Mark of the Beast

by Adolphus A. Anekwe

  “How is Ramona recovering?” asked Doc St. John, as he was commonly known.

  “Not so good,” the senior oncology fellow said as they led the oncology team along the hallway of the seventh floor oncology ward toward the nursing station. “You know she also has early Crohn’s colitis, and that makes her transfusions difficult. She continues to lose blood through her bowels.…”

  “I already know,” Doc St. John said. “Just tell me something: how many transfusions has she gotten from this hospital?”

  Fumbling for words, the fellow finally responded, “I truly don’t know.” He realized immediately that he should have checked the old records last night before this morning’s rounds.

  “Seventeen,” Doc St. John answered his own question. “What’s her HLA status?”

  “She was positive,” the nurse said when she sensed hesitation by the fellow and the residents as they gathered at the nursing station.

  “What percent of Crohn’s patients with leukemia are HLA positive?” Doc St. John asked, looking at the group as he adjusted his glasses.

  “About sixty-five percent,” blurted out the ever-loquacious senior resident.

  “Don’t ever give me that ‘about’ response again,” Doc St. John said, slamming the chart on the desk as he looked intently at the resident.

  “Seventy-five percent,” the oncology fellow said.

  “Good,” an unflinching Doc St. John said. He nodded his head. “So, what’s the story with Ramona?”

  “Ramona, after her last transfusion, which was her eighteenth, had the HLA test redrawn,” the senior resident started, quoting from the morning report. “It is now negative.”

  “So, what do you think happened?” asked Doc St. John, looking around for some intelligent answer.

  “I think the multiple chemotherapy treatments must have altered some of the genetic sequences in her chromosome,” the resident said.

  “That’s a possibility,” Doc St. John responded, without appearing upset, “but you must realize that most of those alterations are for nonsense coding, and that invariably results in new cancer.”

  Dr. Arvin Rupert, an attending physician at the department, who happened to be at the nursing station seeing a patient, became involved in the discussion. He had published extensively on genetic mutations.

  “What I think,” Dr. Rupert said, “is that we have to look closely at the multiple chemotherapies, yes, coupled with the blood transfusions that she has received. I wonder whether they have in some way altered or replaced specific loci on her chromosome.”

  The residents and the fellow cleared a path between Doc St. John, who was standing near the patients’ charts, and Dr. Rupert, who was still sitting at the station desk, his patient chart still open in front of him.

  “That’s in line with the current theory,” Doc St. John said. “Basically, we have to explore whether allo-immunization theory is applicable here, or whether in some way she has become unresponsive or immune to the Crohn’s disease antigen through alloimmunization of the HLA…”

  “I love when he talks technical like that,” a first-year resident whispered to a fourth-year medical student standing next to him. “He sounds so Harvard.”

  “Did you understand what he just said?” the fourth-year student whispered back.

  “A little,” the first-year resident said. “Alloimmunization is kinda like when you become immune to your own antigen.”

  “Specifically,” Doc St. John said, “she has become immune to the effects of the allogenic antigen; therefore, on testing for the HLA, there are no more reactions, since the receptor sites are now immune to human leukocyte antigen on B27.”

  Is Doc St. John trying to suggest that by mere chemotherapy and blood transfusions you can virtually eliminate coded signals in the body? thought the oncology fellow. I don’t think so.

  * * *

  Meanwhile, at West Virginia University (WVU) Medical School in Charleston, West Virginia, Dr. Eugene T. Norfolk, a senior research fellow at the Department of Pediatric Oncology, who had been researching cure rates for childhood leukemia, observed a significant cure rate for a select group of children whose blood cancer, no matter what stage they were diagnosed at, was essentially cured with high dose of the cancer drug cytarabine diluted with normal saline.

  The purified water for their normal saline solution (pure water mixed with an appropriate percentage of salt), came from the Peak Hole Mountains, near the eastern border of West Virginia, between the big Allegheny and the Back Creek Mountain near the little town of Minnehaha Springs. Peak Hole is the steepest corner between Allegheny and Black Creek. The origin of the water had forever been a legendary mystery, but it ran down through the steepest corner of the mountain, into an unreachable gully, to the foot of the mountain.

