Also known as: Tonsil cancer
Riley, a young boy, is found to have cervical cancer in his tonsil during a routine tonsillectomy. The cancer was transmitted from his mother during birth when he inhaled cancerous cells from the birth canal. The margins were clear after removal, giving him an excellent prognosis.
Also known as: Cervical cancer
Sarah has advanced cervical cancer that has spread to her uterus and requires a radical hysterectomy with lymph-node resection. She initially refuses surgery to prioritize her son Jackson's treatment, but eventually agrees after her brother offers to help with childcare. The cancer was transmitted to both her sons during birth.
Also known as: Growth on windpipe
Jackson has a tumor in his trachea that was seeded during birth from exposure to his mother's cervical cancer. The team considers an endoscopic mucosal tracheal resection to remove the localized tumor, but ultimately cannot proceed with this approach due to a major arterial feeder from the aorta creating a massive bleed risk.
Salen Morrison has scleroderma diagnosed seven years ago, which causes various symptoms including Raynaud's syndrome, a benign kidney lesion, and swollen ankles. She deliberately conceals her diagnosis and stops her medications to test the competence of the hospital's doctors, creating a mystery case throughout the episode.
Also known as: ADHD
Salen Morrison takes Ritalin for ADHD. She claims to have stopped the medication during her hospital evaluation, but blood work reveals elevated Ritalin levels that contribute to her cardiac symptoms and complicate diagnosis.
Also known as: Alcoholism
Sarah's brother Nick has been in recovery from alcohol use disorder for 365 days. His past alcoholism led to a dangerous incident where he got drunk while watching Sarah's children at the beach four years ago, resulting in the children wandering off. He presents his one-year sobriety chip to Sarah as evidence of his recovery.