Vail - Chapter 1

VAIL CHAPTER 1- “SETTLING IN” FALL 2008

Megyn

SETTING: EARLY 30-SOMETHING NEWLYWEDS MEGYN AND BRADLEY SIMPSON EMBARK ON A NEW LIFE IN VAIL, COLORADO. BRADLEY GRADUATED WITH TOP ACADEMIC HONORS AS THE #1 STUDENT AT BOTH NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY AND CREIGHTON MEDICAL SCHOOL. THE COUPLE DATED WHILE IN COLLEGE - HOWEVER BOTH WENT SEPARATE WAYS AFTER GRADUATING. THEY MET AGAIN ON A RETREAT AT GEORGETOWN MEDICAL SCHOOL WHERE BRADLEY WAS FINISHING HIS FELLOWSHIP IN ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA - AFTER COMPLETING A FIVE-YEAR MAYO CLINIC ORTHOPEDIC RESIDENCY. MEGYN WILL BE EMPLOYED BY VAIL VALLEY HOSPITAL AS A SURGICAL SCRUB NURSE. BRADLEY WAS HEAVILY RECRUITED AT MANY MAJOR CENTERS AS AN ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMATOLOGIST - HOWEVER DECIDED ON VAIL DUE TO THE MEDICAL STAFF SUPPORT, ABILITY TO CONTINUE HIS RESEARCH, SECRET DESIRE TO OBTAIN A NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE, AND HIS LOVE OF SKIING. BRADLEY HEY MEGYN - THIS WILL BE THE VERY BEST PLACE TO LIVE - TRUST ME. MEGYN EAST VAIL - IT WON’T BE LIKE SUBURBAN CHICAGO OR SAN FRANCISCO OR HIGHLANDS RANCH IN DENVER - AT LEAST WE COULD HAVE CHOSEN DENVER - YOU COULD STILL SKI YOUR BRAINS OUT. BRADLEY BUT I WANT TO LIVE ON THE SLOPES - IT’S WHERE LIFE BEGINS AND ENDS. MEGYN FOR A GUY. BUT EAST VAIL ?

BRADLEY IT’S ALL WE COULD POSSIBLY AFFORD AND STILL BUY A HOUSE - WE ARE LIKE 4TH IN THE UNITED STATES IN HOUSING PRICES - WE ALMOST DIDN’T QUALIFY ON A CREDIT RATING TO GET A HOUSE IN EAST VAIL. MEGYN I STILL WOULD’VE LIKED TO LIVE CLOSER - BY FORD PARK FOR OUR KIDS - AND WHEN IT SNOWS WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET HOME TO EAST VAIL.

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BRADLEY ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES PER YEAR DOES THE SNOWPLOW NOT MAKE IT ALONG THE INTERSTATE OR FRONTAGE ROAD. MEGYN YES DEAR - AND THEN WHAT DO WE DO ?

LOOK IN THE GARAGE !

BRADLEY

MEGYN WOW - TWO NEW SNOWMOBILES !

BRADLEY YES - THE HOSPITAL COULD ONLY AFFORD CERTAIN THINGS, AND DUE TO MY POSITION - WELL THEY SPLURGED FOR SNOWMOBILES.

Bradley & Megyn

MEGYN I WOULD HAVE GLADLY TAKEN A SLED AND NEW FURNITURE BRADLEY. BRADLEY IT WILL BE FUN TO DRIVE THESE MACHINES AROUND AND SINCE MUCH OF MY RESEARCH WILL BE UP ON THE SLOPES - WELL WE’LL GET SOME MILEAGE OUT OF THESE BABIES. MEGYN WHOOPEE DO - A HOW-MANY-HUNDRED-THOUSANDDOLLAR-DEBT AND NOW WE HAVE SNOWMOBILES ?

BRADLEY ONLY $450,000 ACADEMIC DEBT - WHICH IS NOW A 30YEAR HOUSE PAYMENT TYPE DEBT TO THE FEDS. NO BIG DEAL - WE HAVE LIFE RIGHT WHERE WE WANT IT. MEGYN BUT NONE OF MY RELATIVES WILL BE ABLE TO GET HERE EASILY. MY TWIN SISTER IN DES MOINES, MY PARENTS IN DAVENPORT, AND GRANDMA IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS. THEY CAN’T GET HERE !

