Good Morning America on Velvet for February 18

BERLIN HEART
Houston hospital is leading the way to get a new pediatric heart pump approved for use in the US. The device could help keep hearts beating in children who are awaiting a transplant. Doctors at Texas Children's Hospital are leading a clinical trial on a German manufactured pediatric heart pump called the "Berlin heart." It's a device that can save a baby's life. Dr. Charles Fraser, Chief Pediatric Surgery at Texas Children's Hospital, said, "We view this as a giant step forward for children who have & historically not had the option of such a device for supporting failing circulation." The Berlin heart has not yet earned FDA approval. But over the next three years, Texas Children's, along with 10 other hospitals, will collect data on the device and report back to the FDA. What makes this important is the size. In the past there was no heart pump that was small enough for a child under 10. This pump is small enough for a newborn. Derrick Hernandez, 13, owes his life to the Berlin. He got one in August while awaiting a heart transplant. He said, "Like a week before I came to the hospital, I was weak and I couldn't do nothing. And when I got the Berlin, I felt like I could do more." With the Berlin heart, the pumping mechanism sits outside the chest, with only tubes implanted to carry blood into and out of the device. It also comes with a bulky external drive unit. But some experts believe it could become the standard of care for children whose chests are often too small for an implantable device. Dr. Jeff Dreyer, a cardiologist at Texas Children's Hospital, explained, "We're able to, not only get them to transplant, but get them to transplant in a better physiologic state, or stronger than they might otherwise be." Four months after getting his heart pump, Derrick received a human heart transplant. He's gained weight and is returning to a more active life. His mother is grateful. "Everything that it did for him, I'd do it again," said Bonnie Fraga. According to Texas Children's, 77% of patients on the Berlin heart have survived to transplant. Right now, the FDA allows doctors to use the device when there's no other option to save a life.

LEARN AND EARN: DOES IT WORK?
Fulton County school officials will pay students to study after school in a new program designed to improve their classroom performance. The program called "Learn & Earn" is being offered to 40 students from Creekside High and Bear Creek Middle schools in Fairburn. The program will give students $8 an hour to study after school. The privately funded program also will offer cash bonuses to students who improve their in-school performance. School officials say the goal is to determine whether paying students to study will improve their performance. The 15-week trial program will be conducted with students in the eighth and 11th grades. Students were selected by school staff, based on attendance, grades, test scores and free or reduced-lunch status. A community kickoff ceremony is planned for 3 p.m. Thursday in the media center at Creekside High School.

VANTAGE POINT
Forest Whitaker, Dennis Quaid, William Hurt, and Matthew Fox star in director Pete Travis' Roshomon-style thriller in which an assassination attempt on the President of the United States is detailed from five unique perspectives. As the president arrives in Madrid, gunshots ring out. An American tourist (Whitaker) has captured footage of the would-be assassin on videotape, and now as the stories of the other four witnesses unfold each essential piece of the puzzle quickly falls into place. Only when all of the stories are told will the chilling truth to this shocking crime finally emerge.

THE END OF AN ERA
After seventeen years on the air, TV talk show personality Montel Williams is calling it quits. He's a man of many talents - he's an actor, producer, motivational speaker, and a counselor in addition to his duties as the host of "The Montel Williams Show." He's also waged a very public battle with multiple sclerosis, as he was diagnosed with MS in 1999. He's used his celebrity to fund scientific research of multiple sclerosis, and he's active in numerous causes including suicide prevention, education abroad for disadvantaged youth, AIDS prevention and breast cancer research. Montel's latest project is a book called "Living Well: 21 Days to transform Your Life, Supercharge Your Health, and Feel Spectacular". He'll join us to talk about the end of his successful talk-show career, his struggles with his illness, and the book.

I DARE YOU: DIANE
On Monday morning, Diane's dare is revealed!