Gerold vs. the Good Old Boys

8/ Fall-out

By Jo Dora Webster

Cover Art by Melanie E.

What will be the fall-out from
Glory's seizure and published article?

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8/ Fall-out

Grace looks on in dismay at the bedside of Gloria as she lay comatose. Test after test had been done upon Gloria trying to figure out what was the challenge that Gloria's body was undergoing. The only positive that Grace had was that it was not just Dr Patricia Drake or Dr Gwen Mathers but the whole of the University of Colorado Medical Center (UCMC) and the Jaime's Hope Foundation (JHF) that was working on solving the mystery of Gloria's challenge.

"Grace, we've had a breakthrough! We've discovered that Gloria's seizures are coming from a toxic over production of a natural agent in a body organ that has been compromised. We have a possible solution provided by JHF. They have postulated that specially created Stem Cells could be injected into that organ to restore it to normalcy. By attacking the contagion at it's cause, this treatment hopes to restore Gloria to full health."

"Praise the Goddess! How long before Gloria can receive this treatment?"

"Dr. Mathers is at JHF working to get the stem cell treatment ready. She will transport the treatment herself here and administer it whan it is ready."

"That is such good news, Dr Drake. Thank you. Did you hear that Glory, they found the cause and they are working on a cure. I miss you so much, Glory. Get well soon! Come back to me, please."

Dr Erika had arranged for Grace to take her meals and sleep overnight in Gloria's room. Nurse Janine had taken to eating the evening meal with Grace and encouraging her to get ready for bed afterward even after she herself had gone off shift. Janine reminded grace every evening with the same words.

"You have to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of others."

Grace took those words to heart and even though Grace was sad for her friend, she herself was healthy in spite of the stress she was enduring.

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I opened my eyes to the sight of Grace looking down on me. My head was pounding as if I had just woken from the mother of all hangovers. Oh No! Not again! Everything felt functional this time unlike the last when I could not speak. My hearing proved to be okay as I heard Grace's voice as she hit my call button.

"Glory, you are awake! You had us so worried. How do you feel?"

"I feel as if I had been in an auto accident. Everything hurts but it seems like this time everything is working."

"I've called the nurse and hopefully we'll be able to make you more comfortable soon."

Nurse Janine came into the room and checked my vitals. She offered me some orange juice which quenched my thirst.

"I've called for Dr Drake, Gloria. What is your, one to ten, pain level?"

"Most of my body is about a seven but my headache rates a nine. I've got to quit doing this. Do we think the flight or the excitement set me off?"

Dr Drake came into the room as I asked the question and it was she who gave me the answer while she took my chart from Nurse Janine.

"They may have contributed but were not the cause. University of Colorado Medical Center (UCMC) and Jaime's Hope Foundation (JHC) both reviewed your earlier tests before and after your other seizure. Working together they found something that we missed at Emory University Hospital. There is way too much of a natural chemical in your body which sets off the seizures as it reaches a certain level. The stress aided in the process but did not cause it."

"Is there a cure?", I asked.

"Yes, Gloria, there is a cure proposed by JHC. They are working on implementing it. Let's see about getting you comfortable with some pain medication."

Dr Drake gave Nurse Janine some instructions and she injected something in my IV which started to bring some relief.

"Just call for the nurse if you have continued pain once that shot wears off and she has authorization from me to take care of your comfort. I'm hoping this is transitory like before, which is why I'm not setting you up with on demand pain medication."

"I'm hungry. May I have breakfast Dr. Drake?"

"We'll order you some breakfast, Gloria? What is your pain level now?"

"Three for the body and four for the headache. I feel much better. Thank you Doctor."

"What JHF has prescribed is a stem cell injection to make your body quit producing that natural agent at toxic levels which is triggering the overdose and the seizure. It's ordinarily an office procedure but we'll do it in a OR under local anesthesia just to be safe. One of their best doctors, Dr. Gwen Mathers will be bringing the special stem cells and will also be doing the procedure on you. We'll update you on time when she arrives and things are prepared to proceed."

"That's wonderful news, Dr. Drake. Thank you so much! Don't you agree, Glory?", asked Grace

"I concur with Grace. Thank you Dr. Drake!"

Two breakfast trays appeared at the door. Dr Drake and Nurse Janine took that as a cue to leave. Grace and I enjoyed our breakfast.

"What is that newspaper on the side table, Grace?"

"The Denver Post-Dispatch sent over a copy of the Atlanta Paper with your article published on the front page. There is a companion article all about the Governor being guilty of felony voter suppression, too!"

"Let's see if the local news has picked up any of the fall-out from the articles yet. Please turn on the TV, Gloria."

"For the latest concerning the fall-out from the expose articles in the Atlanta Press, We turn to 11 alive, our sister station in Atlanta for a report: II alive is reporting that the governor, Lt. governor, State Cabinet officials and a majority of the mid level officials in the Department of Transportation wholesale have resigned. Upon the mass resignations in the controlling party in GA, only the Secretary of Agriculture , Miss Dawn Hall, from the opposing party was left the highest ranking official in state government. The Chief Justice of the GA Supreme Court swore in Miss Dawn Hall as GA Governor in a private ceremony to preserve the continuity of government. GA government circles are realing as they anticipate what the new Governor will say as she addresses the state later this morning.. This is 11 alive in Atlanta, back to you."

"Looks like the Good ol' boys finally got what they deserved, thanks to you,Glory! I'm going to phone to check in with Reyna."

Grace phoned Reyna and put the call on speaker so the three of us could talk.

"How did things go this morning, Reyna?"

