by Cher Etan
“I don’t blame you for thinking that,” Dean told her now, his tone rueful. “It’s my fault and I realize that now. I don’t know what I can do to change it right away though. Any ideas?”
“Dean, I wasn’t trying to make you-“ Meaghan began to protest.
“I know you weren’t,” Dean interrupted. “I just…I’m out of ideas and I thought you might have some is all.”
Meaghan smiled, leaned forward and laid a chaste kiss on his lips. She didn’t want to give him any ideas – her body was still recovering from whatever that was they’d done just now.
“Let’s just…put a pin in it for now. I think this is good. We’ve made some progress. We know that we have real feelings for each other. We know that it’s mutual,” Meaghan said with a shrug.
“I can’t exactly stand up at the board of directors’ meeting and say hey, you know what Samantha’s not my girlfriend. It would be inappropriate,” Dean said just thinking out loud, ignoring Meaghan’s suggestion to put a pin in it. Meaghan huffed a laugh.
“Yeah where exactly on the agenda would that go? None of Your Business section maybe?” Meaghan said. “Look Dean, I get it. You’re spirit is willing and so is your flesh. I didn’t know before but I do now. You don’t have to do anything, I promise.”
Dean nodded his head, but he still looked skeptical. Meaghan pushed away the bed covers and slid out of bed, naked.
“I need a shower now though seriously, we’ll get where we wanna go. Lets just not be all worried and shit. It’ll come together by itself. I promise you.”
Dean stood up and made as if to follow her to the shower. Meaghan put up her hand, palm outward.
“Halt. Where do you think you’re going?” she asked.
Dean grinned. “I thought I’d scrub your back for you,” he said hands on the waistband of his boxers.
“Uh huh. Not happening,” Meaghan said eyes on his hands. “I still don’t know how I’m even going to function after that…session. I’m not looking to inflict any more damage on this vessel,” she said indicating her body.
“What damage? That was just standard sexual procedure for you; just coz you were on top this time doesn’t mean anything changed,” Dean said grinning smugly.
Meaghan threw a random sock at him and mock-glared. “Stay away from me fool,” she said slipping into the bathroom and shutting the door.
“You don’t know what you’re missing!” he yelled at the closed door.
“Oh yes I do,” she sang back as she switched on the shower.
*****
Meaghan and her mother walked into the narrow brick building that housed the offices of the Shelley project. She had an appointment with the project manager who would give her orientation on the work that they did here. When she’d told her mother about the work that Conrad had offered her. She’d been very excited and asked if she could come along and see what work they were doing as well. Meaghan had called Conrad to see if it would be alright and with his enthusiastic permission had brought her mother along on what was essentially sort of an interview.
“Hi,” she said to the receptionist. “I’m here to see Maggie Martinez?”
The receptionist looked up, brown eyes friendly and welcoming in her freckled face. She smiled widely and stood up to point out the correct office; in spite of her substantial bulk and the gray in her hair she moved easily, guiding them to the right door and leaving them to it with a nod and a smile. Maggie Martinez also turned out to be enthusiastically friendly greeting Meaghan and Amanda like they were old friends.
“Conrad told me about you – we don’t get many doctors who grew up around here so we’re really excited to have you,” she said as she led them down the hall to show them the clinic space.
“I’m excited to be here,” Meaghan replied exchanging a look with her mom.
“Most of our patients are disadvantaged in terms of access to insured health care. We have a payment policy that allows them to settle their bills slowly at a rate that won’t break them” she said as they walked past the packed waiting room where nurses were carrying out triage.
“And do you get many defaulters or are people good about paying?” Meaghan asked curiously.
Maggie shrugged. “Most of our patients are return customers. They are well known to us and we to them. I think Dr. Conrad told you that we don’t just do the clinic, but we also have a mentorship program and needle exchange every other Saturday? We know most of these people by their first names; we’ve been to their homes. We know their challenges. It’s a very hands on project we run here. Very few of our patients are walk-ins. And most of those who are have some sort of emergency or have heard of us through their neighbors for example.”
As she talked, Maggie showed them the state of the art laboratory that had been built through the efforts of the community who held a funds drive to raise the capital. They also walked through the ward where a few inpatients were admitted.
“We don’t have an extensive in-patient facility. Just a few beds to deal with acute cases that might need overnight observation. We also have a maternity ward though it's empty right now. Many of our maternity patients come from the drug users who are looking to give birth in conditions that are sanitary among people they can trust. Many times, they wish to give up the child.”
“Sounds really intense. What do you do with the children who are given up? I mean obviously you call child services, silly question.”
Maggie smiled, “Not silly at all; we have an arrangement with Child Services where we keep the child in the neonatal ward until we’re sure that they are healthy. Many of them are born with addictions, and then we pass them on to the social worker who we liaise with.”
