Doctor Noonan-Martin, Miracle Worker? - 5. Healing the Children

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too

Yeah, this, is my wish

Rascal Flatts - 2006

13

That night's dinner conversation centered around the possibility of giving Michael a sister. The deciding factor was a comment from Michael himself.

"If you can heal her like you healed me, you gotta adopt her."

Neither Madeline nor Colin could argue with Michael's seven-year-old logic. Madeline called Diff-Adopt the next day and told Keisha they would take Mia. The timing was both good and bad. Mia's uncle decided to take his sister off life support the previous day, and Mia was devastated. Finding out there was another family that wanted her gave her a little solace, cheering her up the tiniest bit. One week later, all the foster parent paperwork was complete, and Keisha brought Mia to the Martin's.

Keisha and Mia came in and they all sat in the living room, Mia very nearly sitting behind Keisha. As they talked, she slowly became more comfortable. Then Michael sat next to her and took her hand.

"You'll like it here. Mom and dad are great. And you know what? They know that you're sick and still want you. I was sick like you, but I'm healed now."

Colin and Madeline made sure that Michael understood he couldn't say anything about how he was healed in front of Ms. Phillips.

"You're not sick no more?"

"Nope!"

"My parents told me it would take a long time for me to get well."

"It still might. But we'll all be here for you. I want to be a big brother. I'll hold your hand the whole way through."

"I had a big brother before. I think it's nice of you to want to do that for me."

After a little more discussion, Mia agreed to stay. Keisha left, indicating she'll call in a couple days and be back in a week to check how things were going. A week later, Mia was settling in well. Another week after that, Madeline and Colin told Mia it was time to make her better.

"Do I have to go to the doctor's now?"

"No honey. I am a doctor and I'm going to make you better myself."

Michael continued to be the little helper, "I couldn't tell you when you first came, but it's okay to now. Mom made me better, so she's going to do the same for you."

Madeline explained what she would do. Mia was afraid of how much it might hurt, but again, it was Michael to the rescue.

"I'll be with you the whole way. You can squeeze my hand as hard as you want to if it hurts too much. Mom will let you take as many breaks as you need. Even if it takes a couple weeks to get done, right, Mom?"

"That's right. You're luckier than Michael. He had to go through the process by himself, with only Colin and me to help. But you'll have Michael with you the whole way."

"Okay. I don't want to be sick anymore. We can start now."

And start they did. As promised, Michael was with her every step of the way. Neither batted an eyelash when Mia needed to be nude for those parts of her body. Three weeks later, Mia was cured.

Madeline didn't want to use the same story about her distrust of the foster system's doctor to get Mia checked out. She played the paranoid mother card instead with Mia's new pediatrician, Doctor Muriel Carter.

"I know it isn't normal, doctor, but being a pediatric oncologist, I just want to be completely sure Mia is as healthy as we think she is."

"I understand completely, Dr. Noonan-Martin. Including a WBC count in the lab work doesn't make it any more complicated. I'll order it to set your mind at ease."

"Thanks, Dr. Carter."

Subversion complete, the results came back normal. Madeline would continue to request the additional test until Dr. Carter simply included it whenever blood was taken.

14

It was time for Madeline to bite the bullet and talk to her boss about her unconventional cure. One day, two weeks after Mia was cured, when things weren't as hectic as they sometimes were, she knocked on his door.

"Hi, Madeline. Come on in. What can I do for you?"

"You can believe a story I'm about to tell you."

"Okay. Sounds easy enough."

"You won't think that in a minute. You obviously remember when I brought my son in to check on his Leukemia status."

"Yes, and we found he was in remission. Are there new concerns?"

"Yes, but not for Michael. The truth is that Michael isn't in remission, he's completely cured."

"I'm sure that's the mother in you talking."

"No. I healed him myself. Just like I did for my husband Colin, nearly twenty-two years ago."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Here's the part that will be hard to believe. I can see the bones of a child with Leukemia. I can put my hands on each, or a small group of bones, and the Leukemia is killed. That's why Michael's first WBC count was still elevated."

"You're serious?"

"I am. I just did the same for my daughter, Mia. I'd like to begin curing my patients in the same way."

"I can't authorize taking patients off traditional therapy for something you think you can do."

"All three cases went into spontaneous remission after I laid hands on them! That would be a hell of a coincidence, wouldn't it? And besides, I wouldn't have the children stop their therapy. Even I'm not that crazy."

"I have to think about this. We'd be opening ourselves up to malpractice suits, and who knows what else."

"Even if this is in addition to the current treatment plan? Why would that happen?"

"Okay. So, maybe malpractice isn't in the picture. Getting a patient's parents to approve it... I don't see that happening."

"I'd like to start with Daniel Rivera."

"I see."

"Blast Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. He's effectively terminal at this point. His parents are already desperate. I'm sure they'd be willing to grab hold of any possible hope."

"When do you see him next?"

"Next Tuesday, the thirteenth."

"So, I have six days to decide."

"I guess so. I have to warn you, though. If you turn me down, I'll leave and start my own practice. And that may be too late for Daniel."

"Okay, okay. I get it. I'll let you know my decision by Friday."

"Thank you Dr. Brennan."

"Don't thank me yet, I haven't said yes."

"I know. But I can't see how you could even consider saying ‘no’ when the life of a thirteen-year-old boy lies in the balance."

That comment hit Dr. Brennan hard. "I have to admire your tenacity. I'll talk to you Friday."

