>> fox 29 news in hd brought to you by x finity the future of awesome. ♪ >> good evening welcome to this fox 29 special report, your health. i'm iain page. >> lime luce so noland. we're about to start a new year an popular new year's resolution to get fit. how much work do you need to do to answer that you need to know your fitness age. >> joyce evans shows us how to figure all that out. i would say a good like 75 to 80% of the day i'm kind of in my office. >> designing fabric for high-end

department stores and hotels barely leaving her desk. even for lunch. >> i'll just grab something and take it to my desk and eat it. >> rapidly packing on the pounds and more. >> like i wasn't handling stress in the best way that i could. >> enough to send people running to the gym but lindsay baker found out something far more alarming. >> looks good. >> than the number on her scale. >> my fitness age starting out was 47. i'm 31 years old. >> wow! >> yeah. so pretty big difference there. ♪ >> so what she's talking about is her real age. what's called her health or fitness age. how old she is here biologically versus her 31 birthdays. >> her fitness age at that time was 47 which was crazy to me. sean married yet. she didn't even have children yet. >> five, don't forget to breat breathe. >> fit niece guru danielle wasted tonight. tayloring her exercise, nutrition and more.

>> she had some hard road ahead of her as far as keeping on track with that fitness lifestyle. ♪ >> do you have to allow time for your health or it will catch up to you. >> dr. victoria falcone does not treat lindsay but she sees countless patients just like her at her functional medicine practice specializing in the science behind your true age or lifeline. >> it's actually astounding. >> she says the answer is right there in your cells, your dna at the tips of each chromosome called tele mirrors. >> the longer your tele mirrors the longer you're going to live. >> vise versa. depending on your lifestyle. >> smoking, obesity, stress, those things accelerate the rate at which your tell mirrors shorten. >> she says there's more how we manage our nutritional intake, sleep habits and exposure to toxins from food, chemicals and the environment. >> this explains why some people

live very very long lives and some people live very short lives. >> she says a simple blood test tells all. >> take at this time a specialty lab. >> this chart shows the doctors fitness health. >> so i'm green. i'm above the black line which means that my tell mirrors are longer than they should be at my age. >> she's in her fours scoring in her 30s. >> you're doing well. i'm doing well. i'd liked to better. >> she admits some doctors still question the newer technology. >> we don't learn this stuff in medical school. >> as well as other advancements she says preserving health even aft cell damage is done. >> once you shorten them you can't get them back. it might take years for us to discover those technologists. >> in the meantime, she says, you can really slow down your fitness aging process while you grow older chronologically. >> this could be your wake-up call. how are your cells doing? >> what lindsay has been doing for the past year walking that massive fabric warehouse, hitting the gym, sleeping and

eating better, is working. >> i went from 275 to 185. i've lost 90 pounds so far. i went from like a size 22 down to like a size like 10 in dress sizes. >> and she just got the best physical and lab results in years. >> so today my fitness age is 24. ♪ >> your fitness age number may vary depending on the method you use to calculate it. we've got some links that can help you out on our website just head to myfoxphilly.com. >> now unhealthy food is all around us during the holiday season. did you know the way you organize your refrigerator can help you avoid eating too much of it? consumer reports explains how. >> refrigeration location matters. your three times more likely to reach for the foods that are on the middle shelf so those -- that's where you want to stash your healthy foods. and then you want to keep the less than healthy ones like cheese and chocolate you want to keep those in the crispers so they're out of sight out of

hyped. >> all right. experts say it's important to stay hydrated because often when we think we're hungry we are actually thirsty. and speaking of theirs, how about a little wine with that root canal. >> coming up on this fox 29 special report, your health, why some local dentists are offering up some vino for your next visit and not everyone thinks it's such a good idea. >> and after dozens of surgeries and a lot of pain, a local woman has new hope. her amazing story. what happens when she gets the phone call that could chang latte or au lait? cozy or cool?

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♪ >> welcome back to this fox 29 special your health. so do you care for a glass of wine with your next root canal. >> some big city dental offices are offering up a little vino to take off that edge while you wait. joyce checked in with the dentist in our area serving coffee, tea, water and, yes, wine. ♪ >> it's not a typical midday dental visit for diane daily. at the center for dentistry in haddon heights, new jersey. >> i'm feeling a little nervous today. do you think i could have a glass of wine? >> wine while she waits for her date with a drill?