BRADLEY YES THEY CAN - IT’S CALLED DIA - YOU CAN GET FROM ANYWHERE TO DIA AND CONNECT IN DENVER TO VAIL EITHER BY BUS OR AIR. NO BIG DEAL !

MEGYN MY TWIN SISTER ALREADY SAYS SHE’LL BE HERE SOON BEFORE THE SNOW FALLS. 3

BRADLEY GREAT - SHE IS WELCOME ANYTIME. IT’S LIKE HAVING TWO OF YOU HERE SINCE SHE IS AN IDENTICAL TWIN - IN FACT THAT WEDDING JOKE YOU TWO PLAYED ON ME WAS IMPRESSIVE - HONESTLY YOU BOTH DO LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE WHEN YOUR HAIR IS EXACT. MEGYN WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE MARRIED MICKEY - THAT WOULD’VE BEEN A GOOD MATCH ALSO. BRADLEY YOU ARE JOKING I HOPE - YOU KNOW MICKEY HAS THIS SORT OF.........

MEGYN UNDIAGNOSED BIPOLAR DISORDER IN HERSELF. YES - THAT’S IT !

BRADLEY

MEGYN OH MY PARENTS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US TWO TWINS. I MEAN I’M............

BRADLEY NORMAL - YOU LAUGH AND SMILE AND GET UPSET APPROPRIATELY.... AND WELL MICKEY DOES THE OPPOSITE - LAUGHS WHEN SHE SHOULD CRY, AND OVER REACTS WITH RAGING MANIA, GETS SEVERE BOUTS OF CLINICAL DEPRESSION THAT NO SSRI DRUG CAN TOUCH. MEGYN LITHIUM, LAMICTAL, DEPAKOTE, TOPAMAX, AND ALL THE PROZAC LIKE DRUGS HAVE JUST NOT HELPED HER. BRADLEY MAYBE THEY HAVE - MICKEY MAY BE A TON WORSE IF SHE DIDN’T HAVE THESE MEDICATIONS. DIDN’T SHE DO OK ON TEGRETOL ALSO FOR A WHILE. MEGYN YES - BUT HER WBCS WENT DOWN AND THEY STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT AGRANULOCYTOSIS AND PERMANENT BONE MARROW DISORDERS. BRADLEY THANK GOD YOU DON’T HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

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MEGYN IT’S KIND OF WEIRD THAT I DON’T HAVE THIS PROBLEM - I MEAN WITH EXACT GENETICS - WELL YOU WONDER WHY I DIDN’T GET BIPOLAR DISEASE. BRADLEY THE ONLY PSYCHIATRIC STUDY I KNOW OF IS THE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WITH IDENTICAL TWINS WHERE ONE WENT TO VIETNAM AND THE OTHER STAYED HOME - THERE WAS MARKED DISPARITY IN DISEASE WITH IDENTICAL TWINS - INDICATING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS HAVING A MAJOR ROLE IN PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE. MEGYN OH MY PARENTS REALLY DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH AT THE MAYO CLINIC ONE VISIT AFTER A TRYING FEW MONTHS WITH MICKEY. BRADLEY AND THOSE PHYSICIANS REALLY HELPED A BUNCH I BET - TELLING YOUR MOM AND DAD THAT EPIGENTICS BEGINS AND GROWS EFFECTING GENE EXPRESSION. MEGYN WE DIDN’T COVER THAT IN NURSING SCHOOL MUCH. YOU MEAN........

