people can
rally behind. I don't know whether that's gonna, you know,
really push it at all, but certainly it's it's important
to know where Spilka, one of the most powerful Democrats
in the state House, stands.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, my last comment. You may not be aware of it,
but I have proposed a compromise, and that is that
they have to have a new motto and also a
new state seal. There they're thinking about that, and I'm
suggesting we just take the head of a seal, make
it the state seal, and put it on the flag
from Massachusetts, because there's nothing cuter than those little seals
when you're in the harbor down the cape and they
(25:23):
stick their heads up with the furry little fur whiskers
and all of that. But no one seems to be
buying into it. I just thought that would be the
perfect compromise. Hey, thanks Chris. I'll take that as a win.
Chris Finbuskrekt, state House reporter for the Boston Herald. Chris,
thanks very much. I really appreciate you coming time on Thursday.
(25:45):
I have a great weekend. Okay. You know, since you're
at the State House, I feel it's okay for me
to wish you a great weekend on Thursday evening. If
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Thank you. Good one. When we get back, we're going
to talk more seriously. Although that was kind of serious conversation.
We're going to talk a little bit more seriously about
a disorder. It's known as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated
with streptococcus. And we're going to talk with a mom
(26:17):
who was the executive director of the Look Foundation. Her
son has this condition, and there's an upcoming march on
October fourth at the Boston Common and we'd like to
get some of you involved in out there. We'll be
back on Nightside right after this very quick commercial break.
My name is Dan Ray and it is our Thursday
(26:37):
night here in WBC Boston Land.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
It's Night's Eye with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Sometimes we don't understand the circumstances that other families are
dealing with. And we're going to speak with Jennifer Vitelli.
She's the executive director of the Look Foundation. First of all, Jenny,
I'm assuming the Look Foundation has a lot to do
with the situation that your son is dealing with pandas
(27:08):
before we describe Candace, tell me a little bit about
the Look Foundation.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
Absolutely, Dan, thank you first of all having me on.
The Look Foundation is thanks is a nonprofit organization and
we are dedicated to redefining the course of mental health
by ensuring that no child or young adult with pandas
PANS is missed, and we do that through providing well
we have like three pillar areas, support, education, awareness, so
(27:36):
we support families. We do that through financial support. We
have a grant program. To date, we've done a lot
over four hundred thousand dollars in healing grants for families
to help them, and we provide actual resources. We've surprised
emotional supports and education. We go into schools, communities, medical
(27:57):
providers educating them on pandas and pants and then awareness
is at the forefront of everything. We do because often
people don't know what pandas pants is and it is
very important it is estimated.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
No, I got to tell you, I had never heard
of this condition before today, and and I'm you know,
honored that you will talk about it. We're also going
to talk about the walk on Saturday, Autoby fourth. I
was done to find out that thirty three thousand children,
or one in two hundred, that would be a half
of one percent of children. And I assume that means
(28:35):
people under the age of eighteen here in Massachusetts suffered
from what known as a pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated
with strep to Caucus, which now strep to Caucus is
you know, a really bad I believe sore throat lining
(28:57):
of the sore throat, and obviously that is horrific, but
it then mutates into this condition that's called pandas.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Is that, yes, So then this PANDA is that, like
you said, with the strip is the trigger, but then
there's like the overarching it's called PANS pediatric acute neuropsychiatric syndrome.
Both are medical conditions that are brought on by an infection.
So it can be strapped mono COVID line and what
happens is it creates a misdirected immune response resulting in
(29:31):
brain inflammation. And then what happens after that, and some
of these children is our young adults, is that they
start exhibiting life changing mental health or behavioral health symptoms
such as OCD, motor and vocal texts, restrictive eating, ADHD,
sleep disturbances, unfounded fear is, depression, suicidal ideations. It can
(29:53):
come on rather abruptly, hence the acute, although for some
kids it's a little more gradual. But in either case,
the child or young adults is just not themselves anymore.
And however, when properly diagnosed and treated, these children heal.
And so I am so grateful for this opportunity and
any opportunity to be able to talk about pandaspands and
(30:15):
bring awareness to this illness because it's not rare.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
It's just being really so okay, when you say that
children heal, how do we define what does healy mean?
Speaker 6 (30:29):
Yelling? So they are have been previously diagnosed with OCD
or a eating disorder, or they have depression, and all
of a sudden, you know, not sun, I mean, there's
a process to the yelling, but they are you know,
they figure out the root cause they are looking and
get the proper treatment. And you know, the treatment is
(30:51):
different depending on your case, from mild to severe, and
the treatment can be something as simple as believers not
antibiotics and anti inflammatories to up to immune modulating treatments
that can help alleviate the symptoms.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And so this is not I just want what I'm hearing.
I want to make sure this is not necessarily a
lifelong condition, correct.