“Maggie I’m really impressed with the work you guys are doing around here, even without seeing your other projects. So I just have one question for you,” Meaghan said smiling.
“What’s that?” Maggie asked head cocked, ready to answer anything.
“When do I start?”
Chapter 6
Dean was making more of an effort with Meaghan. She didn’t really know how she felt about that. It felt a little forced. He’d text her randomly throughout her day giving her updates on what he was doing and asking what she was doing…it kind of felt like checking up on her. Who knew that beneath the expensive Armani suits and Ralph Lauren shirts beat the heart of a possessive jealous Neanderthal who thought he was being clever by couching his tabs-keeping behavior in terms of concerned and loving texts. She knew what his game was though she kept this knowledge to herself for now. No need to rock the boat unnecessarily. He also came to pick her up from work more often than not. So at least now everyone at work knew her boyfriend drove a flashy Lamborghini if not who he actually was. Thankfully her days were too busy for her to be pinned down by curious colleagues who wanted to know all about her guy. She was not about that gossip life.
She and Bain had kept their pact to not let busy lives get between them again. They had a standing Thursday night dinner date to which significant others were not invited, no matter how much they begged. And Daniel was not above begging…neither was Dean but he was more subtle about it.
*****
“I hear you’re spending a lot of time in Queens these days,” Smith ventured as they caught up at lunch; “citizens are concerned.”
Dean looked up from his plate with a glare. “Concerned about what?”
Smith shrugged. “That you’re…little diversion…is getting more serious by the day,” he made air quotes with his hands around the little diversion.
“Yeah well it is getting serious; and it’s not a ‘little diversion’,” Dean replied grumpily.
“Oh I know that, but the citizens don’t. And that’s why they’re worried. They think you’re breaking poor Samantha’s heart.”
“Poor Samantha my ass. Hasn’t that chick found some new boy to toy with yet?” Dean’s lip curled in annoyance and Smith laughed.
“You talk like her now, have you n
oticed?” he said.
“Talk like whom?” Dean asked getting whiplash at the twists and turns this conversation was taking.
“Meaghan, idiot,” Smith said.
“Oh…no I hadn’t noticed,” Dean said and smiled.
Smith cocked his head to the side. “You look happier though,” he said thoughtfully.
Dean’s smile widened. “Man, you have no idea,” he said spooning some rice into his mouth. Just then his phone rang and he glanced at it to see the caller ID. Normally he didn’t answer while at a meal with someone unless it looked like a father-related emergency type call. This time though, his smile became a grin when he saw who was calling.
“Speak of the devil…do you mind if I answer?” he said.
Smith made a generous ‘go ahead’ gesture with his hand and Dean reached for his phone.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” Meaghan replied. “I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“No. I’m having lunch…with Smith. He says hi,” Dean said.
“Hi Smith,” Meaghan said but she sounded distracted.
“What’s up?” Dean asked a frown marring his brow.
“Well I’ve just come out of a CME at the hospital,” Meaghan began.
“CME?” Dean interrupted. “I don’t know those words.”
“Oh sorry, it means continuous medical education. Anyway we were discussing aids to facilitate people who are developmentally impaired,” she said.
“Uh huh?” Dean said wondering where the hell this was going.
“There is some great technology out there,” she said sounding a bit hesitant and Dean had no idea why.
“And?” he prompted. He was sure she must be going somewhere. It was in her tone, in the reluctance of it like she was afraid of his reaction. Was she moving away to study these things or something?
“Aand, well you told me how hard it is the fact that you can’t communicate properly with your dad and I just thought that you might like to try this machine,” she said getting the words out quickly and breathlessly like it would reduce the impact of what she was saying.
“I mean this stuff works; it basically takes brainwaves and transforms them into speech or movement. Yes it might sound a bit like terminator or whatever but many patients have benefited from its usage and at least your father would be able to articulate whatever he likes rather than relying on people around him to just guess.”
“Meaghan, I need you to slow down and explain to me what you’re getting at. No scratch that. When does your shift end?”
“Three o’ clock. But then I have to be at the Shelley Project probably until seven maybe later.”
“Okay then I’ll come by there around seven and we can talk okay?”
“You don’t have to I mean-“ Meaghan began.
“I want to,” Dean interrupted. “See you then.”
He hung up and looked up to see Smith smiling at him.
“You. Have got it. Bad.” he said.
*****
“The Brain Lab was one of the first to demonstrate that a person can control a robotic arm and a wheelchair with brain signals,” Meaghan said as they walked through the clinic. It was Dean’s first time at the Shelley project and Meaghan was giving the tour as she explained about her idea.
"It’s possible to literally influence the wiring of the brain, rewiring the brain, so to speak, to allow them to make new neural connections, and hopefully to restore movement to a paralyzed arm." She continued looking at Dean to see if he understood what she was saying.