>> thank you. >> it's a first for her. >> i'm just indulging a little bit here before i get my fillings removed. they're all mercury fillings. >> just what the doctor ordered to take the edge off. >> the wine will make me a little more comfortable. in fact i'm feeling a little bit right now. >> it works really well. >> all you need is a half glass says dr. steve marcus. >> it helps ease the transition for some patients from the waiting room to the dental chair. >> very relaxed. very relaxed. >> you still have more to go. >> i know. i just want to pace myself here. i'm getting a little giddy. ♪ >> my goal in treatment of patients is to make sure that they're not whitening link it holding on to the arms of the chair. >> the wine is a very elegant thing to do. >> but not the only nerve soothing substance available. there's herbal tea. >> she's not going to feel a thing. >> to laughing gas. >> nitrous objection sid with stereo headphones to blackout

the noise of the drill amazing. >> says he's been all about chilling patients out since he was a nervous young patient. even when the dentist was his father. >> i couldn't walk into his office without getting chills up and down my spine. >> really? >> he says a spot of wine may have helped him. >> everyone has so much stress. >> turn up your nitrous a little bit. >> if this can relieve some of your stress then why not? >> ♪ >> i think it's a brilliant id idea. >> but don't expect to enjoy a glass any time soon at dr. leonard office. >> no cavities in northeast philadelphia. >> in my office that's not something i want to do. >> uncomfortable about possible complications from medication interaction to maybe somebody driving away unthe influence. >> even though it's free i'm still distributing alcohol without a license. that's what it comes down to. certainly half a cup of wine isn't going to be a major -- we're not having a cocktail party here. >> he says, patients who have

certain medical conditions simply are not allowed any. patients must request it and there are no refills. >> if somebody wants some tea, we'll give them some tea f they need a drink of water, we'll give them drink of water. if they would like a half a glass of wine, it's here. >> diane says she can have a nice row say at home when she's ready to chill. but right now, it's all about helping drown out that drill. >> if he can lighten it up, i'm in. cheers! >> that's what they got to do. >> after dozens of surgeries a local woman has new hope but with a big risk. >> little girl and the face she hopes will pull her through. plus, the remarkable call that could save h

♪ >> welcome back to the fox 29 special, your health. now to a story of tragedy or hope and possibly a miracle. >> a 53-year-old local woman in the fight of her life takes her joyce evans on a journey from chester county to washington, d.c. >> you grab the apples for me. >> carlene, loves to cook. fresh applesauce, homemade the

old-fashioned way. a treat her husband steve doesn't mind helping with the prep. >> dining room on the bottom shelf. >> right behind the antique grandfather clock. a family treasure. it will be sauce just in time for the arrival of another treasure, ava their biological granddaughter who they recently adopted. >> she knows that she's my ang angel. >> you'll see why in just a bit. so life couldn't be more perfect for this family living in the surrene rolling hillside of spring city, pa. except -- >> food doesn't do anything for me. i don't absorb anything. i don't live like every other human being lives. i have a bag, i have a port, i have to could be conscientious of infections. >> she has a big problem with her intestinal tract and she's running out of time to fix it. >> we've done everything

medically and her bowel just won't function. >> why? nobody knows but it has taken quite a toll. >> the first abdominal surgery was in 1986. >> and ever since, there's been snipping, cutting, repairing, and removing. >> 35 abdominal surgeries. >> normally, all this would be white with her bowel. >> now nothing much is left. >> she is getting her, all her nutrition in a very artificial manner. >> through a tube going in. >> it has glucose, it has all my minerals and vitamins that i need in this bag. >> and another tube coming out. >> that's what they call the ill lee i don't say tommy bag that is under here. >> it's been a long hard fight. >> slow decline in act. >> energy. >> and just -- >> a nightmare filled with complications life-threatening infections and tons of heart

ache. >> it's tiring. it's emotional. >> it just landed steve's dear wife on the list of a rare risky and most expensive organ transplant. >> she was relieved, you know, it hit me hard but i've since gotten to the point where i fully acknowledge that there are no other options. >> there is an end to this nightmare. i can restart living a normal life again. >> you're worried for her? >> it scares me to death. >> there are a lot of things that have to kind of line up. >> just the right match and make up from a stall small donor and more. >> she has a fair number of antibodies that search eliminate a lot of donors that she could potentially have. >> they'll have to travel on a moment's notice to med star georgetown university hospital

in washington, d.c. for hours of surgery and months of recovery. under the care of noted bowel transplant surgeon cal mats motto. dr. m for short. >> the healthy you are going into surgery, the better you'll do afterwards. >> you can't give up. they're deep religious faith won't let them down. while waiting for that phone call is agonizing -- >> at some point the call will come and we'll react. >> the family are humble, patient and incredibly empathetic to others on that transplant list. >> you know it's no reason for to us be selfish and make any kind of demands that this has to happen, you know, next week, next month. that would just be unfair to the folks that are much worse off. >> carlene often makes light of it all. i'm going to have to be honest with you. i have moo woe me moments. shower is a good place for it because nobody can hear me cry. >> but you can save your pity. >> don't be sorry, because i'm

going to fight through this. i'm not sorry. >> what she is -- put your name right there. >> is busy. >> there you go. >> doing what she loves more than anything else. volunteering at the coventry christian school schools in pot. >> i love when they call mrs. mimi here. >> like a rock star moving through the hallways. >> there's no words that can be put to the feeling feelings thae children give to me. >> ♪ >> and the little ones singing is so soothing echoing from the classrooms. ♪ >> her favorite thing, story time in the library. >> and keeping the kids in line checking books in and out. >> all right. >> and while she can't get enough of this kind of loving -- >> see ya. >> come here. >> any chance to steal a moment with her precious ava is worth it. >> well it's actually kind of fun.