BRADLEY THAT THE ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS GENE EXPRESSION THINGS LIKE ALCOHOL, DIET, EXERCISE, MOODS, OUTSIDE EVENTS, HAPPENINGS, AND SMOKING. MEGYN OK PROFESSOR SIMPSON - WHY AM I NORMAL THEN ? I NEVER MISSED A DORM PARTY AT NOTRE DAME. WALSH HALL WAS WELL KNOWN FOR SUPERB PARTIES ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHTS WHEN THERE WERE NO FRIDAY TESTS. BRADLEY I REALLY DON’T KNOW MEGYN. EPIGENETICS I GUESS YOUR GENES DIDN’T EXPRESS THE BIPOLAR TRAIT. WE COULD HAVE REALLY SCREWED YOU UP WITH SOME OF THE SORIN PARTIES. REMEMBER WE WERE SO FAR FROM EVERYONE ELSE THAT THE RULES DIDN’T APPLY. THE NOTRE DAME GOD QUAD COMPLEX DIDN’T WALK AROUND WITH US. MEGYN WELL SOME OF THOSE GUYS THERE - WELL THEY WERE FLAT OUT DESPICABLE - EVEN FOR NOTRE DAME. 5

BRADLEY YES SORIN HAD THAT GREAT REPUTATION OF BEING CALLED SORIN COLLEGE DURING THE 60S BECAUSE OF THE REVOLTS AGAINST VIETNAM - WHICH LASTED UNTIL THE UTILITIES WERE SHUT OFF BY THE UNIVERSITY. MEGYN HARD TO IMAGINE NOTRE DAME BEING A REBELLIOUS SCHOOL. BRADLEY WELL THERE MAY VERY WELL BE REVOLTS IF OUR FOOTBALL TEAM DOESN’T START WINNING. WE CAN BARELY BEAT AN INTRAMURAL TEAM AT THIS POINT. I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT PLAYERS AND COACHES. MEGYN I THINK IT’S BECAUSE WE THINK TOO MUCH AND JUST DON’T PLAY - TOO MUCH SCRIPT. IMAGINE GOING OUT THERE AS A PLAYER WITH ALL THE STRESS AND HAVING MILLIONS ON TV, 80,000 IN THE STANDS SCREAMING, AND 15 COACHES ALL TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO. IMPOSSIBLE. JUST LET’EM PLAY. BRADLEY YOU MAY BE RIGHT MEGYN - WHEN I PLAYED WE ACTUALLY WON A FEW GAMES WITH JUST AUDIBLES - WE WERE JUST PLAYING. SAME THING IN BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL. WE JUST PLAYED. MEGYN EASIER SAID THAN DONE - IN FACT JUST PLAYING IS HOW IT SHOULD BE WITH A DECENT GAME PLAN - PLAY HARD AND SMART - WHAT MORE COULD YOU DO ?

BRADLEY I DON’T KNOW - BUT FOLKS ARE SAYING ALL KINDS OF THINGS NOW - I MEAN THE IRISH MAY TOTALLY REVAMP AGAIN. BUY OUT COACHES CONTRACTS, BEHEAD THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, NEW PLAYBOOKS.....I JUST DON’T KNOW. MEGYN DO YOU THINK WE’LL BE ABLE TO GET THE IRISH ON TV HERE IN EAST VAIL ?

BRADLEY YES - WE’VE GOT COMCAST AND THEY HAVE A FOOTBALL PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES NOTRE DAME.