15

As Madeline expected, while it was given with a lot of trepidation, Brennan approved her trying the procedure on Daniel Rivera. He cautioned her to ensure that the Riveras knew there were no guarantees. She agreed, mostly because Daniel's leukemia was so advanced, she wasn't completely sure it would work.

Tuesday, May 13, 2070, was a day that changed two lives forever, and started the ball rolling on changing many, many more. Madeline called the Riveras the day before to request that both parents attend the appointment the next day. She was told they had planned to.

"Hello Daniel, Mr. and Mrs. Rivera."

Carla Rivera responded for all, "Hello Doctor N-M."

A number of her patient's families chose to use a nickname that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Madeline couldn't even remember who used it first.

"We'll take Daniel's blood, like usual today, but I have something else I'd like to discuss with you."

Daniel's parents looked at each other, then at Madeline, their eyes full of fear. Madeline correctly assumed they were thinking death.

"It's not what you think. There is one more thing I'd like to try with Daniel. It's quite unconventional, and I can't guarantee it will work, but I have used it three times successfully."

Carla remained taking the lead, "You know at this point we're willing to try almost anything."

"I do. And this is probably going to test the bounds of your faith. But as you know, all conventional means have been exhausted."

Armondo was losing patience, "Just tell us what you want to do."

"I've cured my husband, when he was still a child, and my son and daughter recently this way. I have had the ability since I was a child to literally see that a child has leukemia. I can see his or her bones. They appear purple to me. I am able to place my hands over each bone for a short period, and the leukemia in that bone disappears."

Carla exclaimed, "Ay, Dios Mio. Un milagro? (A Miracle?)"

"You can think that, but technically, a psychic ability."

"And you think this will help my Daniel?"

"Like I said before, Mrs. Rivera. I can't guarantee anything, but at this point..."

"Si. We have nothing else, except to wait for him to..."

She couldn't say the word, but everyone knew what she left out was, 'die.'

Armondo took the lead, "When would you want to do this?"

"I'd like to start today. Unfortunately, it is a little painful for the patient. I've been told it feels like the skin is burning where I touch. And I have to touch all over. Daniel will probably not be able to handle much more than an hour or so at a time. I've cleared my calendar for the rest of the afternoon, and we can go as long as he's willing. The skin doesn't burn, but that's what it feels like. What do you think, Daniel?"

Daniel showed his courage, "I don't care how much it hurts. Whatever it is, it's better than dying."

"Again, I don't want to say it will in fact work. My other attempts, the patients weren't as far along as you."

"I understand, Dr. N-M. If I had said something to my parents earlier, we may never have gotten to this point. Like my mother said, it's time to try anything."

Madeline pulled a paper gown from a drawer, "I'll step out for a moment. I think for today, you can just strip down to your underwear and keep your shirt on. I don't think we'll get further than your hips. So far, everyone else needed a longer break after their thighs. I'll start at your feet and work my way up."

"I don't need the gown, and you don't need to step out. Let's start as soon as possible."

Daniel stood, his father helped him remove his shoes, socks, and pants, and he laid down on the examining table. Madeline grabbed his right big toe.

"Ooooh. I see what you mean. That does hurt. But it's not too bad."

"I'm sorry, I can't control that. We'll stop as many times for as long as you want."

"It's okay. If it didn't hurt, that would probably mean it wasn't working, right?"

"Probably."

Daniel held out through three toe holds of his right foot, the foot itself, and his ankle before he needed to stop. By the time Madeline let go of his ankle, she could no longer see the bones in his toes.

"It looks good so far. The bones in your toes are no longer purple. I can't see them at all."

"Okay. Just another minute and you can go on."

Madeline alternated between his right and left legs. As she expected, Daniel had had all he could take after she touched his hips. After he got dressed, he had a question.

"When can we come back to continue?"

"Considering your father's insurance probably won't cover visits as often as I'd like to do them, I was thinking I would come to your house to continue."

Carla and Armondo jumped on that opportunity, Carla again being the spokesperson, "That would be wonderful. When would you want to come? Tonight?"

"I'd like to give Daniel a little more time to recover between sessions. Perhaps tomorrow after dinner?"

"You come for dinner first."

"I appreciate the offer Mr. Rivera, I'll let my husband know not to expect me tomorrow right away. He knows I was planning on doing this and knew I would make it my priority."

"Oh, thank you Dr. N-M. If you save our son, we'll be eternally grateful."

"Believe me, I will be grateful if I can as well. Okay. I'll let the nurse know you're ready, and I'll see you tomorrow evening. Probably around six o'clock."

"We'll be ready whatever time you need us to be."

Madeline went to the Rivera's the next night, Friday night, and Saturday afternoon. The Riveras invited her to bring her family on Saturday. Carla would make lunch and dinner for everyone. By Sunday evening, Madeline had completed the sessions and waited sufficient time to see that the last session left Daniel with no visible purple.

"I'd like him to come to the office on Friday so we can do a bone marrow biopsy. If you can call tomorrow and make the appointment, that will tell us if we were successful."

Carla was optimistic, "But you can't see his bones any longer, right?"

"Right."

"So, that means the leukemia is gone?"

"Probably, but let's give his body a few days to recover from the stress, make the test, and be sure."

They all agreed.

Friday came, the biopsy was done. The following Tuesday, Madeline called the Riveras with the good news. Daniel showed no signs of the disease.

Wednesday, all hell broke loose at Wooster Cancer Care.