All My Tomorrows

by Karen D. Badger

  Dr. Hoffman exposed the middle of Jordan's back and applied a local anesthetic. "This shouldn't take long to numb the area, Jordan, since we are only concerned about cutting through the skin at this point."

  Without looking up, Jordan called out to Maggie. "Are you doing okay up there, Mags?"

  "Right now I'm fine, but I won't guarantee I'll still be on my feet after the doc cuts into you," Maggie joked.

  "So I shouldn't be alarmed then if we hear a thud?"

  "Very funny, love. Very funny," Maggie replied.

  "Do you feel this, Jordan?" Dr. Hoffman asked as she poked Jordan's skin with the tip of the scalpel.

  "I don't feel a thing."

  "Okay then, here goes," the doctor said as she cut a curved flap over the device and peeled back the skin. "How are you doing, Jordan?"

  "I'm fine. A layer of faradic mesh was installed between the device and the skin to protect it from electro-magnetic fields, so you'll have to make a second incision to cut through that. Be careful though not to cut too deep or you'll hit the electrode wires."

  "Hey, who's doing this operation, you or me?" Dr. Hoffman joked.

  "Sorry, Doc,"

  "Okay, Jordan, I've exposed the device." Dr. Hoffman looked at the schematics of the device hand drawn by Jordan based on the x-rays, MRI's and CAT scans taken of the implant. "So, based on your drawing, this red wire right here should be the main power feed to the electrodes," Dr. Hoffman said.

  "Be sure to cut it far enough back to be able to splice it back together if the paralysis returns," Jordan said.

  "Got it. Here goes nothing," Dr. Hoffman snipped the wire then glanced at the various monitors hooked up to Jordan. "Your vitals look good. Everything is normal. How are you feeling, Jordan?"

  "No different from before you cut the wire."

  "Okay, here's the moment of truth," Dr. Hoffman said. "Tell me if you can feel this." Dr. Hoffman touched Jordan's foot.

  "You're touching my foot."

  "Can you wiggle your toes?"

  Jordan complied.

  "How about bending your knee?"

  Jordan bent both knees to a ninety-degree angle, lifting the lower half of her legs straight up.

  "Okay. Motion and touch seem to be intact. Now let's try temperature." Dr. Hoffman lifted the edge of the sheet and placed a warm, damp cloth on Jordan's leg. "Tell me what you feel, Jordan."

  "Wet, soft and warm," Jordan replied.

  "And this?" Dr. Hoffman touched the calf of Jordan's leg with an ice cube.

  "Ice. That's freaking cold!"

  "Very good. How about this?" Dr. Hoffman touched the other calf with the warm cloth.

  "It's the warm cloth again."

  "Well, all indications are that at least tactile feelings have remained intact. The only thing left to test is mobility under duress. We've already shown that you can move your legs, but I need to determine if the repaired spinal cord will support your weight and allow you to walk without the device. I am going to put the flap of skin back and place and cover it with a clear plastic bandage so we don't encounter significant bleeding while testing this. Okay?"

  "Let's do it," Jordan said. "Hey, Mags, are you doing okay?"

  "I'm speechless, Jordan. This is amazing," Maggie said.

  Dr. Hoffman folded the flap of skin back into place and applied the clear bandage. "Okay, you'll need to carefully roll onto your side and push yourself into a sitting position. That's it," Dr. Hoffman said as she assisted Jordan.

  "Nice moon shot," Maggie said from the observation balcony.

  "I'll show you a moon shot," Jordan quipped back.

  "Promises, promises," Maggie returned.

  Dr. Hoffman chuckled. "Are you two always like this?" she asked.

  "Pretty much."

  "You're a lucky woman. You both are," the doctor said. "I hope one day to find someone I can have that kind of relationship with."

  "You're not married?" Jordan asked.

  "Divorced, but that's another story in itself. Okay, I need you to swing your legs over the side of the table and slide off." Dr. Hoffman stood in front of Jordan and prepared to catch her should she fall.