>> carlene and steve credit this incredible nine-year-old. >> you're my girl. >> with keeping their spirits high. >> how do you cheer her. >> what she says seeing a smile on my face. >> is that good enough, mom? >> yes. >> just a smile? >> um-hmm. >> yes. her smile can light up any room. >> she's carlene's biggest helper. >> is there number on the back? >> she's truly my light of my life. >> and she never panics were her mom has an emergency. >> no. >> never? >> no. >> how come? >> 'cause i know it's a fact of life. it happens to some people. >> ava is a little worried about the surgery but her mom promised her she won't be gone for good. >> not going to let it happen. just the way it is, right? >> well shortly after that story aired late last month carlene got the call she was waiting for a donor was found. >> family raced to washington, d.c. for surgery. fox 29 was right there with

them. we'll show you

♪ >> welcome back. the story of carlene has grabbed a lot of hearts. >> and just hours after we first told you about her fight for life she raced to washington, d.c. for life-saving surgery and our joyce evans was there. >> just as we were introducing to you this family on our news at 10:00, more news was breaking in carlene's nearly life long battle that led to 35 surgeries and landed her on a very rare and risky organ transplant list. >> i can restart living a normal

life again. >> that fateful call came. >> she asked me did i want it? and i said, of course, i want -- of course i wanted it. >> the lump goes into your throat a little bit. just because of the anxiety, you know, very nervous. it's not 100% guarantee. >> they scrambled from spring city, chester county, to washington, d.c. a donor for large and small intestines was matching up amazingly well with just what carlene needed. >> all the parameters the lab, um, the size we thought, everything else looked really good. but you never really know until you're at the the operation. the medical team prepared carlene for what was taking place in the wee hours of the morning. then they flew out of state to the site of the donor. >> it's 1:00 o'clock in the morning and we're headed to carlene's hospital room here at med star georgetown university hospital. she's just hours away from surgery now. >> she and steve overwhelmed

with every emotion. >> it's very tough. i'm scared. but i rely on my faith. >> and the hope of a normal live with their precious adopted daughter ava who sent hannah along for comfort. >> it's been emotional day, a nerve racking day. it's been a little bit of everything. >> i'm looking at my tomorrows. this is my tomorrows. and for that, put me through what i have to go through. >> neither slept a wink as the clock ticked toward time to head to pre op, but miles away things were changing as the donor organ was being collected. >> we kept hearing it's a go, it's a go. >> yup. it was a go up until the time we actually did the operation. in the process of removing the organs and found it was not suitable for transplant. the quality of it. >> not worth the risk. so before dawn, carlene and steve were back in spring city, pa. >> he said that the intestine was fatty and large.

>> i felt as if my stomach had just dropped. everything had just fallen at that moment and then i had to kind of regroup. >> so it wasn't a total surpri surprise, but very much a disappointment. >> but the day was not a total loss. >> and then there was this. support and encourage many all over facebook. many posts from total strangers. >> it's amazing. >> we appreciate all -- all of the kind words and the thoughts and prayers. >> it's just so touching. i can't put words to it. >> so now the wait goes on again. >> it may be round two. it may be round three. it's not up to us. >> carlene is still waiting for the right donor and she is still hopeful. >> we are hopeful for her as well. that does it for us thanks for watching this fox 29 special report

>> announcer: a mother loses custody. >> judge judy: are your two children still with you, miss dixon? >> they are with my brother. >> announcer: now are more kids at risk? >> judge judy: does he have children? >> yes, ma'am. >> judge judy: you take care of his children, and your brother is taking care of your children, court-placed? >> i know she's a good caretaker. i've been around her. >> judge judy: so the state of florida was incorrect? >> i think so, yes. >> judge judy: i'm just trying to wrap my head around this. >> announcer: "judge judy." you are about to enter the courtroom of judge judith sheindlin. the people are real. the cases are real. the people are real. the cases are real. the rulings are final. captions paid for by cbs television distribution malynda downing and lance wiedenheft are suing 22-year-old aimee dixon for vandalizing their cars and for stealing property. >> byrd: order! all rise!