Vail Chapter XI - “SURPRISE, SURPRISE” MEGYN AND BRADLEY SIMPSON HAVE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL TUMOR VACCINE FIGHTING MEGYN’S METASTATIC GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER. IN THE MEANTIME, MEGYN HAS BEEN PLACED IN A HOMETOWN HOSPICE IN DAVENPORT, IOWA. UNFORTUNATELY MEGYN DID LITTLE OF THE PLANNING OF HER SISTER’S WEDDING WHICH WAS MOVED TO ST. ALPHONSUS IN DAVENPORT. BRADLEY HAS BEEN FLYING BACK TO VAIL TO CONTINUE HIS PRACTICE AT MEGYN’S RECOMMENDATION. HE HAS BEEN STAYING WITH MICKY AT THEIR HOUSE AND UNFORTUNATELY HAS HEARD ALL HE WANTS REGARDING MICKY’S WEALTHY FIANCE, RUDOLPH. THE STMO (SIMPSON TRAUMA MOBILE OPERATING ROOM) HAS OBTAINED MEDICAL CLEARANCE FROM THE NIH TO CONTINUE STUDIES. A LARGE GOVERNMENT GRANT HAS ARRIVED AT VAIL HOSPITAL SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. BASED ON THE GRANT AND MEGYN’S CONDITION, BRADLEY HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE IN VAIL, CO, AND NOT MOVE HIS RESEARCH TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. SINCE MEGYN IS UNDER PALLIATIVE CARE AND HER EGGS WERE HARVESTED PRIOR TO GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY, DISCUSSION HAS CENTERED ON FERTILIZATION OF MEGYN’S EGGS WITH AN IN VITRO PROCEDURE FROM BRADLEY; AND SUBSEQUENTLY UTILIZING MICKY, MEGYN’S TWIN, AS THE SURROGATE MOTHER. FOLLOW ALONG AS THE EVENTS IN VAIL UNFOLD.
MEGYN
YES I EXPECT MORE RESPONSIBILITY WITH MICKY’S WEDDING. MICKY AND RUDOLPH ACT AS IF I’M NEARLY DEAD.
BRADLEY
I THINK EVERYONE IS HAVING A TOUGH TIME COMING TO GRIPS WITH YOUR CLINICAL STATE.
MEGYN
I HAVE FELT BETTER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. MAYBE I’LL GET OUT OF HERE AND GO BACK TO LIVING A NORMAL LIFE.
BRADLEY
THE TRIP TO THE ONCOLOGY GROUP AT WASHINGTON WAS WELL WORTH IT. BECOMING PART OF AN AGGRESSIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM TO CURB YOUR CANCER AND FOR OTHERS THAT FOLLOW IS EXCITING.
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MEGYN
I FIND IT TRULY AMAZING THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO STIMULATE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ATTACK CANCER CELLS. I RECEIVED THE INJECTION 3 DAYS PRIOR AND IMMEDIATELY I AM ACTUALLY FEELING BETTER WITH LESS PAIN AND MORE STRENGTH AND ENERGY.
BRADLEY
OK, I WILL CONTINUE TO INJECT PER THE PROTOCOL. WE KNOW YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE PLACEBO IN THE TRIAL. YOU MUST BE ACTUALLY GETTING THE REAL CANCER VACCINE FIGHTING THE GYNECOLOGIC CANCER CELLS.
MEGYN
BACK TO THIS WEDDING. IT IS GOOD THAT MY MOM AND DAD REALLY LIKE RUDOLPH. HE ISN’T AFTER ALL A SKI BUM. HE HAS AN MBA FROM HARVARD WHICH IS TOUGH TO OBTAIN. HIS UNDERGRAD ENGINEERING DEGREE WAS FROM MIT - ANOTHER DIFFICULT EASTERN SCHOOL WITH VERY SELECTIVE ADMISSION POLICIES AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS. HE’S INVOLVED WITH ENERGY RESEARCH.
BRADLEY
SO WHAT IS HE DOING IN VAIL?
MEGYN
HIS FAMILY HAS A PLACE ALONG GORE CREEK THEY’VE OWNED FOR YEARS. THEY LOVE TO FLY-FISH, CLIMB, MOUNTAIN BIKE, AND SKI.
BRADLEY
AND GO TO THE HUBCAP.