  Jordan tenuously placed her feet on the floor and while holding on to Dr. Hoffman's arm, she stood erect. "So far, so good," she said.

  "Hold onto my hands. Let's see if you can take a couple of steps," the doctor instructed.

  Jordan took a few steps then released the doctor's hands and walked back and forth across the room twice. "Everything appears to work… and nothing hurts, so far," she said.

  "Wonderful. So, decision time. Do we cut the rest of the wires and remove the device, or give it a few days to see if anything develops?" Dr. Hoffman asked.

  "Just to be certain, you did cut the red wire, right?"

  "Yes. That's the one you identified as connected to the power pack," Dr. Hoffman said.

  "I can verify she cut the red wire, Jordan," Maggie said from above. "I watched her do it."

  "Okay, then, if there is no power going to the device and I haven't lost any feeling or functionality, then I guess it's safe to remove it. I will ask, however, that just like the power wire, you cut the leads such that it… or another device like it, could be reinserted if necessary."

  "All right then. Hop back onto the table and let's get this done."

  A half hour later, Dr. Hoffman retrieved the device from under Jordan's skin and placed it in a stainless steel tray. She then cleaned the wound thoroughly and stitched it closed before applying the bandage. "Are you still doing okay, Jordan?" Dr. Hoffman asked.

  "I'm fine. Are we finished?"

  "Yes. You should be able to get up now and get dressed." Dr. Hoffman looked up. "Maggie, if you'd like to join us now that would be fine."

  "I'll be right down."

  Dr. Hoffman picked up the device and turned it over in her gloved hand several times. "I'm amazed that something so small could be so powerful. I mean, before this, the only device I was aware of that could restore mobility is a big, clumsy exoskeleton."

  While Maggie helped Jordan to dress, Dr. Hoffman cleaned the blood and tissue off the device and placed it in a plastic bag. "It appears to have survived well in such a moist environment as human tissue. How long ago did you say this was implanted? Both the imaging we did and a visual inspection of the site, indicate nerves and tissues have grown around the electrode wires still installed in your spinal column. I'm afraid we won't be able to remove them without risking damage."

  "Actually I didn't say," Jordan replied as she tucked her shirt in. Just know that it's been a while, and as far as the electrode wires are concerned, they have never caused me any issue, so I don't think leaving them in there will be a problem." Jordan held on to Maggie's shoulder for balance as Maggie bent to help Jordan put her boots on. "Thanks, love," she said.

  Dr. Hoffman scribbled something on a prescription pad. "Here's a script for pain meds if you need it. So, as with any other wound, the stitches should absorb in a matter of two weeks. No heavy lifting, and be careful bending for the next several days. Topical antibiotic ointments are okay, and change the dressing daily for the next week. After that, as long as it's not seeping, and not irritated by clothing, you can leave it uncovered. I'd also like to see you in two weeks to check how well it's healing,"

  "I dare say you'll see me before then," Jordan said. "I will be finished assembling the team in the next few days, then I plan to schedule a briefing to lay the groundwork for the new implant development. Since you are part of the team, you will be invited, even though your involvement will be later in the process."

  "I look forward to meeting the team then. Let me know immediately if anything changes, or if any complications arise. Okay?"

  Jordan slipped the device and the prescription into her shirt pocket. "All right. Thank you, Dr. Hoffman."

  "Oh, and Jordan, since we're going to be working together, you can drop the formalities and call me Julie."

  "Will do. I'll see you in ab
out a week then, Julie."

  * * *

  Jordan looked at the screen on her cell phone to see who was calling. She smiled and pushed the answer button. "Hi Chuck," she said.

  "Jordan. How did your surgery go?"

  Jordan could hear the anxiety in his voice. "It went great. The device is in a plastic bag on top of my dresser right now ready for the team to reverse engineer."

  "And you? How are you doing?"

  "Fantastic. The good news, Chuck is that the implant worked exactly the way it was supposed to. Like I said, it's no longer in my back, yet I have the same degree of feeling and movement I had before removing it."

  Jordan listed to several moments of muffled silence. "Chuck, are you still there?"