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MEGYN WELL - WE’LL PROBABLY SEE A FEW GAMES - UNTIL THE SKI TRAUMA HITS. BRADLEY I CAN’T WAIT - IT’S BEEN SLOW THE PAST FEW WEEKS OF MY TRAUMA FELLOWSHIP AT GEORGETOWN. I FEEL VERY RUSTY - BUT THAT WILL CHANGE - THE ORTHOPEDISTS HERE CLAIM WE’LL HAVE OUR HANDS FULL AND THEN SOME. THEY REALLY HAVE JUST BEGUN TO KEEP NEARLY EVERYTHING HERE AT VAIL HOSPITAL WITH AN EXCELLENT GENERAL SURGEON, NEW CRITICAL CARE SPECIALIST, AND GOOD BACK UP IN ALL FIELDS. MEGYN WE’LL SEE - I KNOW THE WEATHER IS GREAT NOW - BUT COME THIS LATE FALL AND WINTER - I JUST DON’T KNOW. BRADLEY YOU WILL BE HAPPY HERE - THIS IS A SMALL TOWN PEOPLE CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER. WE ALREADY HAVE MANY FRIENDS - IT WILL BE GOOD. MEDICALLY ALL THE THINGS WE’LL BE DOING WITH RESEARCH ON THE SLOPES AND IN THE HOSPITAL WILL BE TRULY FASCINATING WE WE WON’T HAVE REVIEW COMMITTEES, PEERS, ETHICS CHALLENGES, AND ADMINISTRATION HASSLES. WITH PROPER CONSENT WE HAVE FREE REIN TO CARRY ON MY RESEARCH BEGUN AT GEORGETOWN. IT WILL WORK. MEGYN GREAT - NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT KIDS. YOU KNOW I’VE BEEN OFF THE PILL FOR 6 MONTHS AND ZERO. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. BRADLEY BUT YOUR EXAMS AND MINE HAVE BEEN NORMAL. MEGYN I REALIZE THERE ARE FEW THINGS YOU CANNOT CONTROL OR CURE BRAD, BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE - WE SHOULD HAVE CONNECTED BY NOW. AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED IT’S 4TH AND TWENTY. BRADLEY OK - WE’LL GO SEE DR. CASSIDY THE LOCAL OB - GYN. MEGYN NO WAY - I DON’T WANT OUR PROBLEM AIRED HERE IN VAIL. BRADLEY WELL ALL G Y N’S ARE TRAINED IN INFERTILITY - MAYBE 7

IT’S SOMETHING SIMPLE - LIKE A PLUGGED TUBE, LOW HORMONES, OR...............

INCOMPATIBILITY.

MEGYN

BRADLEY YOU MEAN YOUR EGGS ARE FIGHTING MY SPERM. MEGYN EXACTLY - WE NEED TO CHECK IT OUT. I’VE ALREADY CONTACTED A CLINIC IN DENVER. THEY HAVE A REAL GURU THERE WITH HIGH SUCCESS RATES. BRADLEY ARE YOU SURE MEGYN YOU DON’T WANT TO CHECK OUT LOCAL CARE. MEGYN WE ARE GOING TO DENVER !

OK - WHEN ?

BRADLEY

MEGYN NEXT FRIDAY - QUARTER TO 4. THEY WANT YOUR SPERM SAMPLE BY 2 PM THAT DAY - A UROLOGIC FERTILITY SPECIALIST WANTS TO EXAMINE YOUR STUFF. AND PUT IT WITH MY CERVICAL MUCUS. IT’S TIMED FOR MY MENSTRUAL CYCLE. BRADLEY NO WAY - IT IS USUALLY THE GAL THAT IS THE PROBLEM NOT ME. MEGYN YOU HAVE NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER - APPOINTMENT IS MADE AND HERE IS THE PAMPHLET. SORRY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS - BUT I’M NOT WAITING. BRADLEY BUT WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS - IT’S NOT A COVERED INSURANCE BENEFIT. MEGYN WE ARE ON A MONTHLY PAYMENT SYSTEM - ALREADY SET UP. LOOK IF YOU WANT TO HAVE LITTLE GUYS TO THROW A FOOTBALL AROUND TO - WELL WE NEED TO DO THIS. BRADLEY OK - I’LL CANCEL OFFICE THAT PM. 8

MEGYN ALREADY DONE - I TALKED TO THE SCHEDULER AND YOU’LL JUST BEGIN WITH YOUR SATURDAY A.M. SPORTS/ TRAUMA CLINIC AND ADD THOSE OTHER CASES ON FROM TUESDAY IN ADVANCE. BRADLEY WELL - THANKS I GUESS. MEGYN AFTER THE WORK-UP WE’RE GOING TO A MALL CALLED FLAT IRONS NEAR BOULDER. I NEED TO SEE SOME CITY LIFE AGAIN. BRADLEY BUT I HAVE TO ASSIST IN THE MORNING EARLY. MEGYN TOUGH - WE AGREED TO FREQUENT DENVER TRIPS WHEN WE CAME HERE. I’M JUST KEEPING MY PROMISE. BRADLEY OK - BUT ISN’T THERE SNOW PREDICTED ?