MEGYN
EVERYONE GOES TO THE HUBCAP IN VAIL. THAT IS JUST WHAT YOU DO!
BRADLEY
SO HE IS A REAL SKI BUM. HIGHLY EDUCATED AND LOVES TO SKI FOR THE LOVE OF SKIING. I GET THAT.
MEGYN
THERE ARE DAYS YOU’D LOVE TO SKI ALL DAY INSTEAD OF CLINIC AND SURGERY.
BRADLEY
YOU BET. I COULD TAKE THAT. THE SLOPES ARE ACTUALLY UNCROWDED DURING THE WEEKDAYS. BUT I ALSO LOVE MEDICINE. I’LL TAKE BOTH.
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MEGYN
THAT IS WHY YOU BELONG IN VAIL AND NOT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. GOOD DECISION NOT TO MOVE YOUR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH TO THE HAWKEYE STATE.
BRADLEY
SO THE PLANNING OF THE WEDDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY BOTH YOU AND MICKY?
MEGYN
AT FIRST I WAS GIVEN NOTHING TO DO - ALMOST AS IF I WAS IN AN ICU. BUT NOW EVERYDAY MICKY HAS EMAILED OR TEXTED ME WITH MORE DUTIES.
BRADLEY
SO WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO TODAY?
MEGYN
TECHNICALLY SINCE RUDOLPH IS JEWISH AND MICKY IS CATHOLIC, WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE CERTAIN EVERYONE IS PAID - INCLUDING MASS SERVERS, CHOIR, AND EVERYONE ELSE AT THE CHURCH – PRIEST AND RABBI TOGETHER ON THE ALTER.
BRADLEY
WILL THERE ACTUALLY BE A RABBI PRESENT?
MEGYN
YES, MICKY SAYS THE KIDS WILL PROBABLY BE RAISED JEWISH, HOWEVER SHE HAS TOLD MOM AND DAD THAT THEY WILL BE CATHOLIC. SINCE THE WEDDING IS AT ST. ALFONSUS, MOM AND DAD JUST ASSUME THE GRAND KIDS WILL BE CATHOLIC.
BRADLEY
SO HOW IS RUDOLPH’S FAMILY WITH ALL OF THIS?
MEGYN
AT FIRST RUDOLPH’S PARENTS FROM PHILLY DIDN’T LIKE THE SETUP. HOWEVER, NOW THEY ARE COOL. THEY KNOW THAT MICKY AND RUDOLPH WILL PROBABLY RAISE THE CHILDREN JEWISH. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.
BRADLEY
SO THERE WILL BE A BIT OF A JEWISH SERVICE WITHIN THE CATHOLIC MASS?
MEGYN
YES, THE RABBI AND PRIEST HAVE THAT ALL WORKED OUT. 4
BRADLEY
AND THE PREMARITAL CATHOLIC CLASSES?
MEGYN
RUDOLPH AND MEGYN BOTH WENT TO CLASSES AT ST. MARY’S IN VAIL. IT IS SO COMPLEX, BUT THEY PASSED, WHICH WORKED FOR ST. ALFONSUS HERE IN DAVENPORT.
BRADLEY
AGAIN, WHEN WILL WE SEE ALL THIS UNFOLD?
MEGYN
RUDOLPH’S FAMILY IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN 48 HOURS. HE HAS HUNDREDS OF RELATIVES WHO ARE ALL COMING. THE CHURCH ISN’T BIG ENOUGH.
BRADLEY
SO WHO IS PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS?
MEGYN
AGAIN, RUDOLPH’S PARENTS FLEW OUT AND MET SECRETLY WITH MOM AND DAD. IT WAS ALL WORKED OUT. NO ONE KNOWS WHO IS PAYING FOR WHAT. IT IS JUST DONE. RUDOLPH’S PARENTS LOVE MICKY SO MUCH THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS WEDDING HAPPEN. THEY THOUGHT RUDOLPH WOULD NEVER MARRY AND THAT HE WOULD SKI UNTIL WHO KNOWS WHAT AGE.
BRADLEY
SO WHAT SPECIFICALLY WILL RUDOLPH DO AS A FAMILY MAN IN VAIL?
MEGYN
HE IS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON HARVESTING WIND ENERGY MORE EFFICIENTLY - PUTTING IT BACK INTO THE ELECTRIC GRID. ACTUALLY MAKING SMALL WIND GENERATORS THAT ARE HIDDEN ON HOUSES, AND STORING THE ENERGY WITHIN A MATRIX GRID AT THEIR OWN HOME.
