Part 35 (1/2)
”In medicine there Is always something that can go wrong. Even the most innocuous procedure can end up being lethal if that's what the G.o.ds want that day.” He looked at her intently and seemed to try to measure his words. ”But I wouldn't recommend we proceed if I didn't feel that the potential benefits far outweigh the risks.”
She listened wondering. Something in his voice is sounding cagey. What is he leaving out?
”I still want to think about it”
”Of course, but we can make some preparations in the meantime,” Van de Vliet said turning back to Nina. ”Mrs. Hampton, do you understand anything of what I've said? Nothing is risk free.”
”Young man, if you'd lived as long as I have, and then felt it all slipping away, you'd be willing to take a chance with anything.”
”Mrs. Hampton, Alzheimer's is one of the more promising areas of stem cell research. We've already had successes here. I truly think we can help you. In fact, Ellen can start your preliminaries right now, if you like. A lot of it you may have done before. For example, there's a game where you have to memorize the names of three unrelated objects, and you have to count backwards from one hundred by sevens. Finally there's a test where you copy sentences and symbols.” He chuckled and there was a warmth but also a distant sadness. ”Some days I'm not sure I could even do it all myself. In any case, it's not something you pa.s.s or fail. But if we do enter you into the trials, you'll have to stay here for the duration. That's absolutely essential. We'd also like a caregiver to be here with you, as long as it's necessary.”
Ally looked at Maria. ”Do you think you want to stay here with Mom?”
Maria's eyes were very sad ”I could stay for a day or two. But ...
maybe we should talk.”
”We can arrange for someone,” Van de Vliet interjected ”We routinely provide caregivers from our staff when called for. And because we're still in clinical trials, there is no charge.”
Ally watched Nina brighten and turn to Maria. ”You can bring some things from my closet when you go back. I want to start right away. I just know he can help me. I've got a feeling and you know my feelings are always right.”
Ellen reached and took Nina's hand. ”Come, dear, we have a special office where we handle all the paperwork for admissions. We can do the tests there.”
Ally leaned over and kissed her mother. ”I love you, Mom. And I love your spirit. You taught me how to be a fighter a long time ago. And I guess you're still teaching me.”_
Tuesday, April 7
12:03 P.M.
_
Karl Van de Vliet watched the three women leave. Now he was alone with Alexa. So far, so good, he thought. With her mother checked in, we're partway there. Now what is it going to take to get her with the program? I'm not sensing commitment. She's asking too d.a.m.ned many questions.
It looks like we may have to go to Plan B tomorrow. Too bad.
After the door was closed, he turned back.
”Your mother is quite an inspiration,” he said with a smile. ”I'll need those tests to create a baseline, but already I can tell she'll almost certainly respond to the treatment. She fits our success profile. I'd say the odds are heavily on her side.” Then he darkened his look, for effect. Better let her know I don't have to do this, he reasoned.
”The truth is, we already have enough data on Alzheimers that I don't really need any further clinical trials. I know the parameters of what the procedure can do and what it can't. But when Grant told me about his mother's condition, I saw no reason not to work her into the trials. We're winding down now and we have some empty beds.”
”Don't think I'm not grateful,” she said, ”even though I may ask a lot of questions.”
She got the message, he thought. Good.
”Alexa, I'm now going to tell you something I've never told anyone else,” he went on, feeling a tinge of sadness arise in his chest. He hadn't planned to say this, but for some reason he now wanted to.
Perhaps because it was true. ”My late wife, Camille, was a brilliant medical researcher. We worked together for many years, first at Johns Hopkins and then at Harvard. What took her from me was a heart condition very similar to your own. That was over a decade ago and I vowed I would dedicate my work to her. I wanted the final clinical trial in this program to be on a young person with advanced valvular stenosis, but I could never find a patient who matched that profile.
But you would be perfect.” He looked carefully at her. It was all so true, which made this whole scene especially poignant.
”I'm sorry about your wife,” Ally said. ”I read in your--”