  "I'm here," he said in a choked voice.

  "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed that we now have actual hope that a cure is possible for Jessie."

  "If we can successfully reengineer the device, then hope is absolutely there. Speaking of which, have you had a chance to set up a meeting with WorldWide Mainframes about the computer chip development?"

  "Yes. In fact, that's why I'm calling. They are available for a meeting at two on Friday."

  "That's in two days. Let me make sure we have nothing going on then." Jordan looked across the kitchen to Maggie who was stirring the spaghetti sauce on the stove. Maggie gave her a thumbs-up. "The boss says Friday at two is fine."

  "Great. Do you think Maggie would mind coming along a spending a little time with Jessie while we're at the meeting? Jessie's been asking to see her again."

  "Why don't you bring Jessie here and maybe she and Maggie can ride out to the north pasture again while we're at our meeting. Afterward, we can have dinner here, and maybe a bonfire."

  "That sounds like a fine plan. We'll see you around one on Friday then."

  * * *

  "Gentlemen, Ladies, what I need is a computer chip that is more advanced than anything currently available on the market. I am hoping you are far enough in the development cycle for your next generation lithography for me to be able to take advantage of the increased power and speed it will surely provide." Jordan advanced her slide.

  "This chip will be used in the development of a spinal implant, designed to restore mobility and over time, tactical sensation in victims of complete SCI's, or Spinal Cord Injuries." Jordan watched as the engineers present in the room exchanged curious looks with one another.

  "The chip must have a MIPS of at least 10 GHz, and preferably more. It needs to be capable of extremely fast execution speeds to avoid a measurable disruption in signal. A disruption in signal could cause the person to move in a jerky manner instead of fluid motion. The speed of the chip must be fast enough to minimize delays to the nanosecond range, imperceptible to the human consciousness.

  "The chip must have the ability to be self taught and must be able to perform millions of computations per second. It must contain memory enough to recognize, compute and store repeating events over several years time.

  “The chip must be fully programmable and must be able to be powered by the human body itself. Used in conjunction with software that I will help to develop, this chip will be the brain of the device and must have the ability to adapt, become self aware and develop its own order of intelligence."

  Jordan stopped to take a question.

  "Dr. Lewis, you are describing a chip whose capabilities have not yet been developed, although they are certainly in the roadmap. What you are asking us to do could take years of development. Do you have that much time?"

  "No sir, I do not. It is my goal to develop this spinal implant device within twelve calendar months."

  "An impossible task," came a remark from the far end of the conference room. "The technology isn't ready for such a challenge."

  Jordan held up her hand. "What if I was able to provide a prototype chip that is already known to work?"

  The engineer closest to her raised his hand.

  "Yes, sir?" Jordan said.

  "Dr. Lewis, my name is Christopher Gamache and I am the manager of operations for this facility. If we had an existing chip to learn from, it is conceivable that a copycat of sorts could be developed. The question of time line may however, still be an issue… and depending on the level of difficulty and factors such as yield, defect density and reliability, the chip may be cost prohibitive."

  "Mr. Gamache, cost is not a factor, within reason," Jordan said, "at least not in the beginning of the development cycle. Over time, one would expect the cost to decrease as the learning and yield increase."

  "That is true, but the time line is still a problem. A normal development cycle, given the technology exists today to support such specifications, is at least two years. You are asking us to be ready in less than one."

  "That is exactly what I am asking. However, given the technology exists today to support it, and given enough monetary and manpower resource, I believe it is achievable," Jordan insisted.

  "So you have this chip in your possession?" Gamache asked.

  "I do."

  "And do you own the intellectual property for the chip?"

  "I do."

  "And you would be willing to allow us to reverse engineer the chip for the purpose of mass producing it. Do I understand you correctly?"

  "You understand me perfectly well. I will caution you, however, that under no circumstances can this chip be damaged in any way during the reverse engineering process. I understand the semiconductor manufacturing process substantially well enough to know how a functional module is created with several masking levels, but you will not be able to physically dissect or change my chip in any way, or we will lose our only stencil for duplication. Is that clear to everyone?"