BRADLEY
SO HE IS ESSENTIALLY REPLACING THE NEED TO OBTAIN ELECTRICITY FROM THE CITY.
MEGYN
ABSOLUTELY! HE IS THE BUSINESS AND BRAINS BEHIND A NEW ENERGY COMPANY.
BRADLEY
I’M PRETTY EXCITED THAT OUR TWIN SISTER HAS SUDDENLY HAD THINGS WORK OUT FOR HER. 5
MEGYN
YES, OUR SCREW UPS IN VAIL ALLOWED MICKY TO PROFIT. I’M HAPPY FOR HER. I WON’T BE AROUND TO SEE HER HAVE THESE KIDS THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT.
BRADLEY
I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU ARE AROUND TO SEE MICKY’S KIDS. SOUNDS AS IF RUDOLPH’S PARENTS WANT PRODUCTION, AND NOW.
MEGYN
THEY’VE ALREADY PICKED THE JEWISH NAMES FOR THE KIDS. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE HOW INVOLVED RUDOLPH’S IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED FAMILY IS.
BRADLEY
AGAIN I’M VERY HAPPY FOR THEM. I WISH THEM WELL.
MEGYN
SO I BET THE VAIL HOSPITAL WAS VERY HAPPY TO RECEIVE A FEW MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE NIH TO FUND YOUR CONTINUING RESEARCH?
BRADLEY
THE ADMINISTRATORS HAD A BIG PARTY. THE RESEARCH NURSES AND ENGINEERS WERE VERY HAPPY. WE NOW HAVE YEARS TO FINISH THIS PROJECT CORRECTLY. WE ARE HEADING TO THE FIELD WITH SOME MOUNTAIN RESCUES THIS SUMMER, AND THEN REALLY GETTING IT GOING IN THE WINTER FOR SKI RESCUES.
MEGYN
I WISH I WAS THERE TO SEE THIS PROJECT THROUGH.
BRADLEY
GOD ONLY KNOWS. YOU MAY LIVE LONGER THAN ALL OF US.
MEGYN
THE KEY IS THAT I’M FEELING MUCH BETTER.
BRADLEY
MAYBE WE CAN GO BACK TO THAT IRISH REUNION LATER THIS SUMMER.
MEGYN
I’D BE UP FOR THAT. I DON’T LIKE THE CRAMMED MOTELS IN SOUTH BEND, BUT I’D CERTAINLY WOULDN’T MIND SEEING SOME OF OUR OLD FRIENDS.
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BRADLEY
WELL I’LL MAKE RESERVATIONS. WE CAN ALWAYS CANCEL.
MEGYN
DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD MIND SEEING ME IN THIS CONDITION - NEARLY DYING?
BRADLEY
WELL IF YOU RECOVER, YOU’LL START LOOKING LIKE THE BABE YOU WERE IN COLLEGE.
MEGYN
I’LL TAKE THAT. I WOULDN’T MIND GETTING INTO THE SOUTH BEND SCENE AGAIN. WE REALLY NEED TO RECONNECT WITH SOME OF OUR OLD FRIENDS.
BRADLEY
I’VE BEEN GETTING SOME PHONE CALLS FROM SOME OF MY DORMERS AND FORMER IRISH FOOTBALL GUYS. THEY ALL WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING.
MEGYN
AND WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY SAY?
BRADLEY
I JUST TELL THEM WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. WE REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. ONLY GOD KNOWS.
MEGYN
I SUPPOSE ALL THESE IRISH ARE HAVING ONE CHILD AFTER ANOTHER?
BRADLEY
SOME HAVE LARGE FAMILIES ALREADY, BUT THAT IS THEIR LIFE, NOT OURS.
MEGYN
I WANTED SO MUCH TO HAVE CHILDREN. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY.
BRADLEY
I’M OK IF WE HAVE ZERO CHILDREN.
MEGYN
NO YOU ARE NOT. YOU WANTED LITTLE IRISH GUYS PLAYING IN FRONT OF THAT CROWD AND NATIONAL TV AUDIENCE WITH US IN THE STANDS.