MEGYN THERE WILL BE SNOW PREDICTED DAILY HERE. I KNOW THAT - I’VE TALKED TO MANY NURSES. THEY GET VAIL VALLEY FEVER - WHICH IS DAYS OF RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, WIND, COLD, AND CLINICAL DEPRESSION. WE ARE TREATING IT WITH FREQUENT DENVER TRIPS INSTEAD OF SSRI DRUGS - BESIDES THE FERTILITY GUYS MADE CERTAIN THAT NEITHER OF US WERE ON THESE MEDS. BRADLEY OK - I GET IT – I-70 - VAIL PASS - EISENHOWER TUNNEL, IDAHO SPRINGS, FLOYD HILL - HERE WE COME. MEGYN YES - BUT WE’LL HAVE FUN DOING THIS - DENVER WILL BE GREAT. BRADLEY BUT WE JUST ARRIVED IN VAIL - WHY CAN’T WE JUST ENJOY VAIL - WITH ALL ITS SPLENDOR ?

MEGYN WE WILL - BUT I HAVE TO HAVE A BIG CITY LIFT PERIODICALLY. BRADLEY WILL OUR CAR HANDLE THE BIG SNOWS ?

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MEGYN EASILY - HECK THE OTHER WIVES ALWAYS TAKE OFF IN STORMS BECAUSE IT STORMS ALL THE TIME AND THEY JUST GET USED TO IT. IT’S PART OF LIFE HERE. ONCE IN A WHILE THEY GET STRANDED IN GEORGETOWN. BRADLEY WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE PREGNANT - THEN WHAT STILL TRIPS TO DENVER ?

MEGYN PROBABLY - WE’LL GO AS A FAMILY. BRADLEY WELL MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE JUST SET UP IN HIGHLANDS RANCH ?

MEGYN NO - THIS IS YOUR DREAM - WE WILL FULFILL IT ALL TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. WE ARE TOGETHER ON THIS VAIL EXCURSION IN OUR LIVES. IT’S NOT JUST ALL VAIL SPORTS, SKIING, BEER, RUNNING, BIKING - ALL GUY STUFF. BRADLEY OK - I GET IT. WE JUST KEEP A LITTLE CITY LIFE IN YOU - I THINK YOU’LL ADJUST TO VAIL. LOOK AT THE SHOPPING HERE - FIRST CLASS. MEGYN BUT SHOPPING IS ALL SO EXPENSIVE - AND FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH WITH A WEAKNESS ON A SKI OR SUMMER TRIP - IT’S NOT FOR THE LOCALS - NEITHER IS BEAVER CREEK. BRADLEY WELL THERE IS NORMAL STUFF HERE - YOU CAN SHOP AT EAGLE OR AVON - OR GO BACK TO THE FACTORY SHOPS AT SILVERTHORN. MEGYN I SAW THOSE ON THE WAY OUT NORTH OF I-70 - THOSE SHOPS LOOK KIND OF INTERESTING. BRADLEY WELL MAYBE WE CAN GO THERE TOMORROW - AND THEN HIT THE CONCERT AT FORD PARK. MEGYN THAT SOUNDS GOOD. BUT WE HAVE TO SETTLE THIS 10

HOUSE - WE ARE SHORT EVERYTHING AND THE MOVING TRUCK WON’T ARRIVE FOR A COUPLE DAYS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT FURNITURE. BRADLEY OK - WE’LL GO ALL THE WAY TO DENVER TO LOOK AT FURNITURE. MEGYN GOOD - I’LL FIND OUT WHERE TO GO FROM SOME OF MY NEW OR NURSING BUDDIES. BRADLEY WELL FOR NOW - I THINK I’LL JUST HAVE A FRESH ROCKY MOUNTAIN COORS AND DRIFT OFF. NIGHT LOVE. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE.

MEGYN

Megyn

BRADLEY

END VAIL I

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