Page 65 of Doctor One Night

“That’s incredible,” I call back, a genuine smile pulling at the corners of my mouth despite the anxiety gnawing at me. “Thanks for letting me know.”

Shep nods and continues down the hall, leaving me with a rare burst of happiness in an otherwise shitty morning. It’s a small victory, but right now, I’ll take it. It’s proof that sometimes, no matter how stubborn or set in their ways people might be, change is possible.

I push forward, that small glimmer of hope fueling me as I head to my office. When I get there, Jonah is already waiting, leaning against the door frame, his expression serious.

“Jonah,” I say, nodding as I unlock the door and push it open, gesturing for him to come in. “What’s going on with Grace? Is she okay?”

He follows me inside, and the tension in the air. We both take a seat, and I can tell by the look on his face that whatever he’s about to say isn’t good.

“It’s not good, Hunter,” Jonah begins, running a hand through his hair. “The damage from the heart attack is worse than we initially thought. Dr. Calloway has considered every option for her, but it’s clear now that she’s not going to be able to manage without some kind of intervention.”

My stomach tightens. “What's he thinking?”

Jonah takes a deep breath. “She needs a pacemaker, but she’s not a candidate for the traditional ones. Her condition, her age, the damage, the complications… it’s too risky.”

I nod slowly, already seeing where this is going. “So what are you suggesting?”

Jonah leans forward, his eyes locking onto mine. “What about the pacemaker you’ve been working on? The one for the trial. It’s designed for patients like her, right? Those who can’t handle the traditional devices?”

My mind races, weighing the options, the risks, the possibilities. “Jonah, we haven’t even started the trial yet. We’ve got the FDA approval, and we’ve secured funding, but there is still so much that has to be done before we can start. The hospital board hasn't even met to review our protocol that isn't even completed. It’s just not there yet, man, I’m sorry.”

“I know that,” Jonah says, his voice urgent. “But we’re talking about Grace’s life here. She’s not going to make it without some kind of intervention, and soon. You’ve got the approval, you’ve got the device—there has to be a way you can use it to save her. She is important to all of us, we have to come through for her.”

I lean back in my chair, running a hand over my face. “It’s not that simple, Jonah,” I say frustrated. I'm pissed he is putting this one me, like I'm the one who will make or break this. “There are protocols, regulations, a system.”

“I get it,” Jonah cuts in, “but we both know that sometimes, you have to bend the rules a little to save a life. You’ve got the important stuff: the FDA approval, the money. If anyone can make it happen, I know it's you.”

I stare at him for a long moment, the enormity of it all swallowing me. We've never done a human trial, we don't even have all of the fucking protocols in place.

Goddammit. Grace’s life depends on this, and I know it.

“I’ll look into it,” I finally say, my voice firm. “I’ll see what I can do. But I can't make any promises. It’s likely the hospital wouldn’t even agree to it if I figured out how to pull it off. They would have to be on board.”

Jonah nods, relief flooding his features. “Thanks, Hunter. Just try. I know it’s a lot to ask, but she’s got no other options.”

As Jonah leaves, I sit back, my mind already spinning with the possibilities. There’s a way to do this—I just need to figure out how. The compassionate use program is designed for situations like this, where a patient needs access to an experimental treatment outside of a clinical trial.

The board will have to agree. It's almost easier to get an act through congress than it is to get them all on the same page.

I get up from my chair, pacing the room as I think through the logistics. I’ll need to talk to Theo and get his okay, and then together, we would have to put in an emergency request with the IRB and the Ethics Board.

But more than that, I need to make sure this is the right move for Grace. She deserves the best care possible, and if this pacemaker is her best shot, then I’ll have to figure out how to make it happen.

I open my laptop and fingers start flying over the keyboard as I draft an email to Frankie and Theo about the compassionate use request for Grace Petit. I’ve got to start somewhere, and nothing will happen without their blessing.

The words are coming quickly—too quickly, maybe—but the urgency of the situation is overriding everything else in my mind. I need to get this message out, to start the process, to figure out how to make this work. Grace doesn’t have time to wait.

Subject: Compassionate Use- Grace Petit

Frankie, Theo?—

Just as I’m about to dive into the specifics, Jill pops her head into my office, her voice cutting through my concentration like a knife.

“Dr. Parrish, your patient is prepped and on the table, ready for surgery.”

I freeze, my body and mind are in two different places as her words sink in. Shit. I completely forgot.

I glance at the clock on my computer screen, cursing under my breath. How the hell did I lose track of time like that?

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