“Dr. Shoo, this is indeed an honor,” said Dr. Keith. “George filled me in on what’s going on, but I must tell you, Manny really doesn’t have much time. His wife is in the room and has given us permission to move forward. All of the paperwork has been signed, gentlemen,” he said as he looked at the suits.
“Let’s do this,” announced Shoo. They followed Dr. Keith and a nurse down the long hall. Along the way, hospital officials joined the march.
“I sent you the particulars on Mr. Howard,” Dr. Keith said to Shoo, “so you should have everything. The current BP and heart rate are shallow. Do you really think this will work?”
“If you had asked me a week ago if I would be holding what I think I am holding in my hands, I would have laughed out loud,” Shoo said as they arrived at the elevator. “But this stuff is a damn miracle, so my answer is yes.”
When they arrived at the patient’s room, they limited the team to Drs. White, Shoo, and Keith. Shoo examined the readings on the monitors hooked up to Mr. Howard. Shelly introduced herself to Manny’s wife.
“I have seen you on TV with the cancer challenge,” she said, holding Shelly’s hand and arm. “Do you think you can help my Manny?”
“We’re going to try,” she said.
“Manny has so much to live for,” she said. “Our first great- grandchild will be born next month. Our daughter is flying in from New York this afternoon. Please, if you can, save him.”
She began to cry, and Nick offered to take her into the hall to console her. Shelly watched them leave then turned her attention to Shoo who was beginning to inject the drug into Howard’s IV.
“God, I hope this works,” she heard Dr. Keith say. “Faith, Doctor,” Shoo said. “Faith.”
She knew she was watching the culmination of an incredible project, an unthinkable journey. Decades had passed since she was diagnosed with cancer, then miraculously cured. But in less than seven days, a German researcher named Hans Bextal had revealed a secret formulation to break the cancer stronghold on humans, testing had been completed, and a human being who otherwise would not have made it to another sunrise was about to be cured. She was exhausted, yet full of energy.