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BRADLEY
LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK OUT THE WAY YOU ENVISION. THE FOOTBALL STUFF WITH KIDS IS A WILD DREAM. FEW HAVE THIS. MAYBE WE WILL.
MEGYN
WE CAN FERTILIZE THE EGGS THAT ARE IN THE DENVER LAB.
BRADLEY
THAT MEANS I HAVE TO...........
MEGYN
YES BRADLEY, YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR CELLS IN A TEST TUBE, AND THEN ON TOP OF MY EGGS. NO BIGGIE. EASY FOR YOU TO SAY.
BRADLEY MEGYN
WELL IT IS A TON EASIER THAN MY CANCER TREATMENTS.
BRADLEY
OK I’M GAME. IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO CONVINCE MICKY OF OUR DESIRES.
MEGYN
MICKY AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH ALREADY.
BRADLEY
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE MARRIAGE PROPOSAL. WHO KNOWS HOW MICKY WOULD FEEL ABOUT THIS NOW.
MEGYN
I DO. SHE PROBABLY WANTS HER OWN PREGNANCY. I HIGHLY DOUBT RUDOLPH AND HIS MOTHER WOULD GO FOR MICKY BEING A SURROGATE OF HER TWIN SISTER AT THIS JUNCTURE IN HER LIFE - DESPITE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME.
BRADLEY
I THINK YOU ARE BEING PREJUDICIAL. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW RUDOLPH’S MOM THINKS. SHE MAY BE A BIG PROPONENT OF MICKY BEING A SURROGATE MOM.
MEGYN
OK WE’LL SEE, BUT I WOULDN’T BET ON IT. RUDOLPH’S MOM WANTS PRODUCTION AND HMMM...WE’LL BE A SURROGATE FIRST AND THEN RUDOLPH AND MICKY WILL START THEIR FAMILY – THAT WILL NOT WORK. THAT WILL 8
GO OVER WELL WITH RUDOLPH AND HIS FAMILY. EXPLAIN THAT ONE.
BRADLEY
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT TALKING TO PATIENTS IS MANY TIMES SURPRISING...... WHEN YOU THINK THE FAMILY IS HAPPY THEY ARE SAD, AND VICE VERSA. SO YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
MEGYN
I’LL TALK TO MICKY ABOUT THIS; BUT I HIGHLY DOUBT SHE WILL WANT TO BE A SURROGATE AT THIS TIME.
BRADLEY
THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED RATHER HURRIEDLY IN THEIR ROMANCE, AND YES, THEY MAY WANT CHILDREN RIGHT AWAY - OR SHOULD I SAY RUDOLPH’S MOM MAY WANT GRANDCHILDREN STAT.
MEGYN
WELL UNDOUBTEDLY I WILL DIE SHORTLY. IT IS WOEFULLY INEVITABLE. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO AHEAD AND FERTILIZE MY EGGS AND USE ANOTHER SURROGATE IF WE CAN FIND A MATCH THAT WOULD ACCEPT OUR CELL TYPE - MAYBE A COUSIN. IF NOT, WE CAN FERTILIZE AND MAYBE CLONE A BABY OUT OF THE FERTILIZED EGG IF INDEED THAT IS POSSIBLE.
BRADLEY
WELL IN ANIMALS IT HAS BEEN DONE, AND IT IS DEBATABLE IF IT HAS BEEN DONE IN HUMANS. THERE ARE SO MANY IMMENSE ISSUES WITH CLONING HUMANS - ESPECIALLY WITH US BOTH BEING CATHOLIC.
MEGYN
I CAN JUST ENVISION MY MOM AND DAD HAVING A CLONED GRANDCHILD.
BRADLEY
THERE IS EVEN SOME RESEARCH INTO CLONING HUMANS FROM SKIN OR MUCOSAL CELLS INSIDE THE MOUTH.
MEGYN
WELL THAT WOULD BE YOU BRADLEY, NOT ME - BECAUSE I WOULD NOT MAKE MUCH OF AN IRISH FOOTBALL PLAYER. IN FACT, I DOUBT IF THE COACHES WOULD ALLOW GIRLS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM. I THINK THAT ONLY HAPPENS IN BOULDER.
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BRADLEY
THAT LEAVES US (IF MICKY CANNOT BE A SURROGATE) WITH A UTERINE TRANSPLANT OPTION.
