Also known as: Breast cancer
Diane Pierce (Maggie's mother) has been undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and is scheduled for a mastectomy with reconstruction. She has been hiding her diagnosis from Maggie throughout treatment, only revealing it right before surgery, creating major emotional conflict in the episode.
Also known as: Brain bleed
95-year-old retired surgeon who faints while hiking and is found to have a loculated acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma. Despite the high surgical risk due to her age and other factors, she undergoes craniotomy to gain more time with her husband of 60 years, but dies post-operatively.
Also known as: Fainting
Elsie's initial presenting symptom while hiking, lasting at least 60 seconds, which led to her fall and subsequent discovery of the brain bleed. Cardiac workup was ordered to rule out cardiac causes.