Also known as: Eye socket fracture
Kevin presents with multiple facial fractures around his eyes from physical abuse disguised as a fall. Requires reconstructive surgery and reveals ongoing pattern of abuse at the boys' home.
Also known as: Broken rib
Kevin has three displaced fractured ribs from the beating, with one previously healed improperly from past abuse. Andrews warns one could puncture his lung and kill him. Kevin later tears his surgical sutures intentionally to extend his hospital stay.
Also known as: Child abuse
Kevin is victim of repeated physical abuse at his group home through a ritualized bullying game called 'Happy Hour' where boys exploit his dyslexia. He tears out his own sutures to extend his hospital stay and avoid returning. Andrews works to get him moved to a safer placement.
Also known as: Dyslexia
Kevin's dyslexia is exploited by bullies at the group home who force him into reading/spelling challenges in their 'Happy Hour' game, then beat him when he fails. Andrews bonds with Kevin over shared experience with dyslexia.
Also known as: Aortic stenosis
Joan's chest tightness is caused by narrowing in her aortic valve. The team performs a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using a bioprosthetic valve to address the stenosis.
Also known as: Post-polio syndrome
Joan has lived in an iron lung for decades due to polio destroying the cells in her spinal cord and paralyzing her respiratory muscles. This drives the entire episode as her iron lung malfunctions and she faces life-threatening complications requiring transition to modern ventilation.
Also known as: Torn bronchus
Joan develops a bronchial rupture after being intubated when her iron lung fails. The surgical team attempts repair with sutures and muscle flap, but her weakened respiratory system cannot tolerate return to the iron lung, necessitating alternative ventilation strategies.
Also known as: Cracked vertebra
Joan has cracked vertebrae that are not strong enough to support a cuirass ventilator. The team performs kyphoplasties, pouring cement into the vertebrae to stabilize them so she can transition from the iron lung to a biphasic cuirass ventilator with phrenic nerve stimulation.