After spending most of the morning in the ICU, Jack went to the doctors’ dining room to meet Madison for lunch. Earlier, they had visited Isabella Rosas and finally agreed the removal of her ovarian tumor had done nothing to improve her condition.
“Did Mike call?” Madison asked, taking the seat across from him.
“A couple of hours ago. I’m going to meet with him tonight at his house.”
“I’m happy to come along if you think it would help.”
Jack thought about Madison’s offer for a few moments. “Thanks. I think that’s probably a good idea.”
They were just starting to get up to go through the food service line when Madison’s phone rang.
“We’re in the doctors’ dining room.” Madison nodded a few times. “No, that’s fine. We’ll wait right here for you.” Replacing her phone in the pocket of her white coat, she said, “That was Helen Morales. She wants to talk with us. There appears to be another new development. She’ll be here in a couple of minutes.”
Helen Morales waved as she approached Jack and Madison’s table. From the somber look on her face, he assumed that more bad news was on the way. She sat down, interlacing her fingers as she placed her hands on the table.
“I just got off the phone with the surgeon general. She called me as a courtesy to let me know she met with the president and his key health care advisors earlier today. The president has decided to make a national address tonight. In his speech, he will talk about the option of using Vitracide.”
“I can’t believe it,” Madison said averting her gaze. “How can the president of the United States come out in support of such a potentially dangerous and unproven treatment?”
“I’m not sure you’re going to see an across-the-board endorsement. The president’s in a tough spot. Try and remember the mood of the country is somewhere between irate and terrified. A lot of people believe the medical community and government haven’t been forthcoming or effective in the way they’re dealing with GNS. Emergency rooms are packed, obstetricians are working till midnight and state and federal health agencies can’t begin to handle the volume of calls they’re receiving.” Helen shook her head slowly. “You can’t blame the president. He’s got to do something to get the country out of this tailspin. From a political standpoint, it’s the smart move.”
Madison frowned. “Politically smart. That’s great.”
“I assume Southeastern State will make Vitracide available for those families who elect to go that route?” Jack asked.
“I don’t think we’ll have a choice,” Helen responded.
“So, I guess the key question is how long will it take Sinclair to get his treatment protocol up and running?” Jack asked.
“Once he has the tacit approval of the federal government, which I think the president’s address will provide, he’ll be ready to start treating within a few days.”
“That doesn’t leave us much time,” Jack said.
“What are you two going to do?” Helen asked.
“I don’t think Madison and I are ready to cut and run just yet,” he said with the slightest of shrugs. “We’ll just keep working. Hopefully, we can gather enough information in the next few days to convince our colleagues and the public that the last thing in the world they want to do is authorize the use of Vitracide.”