MEGYN
AND SUBSEQUENT IMPLANTATION OF A FERTILIZED OVUM FROM THE LAB - WHICH ITSELF IS STILL SOMEWHAT ETHICALLY CONTROVERSIAL DUE TO NON NATURAL MEANS OF CONCEPTION AND FETAL GROWTH.
BRADLEY
YOU’VE BEEN READING A TON I SEE.
MEGYN
IF THE ANSWER YOU WANT IS YES I’LL DO IT, THEN I HAVE TO LIVE. BUT I JUST DON’T SEE HOW I AM TO GET THROUGH THIS MEDICALLY. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY CANCER CELLS ARE STILL LEFT IN ME DESPITE CHEMOTHERAPY, SURGERY, RADIATION, AND EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS!?
BRADLEY
I’M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO THIS NOW. BUT IF FOR WHAT EVER REASON GOD DECIDES TO GIVE YOU LIFE, THEN WE MAY CONSIDER THIS - ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL, PROBABLY UNETHICAL WITH CATHOLICISM, AND HIGHLY RISKY TO YOUR LIFE.
MEGYN
LIFE IS SO UNPREDICTABLE. WE DON’T EVEN KNOW IF WE ARE TO GET OUR NEXT BREATH. YES IF I CAN PULL THROUGH WITH THIS TUMOR VACCINE - AND I AM FEELING BETTER - THEN I’M GAME. YES I’LL RISK A UTERINE TRANSPLANT AND BE A SURROGATE FOR MYSELF WITH A FERTILIZED OVUM WITH A TRANPLANTED UTERUS. LIFE IS OH SO VERY SHORT. MY LOVE FOR YOU BRADLEY IS UNENDING, AND I KNOW DEEP UNDERNEATH YOUR THICK SKIN YOU WANTED OUR CHILDREN MORE THAN ANYTHING....
BRADLEY
STOP. LET’S JUST WORRY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH. WE CAN ADOPT.
MEGYN
OR YOU CAN REMARRY AFTER I PROBABLY GO AWAY, AND HAVE CHILDREN THE REAL WAY.
BRADLEY
WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT THAT POINT IF YOU DIED. I WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE DEPRESSED, DIG DEEP INTO MY RESEARCH, AND JUST EXIST. MY SIMPSON 10
MOBILE TRAUMA OPERATING ROOM WOULD BE MY LIFE IN VAIL.
MEGYN
MARRIAGE IS TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. I WOULD WANT YOU TO REMARRY AND HAVE A NORMAL LIFE WITH A WIFE AND KIDS. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. BUT AGAIN WHO KNOWS, MAYBE I WILL PULL OUT OF THIS DISEASE WITH THIS NEW TUMOR VACCINE.
BRADLEY
ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND FOR US. THIS CERTAINLY IS NOT HOW WE PLANNED OUR LIVES. WHO WOULD FATHOM OUR DISCUSSING SURROGATES, IN VITRO FERTILIZATION AND UTERINE TRANSPLANTS?
MEGYN
ALL I KNOW IS THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW UTERINE TRANSPLANTS DONE WITH MATCHING GENETICS, AND THE RESULTS PER THE DOWNTOWN HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK ARE PROMISING, BUT SKETCHY.
BRADLEY
MAYBE WE COULD HAVE THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, OR AT NEBRASKA - SINCE THEY ARE A MAJOR TRANSPLANT CENTER.
MEGYN
I WOULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IF THAT IS WHAT IT REQUIRES.
BRADLEY
YES YOU ARE ALL FOR US STILL HAVING A FAMILY. THAT MAKES ME FEEL WONDERFUL. POTENTIALLY I CAN GET YOU OUT OF ANY EXPECTED CLINICAL DEPRESSION RESULTING FROM THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE.
MEGYN
WELL WE STILL HAVE MICKY - MY BELOVED IDENTICAL TWIN WHO WOULD WORK AS A SURROGATE PERFECTLY......SO LET’S JUST SEE WHAT MICKY SAYS FIRST. YOU’RE RIGHT, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. MICKY MAY AGREE TO BE A SURROGATE FOR HER IDENTICAL TWIN SISTER.
BRADLEY
I CAN HEAR YOUR CELL. DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER?
MEGYN
NO I’VE GOT IT. IT’S MICKY.
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BRADLEY
WHY THE STArtled LOOK? MICKY’S PREGNANT!
MEGYN
END VAIL IX
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