Speaker 6 (31:19):
I mean I saw it with both of my children.
I have four sons. But yes, I've seen the healing
and I see it every day in the foundation and
the families that we support.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Is there any commonality of the again, is the strip
to caucus is that bacterial or viral or does it make.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
It It's a great question. It actually doesn't make a
difference with PAN does it is specific strip that you
know is the trigger? But with PANS it is. It
can be a viral trigger, it can be a bacterial trigger,
and it creates thisness directed immune response.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
And it is so therefore, what what I think I'm
here and you tell me is that this is not
when we when we talk about autism for example, generally
there's a period UH in the toddler's life anywhere from
eighteen months to three years, where there's this onset of
(32:21):
you know, not interacting, of changing personality, and they eventually
can lead to a diagnosis of autism. This is much
more of a diagnosis that can be treated and can be,
if not cured, at least reversed so that these children
(32:43):
can can continue to develop UH and will not show
signs of this set of circumstances. There's a lot of
hope with this particular, just a.
Speaker 6 (32:54):
Lot of hope, Okay, especially in the middle of a
mental health crisis where we have one in five children
being diagnosed with a major mental health disorder, and you know,
the suicide being the second leading cause of death between
ages ten and twenty four. Pandas pans actually brings hope
to this if we're looking underlying you know, ever, before
a child or young adult goes down the path of
(33:16):
a mental health diagnosis, they should be doing a medical
rule out every single time.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Okay, So now the walk, let's talk about the walk.
The walk is a week from this Saturday. It's on
Boston Common.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
What time of day, So it's Saturday, October fourth, in
the Boston Common. We are really excited. This is our
second annual. It was pretty incredible last year. Families, patients,
medical providers, legislators, business leaders. We had you know, the
mascots will be there from the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics,
(33:50):
all locking arms to raise critical funds, drive awareness, push progress.
And yeah, it was really really an incredible, incredible day
and pandaepant. Families in the community at large just you know,
walk away for support.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Am am okay, well that's good. I don't want people
showing up too early. I don't want them showing up
too lay.
Speaker 6 (34:12):
Thank you, thank you, am.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Where do you gather? Where do you gather? Do you
gather near the Parkman Bandstand?
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Do you gather by the steps Stuck House right at
the Parkman Bandstand? The walk takes place through the Common.
We'll go past the State House. And for more information,
people can visit our website lookfoundation dot org. And it's yeah,
it's going to be an amazing day.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Is it a fund is it? Is it a fundraiser
or is it a day to raise awareness as opposed
to funds or both? It's both.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Thank you for asking. We our goal is two hundred
thousand dollars and all the funds raised will go to
our grant program that supports these children and their families
and young adults with hands and pans. So we do
one annual fundraiser a year to support that program. And
that's this is this is it.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
On the Boston Common And well, this is this is,
this is It's amazing. I have learned so much in
this segment. You've explained it really well. Jennifer McCormick vy
Telly vy Telly, who is the executive director of the
Look Foundation. How long has this foundation been in existence?
Speaker 6 (35:28):
The foundation? In twenty thirteen, we started one foundation called
any Pans and then twenty seventeen there was another foundation,
JBC Pandas Pans Foundation, and the two came together. It
was all the same and we founded the Look Foundation.
We rebranded to the Look Foundation a couple of years ago,
but the foundation itself has been doing work for over
(35:50):
a decade.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Yeah. And then my last question, and I'm willing at
about a minute left here, when was this again your
character rise it as a disorder, this either pandas or
peans disorder with you, which is so well described. When
was that first determined to exist. I'm sure this is
not something that is has been you know, it may
(36:13):
have been around for a long time, but when was
it first designated as this specific disorder? How long ago?
Speaker 6 (36:21):
Doctor Susan Sweeto down the NIMH in the late nineties
point the term pandas when she was studying yes, once
she was studying STRIP and OCD and rheumatic fever down there.
But it's not new. I mean, this has been if
you look at the Spanish flu and the neuropsychiatric soquela
(36:41):
that came after that in the nineteen eighteen. I mean,
this is not new, right, And if anything, COVID shed
a light on, you know, the neuropsychiatric and mental health
symptoms that can come after a infection.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
So all right, Jennifer, we're right up on the time
here again. I so appreciate again, give us one more time.
The website where people can get information for the walk
on onctob of the fourth at ten o'clock on.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
The Common Thank you Look Foundation dot org.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Perfect well done, Jennifer, Thank you very much. You're a
great guest. Appreciate it and thank you. When we get back,
we're going to talk about a relatively new organization called
Day of AI, which may lead the way as we
move into the future, into the future of artificial intelligence.
(37:34):
I will explain to be talking with Jeff Riley, the
former Commissioner of Education both primary and secondary education here
in Massachusetts. This will be a very interesting hour stay
with us
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