Also known as: Undulant fever
Henry contracts brucellosis from unpasteurized sheep cheese, which causes multisystem involvement including brain microabscess, orchitis (testicular swelling), and bacterial endocarditis. The vegetation on his mitral valve breaks off causing a massive heart attack that destroys half his heart muscle, requiring a heart transplant.
Also known as: Heart valve infection
As a complication of brucellosis, vegetations form on Henry's mitral valve causing obstruction and ultimately breaking off to cause a myocardial infarction.
Also known as: Heart attack
Vegetation from endocarditis breaks off into Henry's main coronary artery causing a massive heart attack that destroys half his heart muscle, making him dependent on a heart transplant to survive.
Also known as: Seizure
Henry experiences an absence seizure during a bridge game, which is the initial presenting symptom that brings him to the hospital. This is caused by a microabscess in his brain from the brucellosis infection.
Also known as: Testicular inflammation
Henry's right testicle becomes almost twice the size of his left due to brucellosis infection, initially suspected to be testicular cancer or lymphoma before the true diagnosis is revealed.
Also known as: Liver ameba infection
Laura has an amoeba infection that started in her liver and spread to her blood, causing fever, stomach pain, and elevated liver enzymes. This initially makes her unsuitable as an organ donor until properly treated.
Also known as: The clap
Laura has gonorrhea that caused Fitzhugh-Curtis syndrome, creating scarring around her liver. She contracted it from her husband who had an affair. This contributes to her overall illness and must be treated before her heart can be used for transplant.
Laura develops Fitzhugh-Curtis syndrome as a complication of gonorrhea, causing inflammation and scarring around her liver capsule, which creates what appears to be a cyst on imaging.
Also known as: Head laceration
Laura sustains a fatal head injury when she falls asleep at the wheel and crashes her car, likely precipitated by her underlying infections. This leads to her brain death and eventual status as an organ donor.