"It started out very tense. The Good ol' boys wanted their pound of flesh from the two of you. It wasn't until they found out that neither of you were state employee's anymore and that both you and your belongings had left the state that they realized how big a mess that they were in. Then the resignations started with the top and working down through state government. It was like rats on a sinking ship but now the dust is settling with upper and middle management gone in the Georgia department of transportation (GA DOT) ."

How did you and your department make out, Reyna?"

"I'm going to be the new GA Secretary of Transportation. My first action will be to appoint everyone in our department to a top level job in the GA DOT so all of our department will still be reporting directly to me only with all of us getting well deserved raises."

"Congratulations to all of you Reyna. I feel better knowing now that Georgia is in much better hands."

"I've got to run, Grace and Glory. I am due down at the state capitol to be with new Governor Hall for her address to the state. Our best to you Grace and Glory in your new life. Goodbye."

It wasn't a second after Reyna got off Grace's phone that my phone rang. I had the newspaper in my lap. I didn't have to read the article since I had it all memorized. The phone call was from my editor from the Atlanta paper.

Hello, Gloria. Did you get the copy of the Atlanta Paper that I asked the Post-Dispatch to send to you?

"I did, thank you Chief! Grace and I just heard a report from 11 Alive. It seems that things are interesting in Georgia today."

"The Good Ol' Boys are all going to be up on federal and state criminal charges. The fun continues here, but that is not what i called about. The Pulitzer committee has just accepted your article for consideration for the Pulitzer prize. Congratulations, Gloria. Well deserved! I have to go to make sure our coverage is in place at the capitol. Bye Gloria!"

"That was kind of him to call. A Pulitzer prize nomination, Grace for my article, the chief called to tell me."

"Congratulations, Glory! I'm going to go now to take care of some details but I'll be back in time for your procedure. Bye, Glory!"

"Bye, Grace!"

With all the excitement of the morning, I had all but forgotten my pain. I was glad that the reminder of my seizure was gone. With no tests to take and interruptions, I resolved to take a nap. The afternoon was likely to be full of it's own excitement.

I woke when I was brought my lunch tray. The food all looked good and I was hungry again. I turned the TV back on for the noon news. I came in on the middle of a story which contained excerpts from Gov. Hall's address to the state of GA. The part that I caught included Reyna being introduced as the new Secretary of Transportation. Next they teased a live report from 11 alive.

"For the latest concerning the fall-out from the expose articles in the Atlanta Press, We turn to 11 alive, our sister station in Atlanta for a report: This is 11 alive reporting on news that both the former Governor and Lt. Governor are going to be up on federal and state criminal charges. The FBI is seen here placing both former officials under arrest for Federal arrest charges. They will be held in Federal custody at the Atlanta Federal penitentiary. Their arraignment will be in Federal court this evening. Again the former Governor and Lt.Governor have been arrested by the FBI and are being held for federal charges. This is 11 alive, back to you."

I thought, "Wow! what an arresting development. The good ol' boys are finally going to answer for their crimes."

Two hours after lunch, Nurse Janine came to the room to get me ready for the procedure. A half hour before that Grace had arrived back and was again keeping me company. Dr.Gwen Mathers had arrived an hour ago and had been conferring with Dr. Drake. All was in readiness for my minor procedure that was being done in the OR. I guess that I had had one too many seizures and they were taking no chances with me. Finally they took me out on a gurney to the OR after I had gotten a good luck air kiss from Grace.

Thirty minutes later I was through with the procedure and back in my room. A lot of that thirty minutes was taken by them transporting and transferring me to and from the OR. They would be able to tell if the procedure worked by tests taken and analyzed this evening. In order to minimize Dr Mathers time away from JHF the tests would be taken and evaluated two hours after the procedure. While our supper trays would be delivered at the normal time, they would go instead into the food holding cabinet at the nursing station for safe keeping. After hearing the results Grace and i would have a late supper.

I was surprised that the test which they administered after the two hours had expired was nothing more than an ordinary blood draw. Thirty minutes later Dr. Mathers , Dr Drake and Nurse Janine gathered in my room to tell Grace and me the results.

"The results have come back, Gloria, The natural agent is under control and is maintaining proper levels. The stem cells have done their job and now the organ is behaving nominally. In short, you are cured, Gloria. I have to get back to JHF, so I'll leave you in Dr. Drake's capable hands."

"Thank you for your help, Dr Mathers. Safe journey!"

"Getting the cure for your seizures was the last holdup to getting your Harry Benjamin Syndrome (HBS) treatments started. While GA was Fighting us for every approval, Colorado is very generous. We'll get started doing everything needed for your outward gender expression to match your inner gender. Dr Mathers is looking forward to transporting you to JHF to get your Gender confirmation surgery and that little extra that they promised you. Dr Mathers said that everything is ready on their end and will go flawlessly."

Grace spoke with a special gleam in her eye, "With that being said there is one thing left to do."

I thought she was talking about supper until she dropped to one knee by my bed.

"Gloria Ann Mercer will you be my wife?"

She handed me a case which contained a pair of matched diamond engagement rings.

"Yes, I will, Grace", I answered and placed the ring engraved for me on my hand, "Grace Leigh Brooks, will you be my wife?"

"Yes, I will, Glory", Grace answered and placed the ring engraved for her on her hand, Then we sealed our engagement with a passionate kiss. Dr Drake and Nurse Janine chorused together a sweet "Awwwww" and then clapped for us.

With everything completed and the nurse aide bringing in our supper trays. We capped off the evening with our engagement supper. Even though it was in a hospital room instead of a five star restaurant, I felt that nothing could be more perfect for the pair of us.