Sentara to use Twitter during surgery

NORFOLK, Va. - Instant messages are changing the way the world communicates. Using Twitter you can track breaking news, your favorite celebrity and Wednesday, for the first time, you'll also be able to track a kidney donation surgery at Sentara.

"If they have a question about it they can twitter their question to us and we can respond live during the webcast," said webcast producer Robin Crane.

The surgery is pre-recorded. Surgeons will walk you through the entire procedure as it airs live on the web Wednesday evening.

"They may ask, 'What was that we just saw on the screen,' or "What type of instruments are you using?'" explained Crane.

Sisters who had the surgery in Norfolk three months ago will also be on the webcast.

"I have no idea what Twitter is. I keep hearing about it and I don't know what it is."

But Sarah Schultz does know how a transplant patient feels.

Her sister Anna Parks knows how it feels to donate a kidney. "It really was not a big cost or toll on my life to be able to give that to her," Anna told WAVY.com.

The sisters will join the doctors to answer questions and offer comments from a patient's perspective.

"I think we both just hope that people will see what a benefit it is to give a kidney and how easy it is for the donor and how it really does change your life," said Sarah.

Now that they're happy and healthy again, the women say they're ready to change with the times and tackle Twitter.

The webcast airs at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening. You can go online and watch anytime, but
If you want to receive the twitter updates you'll need to sign up ahead of time.

Click on the link below to sign up:

twitter.com/sentarahealth