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Show 111 "What if," and his voice is deep once again and I relax. His idea is to test the catheter by running the test prescribed for pump candidates. A bolus amount of Baclofen, the drug in my pump, is shot directly into the spinal fluid - a procedure not unlike performing a spinal tap, only backwards. Instead of the needle removing spinal fluid, it places the Baclofen into the spinal fluid. A candidate for the pump must respond favorably to the Baclofen before the system is ever placed into the body. If I now once again respond favorably to the Baclofen, it will mean that the pump system is somehow compromised and that the Baclofen in my pump is, for whatever reason, not reaching my spinal fluid. Dr. Jessop is rubbing his chin with his hand. He has not thrown out the idea. He is considering it. It was a compromise that Faith, Hy and I figured might work. Instead of their feeling accused of not knowing what they think is a non-existent protocol, they will instead feel that they are taking part in an innovative procedure. We hope. We hope that Hy will not threaten them. He is a physically small man. And though his voice is deep and resonant, it is now lilting submissively, in discovery, not accusation. "That might work," Dr. Jessop is saying, unbelievably. "I can't see that it would hurt anything," he adds. He is turning to the resident. "Let's try it," he orders. |