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HOPKINS
Air Date: Thursday, July 03, 2008
Time Slot: 10:00 PM-11:00 PM EST on ABC
Episode Title: (#202) "Episode 2"
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

AN EMOTIONAL RIDE FOR ONE WOMAN FACING A LUNG TRANSPLANT, ON ABC NEWS' "HOPKINS," AIRING THURSDAY, JULY 3

In the second installment of "Hopkins," time is running out for a woman with an obscure lung disease, and a young surgeon is part of the effort to save her, even as he continues to deal with his own marital problems. The "Hopkins" series captures astounding scenes of medical crisis with young doctors forced to make life and death decisions on the fly. The result is a stunningly intimate portrait of the men and women who call this hospital home. "Hopkins" airs THURSDAY, JULY 3 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Brenda Thompson is suffering from a fatal lung disease. After two failed marriages, her third husband seems to be the man of her dreams. But time is running out. Only a lung transplant can save her, and a new lung may not become available in time. When a donor does become available in New England, there is jubilation. But events take an ominous turn when the donor lungs turn out to be damaged.

Brian Bethea, the promising cardiothoracic surgeon with marital problems, has been sent to harvest the new, damaged lungs. Lately it seems nothing is going right for him, as he continues to deal with issues at home as well. When Brian returns home, he faces explaining to his daughters that he and their mother are separating and that he has found his own apartment.

Mustapha Saheed is in his third year of emergency medicine. At six foot, seven inches tall, this self-described "big black man" cuts a striking figure as he dashes through the ER. Despite the advice of a colleague to not marry the "girlfriend who got you through residency," Saheed makes plans for the altar.

"Hopkins" offers a rare look at the impact this demanding high pressure profession can have on doctors' personal lives. For four months, ABC News' high definition cameras had unparalleled access to this legendary hospital. Over 100 caregivers and patients gave their consent to be filmed. Culled from nearly 1500 hours of footage, "Hopkins" contains scenes that are remarkably raw and private. It also examines the interplay between the public and private worlds of the men and women who wear the white coats. There are no narrators in "Hopkins"; the voices belong to the patients and doctors. Interwoven storylines unfold in scenes of cin�ma v�rit� sequence.

Terence Wrong is producer and executive producer. Brad Hebert and Alex Piper are supervising producers. Rudy Bednar is senior executive producer.

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