The Pulse – December 20, 2013

Two decades after the release of the Oscar-winning movie “Philadelphia,” we take a look back at the film’s legacy, its impact on Philadelphians living with AIDS, and the distance traveled in fighting HIV and AIDS in the last twenty years.

Along the way we meet Sue Ellen Kehler, an HIV patient who was chosen to be an extra in the film, and we talk with Dr. Michael Braffman, and infectious disease specialist who remembers how AIDS impacted the city of Philadelphia.

Also on the show, Austin Seraphin can’t see, but with the click of his tongue he’s unlocked a way to experience a world hidden from most of us. The technique is called echolocation, and Seraphin sees it as a valuable tool for the blind community.

It’s hard to find anything funny about being diagnosed with celiac disease, unless you’re seeing it through the eyes of Philadelphia comedian, Valerie DiMambro. She recounts the story of finding out she had celiac disease and how its changed her life.

Christmas trees beware! A furry little pest called the wooly adelgid has been turning up all over Eastern Pennsylvania and sucking the life force out of deciduous evergreens. But you can play a part in helping to keep these beloved evergreens alive. Tune in to find out how.

For those stories and more, click on the audio icon above.