  "So, what do you anticipate the demand for this chip to be, Dr. Lewis," Gamache asked.

  "There are tens of thousands of people out there today, and hundreds of thousands more to come in the future who suffer from partial or complete spinal cord injuries. If these chips can eventually be made at a cost-efficient price, the return on investment will be continuous and astronomical."

  A silence fell over the room for several moments. Finally, Gamache stood and shook Jordan's hand. "Dr. Lewis, your proposal has given us a lot to think about. I will convene a task force on Monday to consider your request then I will schedule a follow up meeting to discuss our decision."

  "I appreciate your consideration, Mr. Gamache."

  CHAPTER 32

  Jordan and Chuck pulled up to the farm house just as Maggie and Jessie galloped into the barnyard on Shawny. "Whoa, boy," Maggie said and the steed came to a stop beside the truck.

  "Hi Daddy," Jessie said. "Maggie and I have had a wonderful afternoon. Maggie let me help a baby horse be born."

  "Dixie foaled? She was a bit early. Is everything okay?" Jordan asked Maggie.

  "The foal is small, but she'll make it," Maggie replied.

  "Maggie let me name her and said she could be my horse," Jessie said, her excitement evident in the lilt to her voice.

  "Really?" Chuck said. "Owning a horse is a big responsibility, Jess."

  "You can bring me by a couple times of week to brush her and feed her, can't you, Dad?"

  "Well, I guess. If it's no imposition on Maggie and Jordan, that is."

  "Not a problem, Chuck," Maggie said. "Jessie is a joy to be around."

  "So what did you name this baby horse of yours?" Chuck asked.

  "Foal, Dad. It's a foal, not a baby horse," Jessie replied, rolling her eyes.

  Jordan had to look away so as to not laugh out loud.

  "I stand corrected," Chuck said. "So, what did you name her?"

  "I named her Jezebel, after me… get it? Jessie-Bell?"

  "Seriously?" Chuck asked.

  "Come on, Chuck. It's cute," Jordan said.

  "What if it was your daughter, Lewis?" Chuck said, trying very hard to keep the smile off his face.

  "Well, I don't have a daughter ye
t," Jordan said, winking at Maggie.

  "Some day," Maggie said contemplatively before changing the subject. "So, how does goulash sound for dinner?"

  "Really?" Jessie exclaimed. "I love goulash. My mom used to make it all the time."

  "With sausage in it?" Maggie asked.

  "Yes… exactly! Can I help?" Jessie asked.

  "Sure you can," Maggie said. "Jord, you're on salad duty."

  "Got it," Jordan said. "That's one dish I can't possibly burn."

  "I'll give you a hand, Jordan. I can slice cucumbers with the best of them," Chuck said.

  * * *

  "So, Jordan, how did the meeting go with the semiconductor guys?" Maggie asked around a bite of goulash.

  "I thought it went well. They didn't commit to anything. A few of them even complained that what I wanted was way beyond what the technology could support today, but after I offered up the chip we currently have as a prototype, they were at least willing to consider it. They owe me an answer next week."

  "You aren't actually going to give them the only chip you have, are you?"

  "I won't actually be giving it to them, just lending it so they can study it and figure out how to reverse engineer it. I made it clear to them that they couldn't damage or alter it in any way."

  "What if they can't build you what you need?" Maggie asked.

  "Then we'll have to figure out how to take what they can build and adapt it. There's a way around everything if you work at it hard enough."

  "But will it work the same way as the current chip?" Chuck asked.

  "It should be similar. I may have to adapt the algorithm to make up for the differences, but I think it's doable."

  "If it's doable simply by making adjustments in the software, then why push them so hard to make a more advanced chip?" Chuck asked.

  "Because the chips readily available today will run out of steam must faster than a more advanced one. Keep in mind that the chip inside the device was made eighty years from now. The one unknown in this whole thing is whether or not the software program, which was also written eighty years from now, will work with a less powerful chip. Bottom line… the more powerful chip we can get our hands on, the more likely our chances for long-term success."