Also known as: Hip fracture
Martha sustained a hip fracture from a fall in her kitchen. The fracture requires surgical pinning, but she refuses surgery due to concerns about who will care for her autistic grandson Alexander during her recovery.
Martha has terminal stage 4 lymphoma that has metastasized to her bones, causing lytic lesions and areas of bone weakness. She has decided not to treat it and has only a few months to live. This diagnosis is central to her decision-making regarding Alexander's care and her attempted murder-suicide.
Also known as: Narcotic overdose
Alexander presents unresponsive with pinpoint pupils after his grandmother Martha intentionally put opioid pain medication into his soda in an attempted murder-suicide. He is successfully treated with Narcan and recovers.
Also known as: Asperger's syndrome
Alexander is identified as being on the autism spectrum, which affects his ability to process new situations and requires his grandmother to be his primary caregiver. His condition is central to the plot as it drives Martha's desperation about his future care.
Also known as: Ruptured spleen
Brandon sustained a grade 2 splenic crack from a motor vehicle crash. The injury is managed conservatively with hemoglobin monitoring rather than surgical intervention.
Sophia is diagnosed with Brugada syndrome after passing out in the pool during swim practice. The condition causes dangerous arrhythmias during exertion and requires an ICD implantation. She initially refuses surgery to continue competitive swimming and files for emancipation, but ultimately agrees to the procedure after speaking with Jack Dayton.
Also known as: Crohn's disease
Roy has severe Crohn's disease requiring a gastric feeding tube due to esophageal strictures. He undergoes an Ivor Lewis esophageal reconstruction using 2.0 technology to allow him to eat again, which succeeds despite the complex surgical challenges from his hostile abdomen.
Also known as: Abruption
Tiffany, thrown from a motor vehicle crash while in labor, develops placental abruption in the woods. She is found hypothermic with fetal distress requiring emergency field delivery by Dr. Lieu and Dr. Asher.