“It was developed to help people with various types of paralysis. Now your dad can’t speak and this technology might help. Patients with locked-in syndrome consist of a smaller subset in need of such technologies. This is a rare neurological disorder where patients feel, think, and understand language, but cannot move or speak -- they are "prisoners in their own bodies, just like your dad,” Meaghan explained.
Dean nodded his head to show that he understood. He was listening intently.
“ For example you might have heard of Jean-Dominique Bauby, who became locked-in after a stroke, and wrote the memoir "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by blinking to indicate individual letters. Imagine that your dad might be able to move and communicate using the same technology.” Meaghan said clutching at Dean’s arm in her enthusiasm.
“There has been a lot of activity in brain-computer interfaces to help such people.”
“So why haven’t his doctors recommended it?” Dean wanted to know.
“It’s all very new. It’s actually at the pioneering stage right now. A research group laboratory for a guy named Miguel Nicolelis have shown that a rhesus monkey in North Carolina could, using only its brain, control the walking patterns of a robot in Japan. In 2011, they got a monkey to move a virtual arm and feel sensations from it! Can you imagine? The possibilities?” Meaghan enthused.
“And that’s what you were learning about today?” Dean asked watching her face with affection.
“Yes,” Meaghan replied beaming at him.
“So how does it work exactly?” Dean asked.
Meaghan explained to Dean that one technique that was used was to harness brain signals; known as functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The technique would involve shining a light into the brain to discern how much activity there is, and examining the corresponding oxygen level. Then light at a specific wavelength is beamed into the brain, and the oxygen present absorbs some of that light. This allows scientists to pick up on small differences in the blood's oxygenation. She gave the example of the Brocca’s area which is a part of the brain that is crucial for language and is activated when a person talks inside their head or counts silently. The researchers had used oxygen levels linked to this to create a system that allowed the person to say yes or no just by thinking ‘no’.
“So is all this technology available here?” Dean asked infected by her enthusiasm.
“The original hardware for a device that utilizes this technique was developed by Hitachi, and it allows a person with locked-in syndrome to say "yes" or "no," Meaghan replied. “But that’s not all; the same people also developed technology that can help restore movement in people who have paralysis or partial paralysis in a limb. So your dad could be trained to use robotics to move his arm and maybe even his leg.”
“It all seems too good to be true,” Dean said in bemusement, a small smile appearing and disappearing on his lips like he was unaware of it.
“Yeah I know it is. But researchers really are looking at a rehabilitation robot called an exoskeleton, which is a device that a person sits in to be able to move limbs that they wouldn't otherwise. The robot can detect the brain signal corresponding to a person thinking about moving an arm, and then move the arm,” Meaghan said.
“There is also a wheelchair that a person can drive by using brain signals, rather than moving a joystick or pressing buttons. Your dad would need to wear an EEG cap to measure brain signals, but setting one up is very complicated,” Meaghan continued.
“Complicated but possible?” Dean asked hopefully.
“For you? I’m pretty sure it would be. Would you like me to make some inquiries for you?” she asked turning to face him as they came to the state of the art lab.
“I would be grateful beyond words,” Dean said.
“Consider it done then,” Meaghan replied.
Dean swooped down and kissed her thoroughly, uncaring of the people bustling around them in the corridor. Meaghan stiffened slightly but then let him have his way with her mouth. It was some big news.
“Thank you,” he said softly as he let her lips go at last.
“Don’t thank me just yet. We’ve yet to get answers.”
“That’s not why I’m thanking you,” Dean said watching her with soft eyes and an affectionate smile.
“Oh? Why then?”
“Because you cared enough about a man you don’t know to find out all this stuff that might improve his quality of life; just b
ecause he’s my father.”
Meaghan gave him a twisted smile. “S’no big deal,” she said quietly.
“Oh trust me Meaghan, to me, it is.”
*****
“I have some news for you,” Meaghan said calling Dean early in the morning as she left for work.
“Good morning to you too. And how did you sleep last night?” Dean replied.
“Great, now you wanna hear my news or not?”
“Wanna,” Dean said.
“I got you an appointment to talk with some people about that technology we discussed the other day. They would be interested to work with you on this; kind of see how well the technology does ‘in the wild’ as they say.”
“Really? That was fast. I expected that it would take a lot longer to convince anyone to speak to us.”
“Nah, they’re really interested in trying out their technology. It’s just that it’s a huge and expensive undertaking that medical insurance really isn’t willing to pay for.”
“And we don’t have that problem right?” Dean said wryly.
Meaghan shrugged although he couldn’t see her. “The perks of being a millionaire.”
“Excuse me, that’s billionaire my girl,” he said.
“Whatever man. So you’ll tell your father?” she asked.
“Actually, I was thinking that maybe you should tell him.”
“Excuse me, what?” Meaghan asked wondering when Dean had gone off his meds.
“You should tell him; it was your idea after all and it’s about time you two met anyway.”