  At approximately one hundred feet below sea level, pure water continuously gushed out a small funnel-sized indent in a cave created by the mountains. The spring water, initially discovered and analyzed by the geology department at WVU, was made the exclusive property of the university. Many alleged cures had been attributed to this water. The university often distributed the water to many religious organizations and churches for baptism and also for the formalization of holy water. The university had vehemently refused to commercialize the water, fearing that it might lose whatever value, and/or power, it possessed.

  Dr. Norfolk treated a lot of patients with these Peak Hole water solutions and documented fascinating results, especially in young patients with leukemia and lymphomas.

  4

  “SHIRLEY,” DICKERSON SHOUTED ACROSS the open door to the outer office, “who is Dr. Norfolk?”

  “I don’t know,” the secretary said. “He said he would like to talk to you about a possible cure he has discovered for HLA B66.”

  “A cure, you said!” Dickerson asked with such a surprised tone.

  “That’s what he said,” Shirley responded, repeatedly blinking her eyes nervously.

  “What does he mean … cure?” Dickerson asked, stepping out of her office to be sure Shirley had the right information.

  “I guess that’s what he wants to discuss with you.”

  “That’s weird,” said Dickerson.

  Dickerson reflected for a moment, took a few steps back toward her office, then turned back to Shirley and said, “Get me Dr. Abramhoff first, on another line, and keep Dr. Norfolk on hold for a little bit.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  “Hi, David,” Dickerson said, picking up Abramhoff’s line first, “do you know a Dr. Norfolk from West Virginia University?”

  “No. I’ve never heard of him. Why?” Abramhoff sounded inquisitive.

  “Well, he is on the other line. He wants to talk to me about a cure for HLA B66.”

  “Cure … like in, take an antibiotic and strep throat is cured?” Abramhoff asked

  “I don’t know, I haven’t talked to him yet. He’s still on the line,” Dickerson replied. “I mean … let’s hear him out and see what he has to say. I was thinking maybe we can have a three-way conversation, so that you can also hear it firsthand.”

  “Oh, yes, I would be delighted.”

  “Okay, hold on for one second.”

  “This is Dr. Dickerson. Dr. Norfolk?”

  “Yes Ma’am, I…”

  “Before you start,” interrupted Dickerson, “I have Dr. Abramhoff also on the line, and I was having a conversation with him when you called. How can we help you?”

  “That’s lovely, good morning to you both,” greeted Dr. Norfolk.

  “Good morning,” answered Abramhoff, making his presence known.

  “I’m Dr. Eugene Norfolk, as I was saying. I’m the senior research fellow with the pediatric oncology unit here at WVU. I know about the HLA B66 and both of your findings and interpretations. I just want to ask if any of you know about Peak Hole Mountains in West Virginia.”

  “Not me.” Dickerson went first.

  “Me, neither,” Abramhoff added.

&nbs
p; “Oh, it’s a beautiful mountain nestled between the great Allegheny and Black Creek. At Peak Hole, there’s this water that runs down the steep end of the mountain. It collects at a basin inside a cave. The university has exclusive rights to this water. I am surprised y’all haven’t heard of it, because folks around here believe the water has healing powers.”

  “Wasn’t that supposed to be at Hot Springs, Arkansas?” Abramhoff said.

  “Apparently Peak Hole also, but from what I have heard so far, I believe you are suggesting that this water can cure the HLA B66?” asked Dickerson abruptly.

  “Well, let me tell y’all what we did,” Dr. Norfolk said, eager to enlighten. “In my studies, we exclusively use Peak Hole water for our mixture with dextrose in normal saline solutions. These are the only solutions allowed for mixing chemotherapy agents for our acute leukemia patients, and we have a much higher rate of complete remission than in any studies I have seen in the literature.”

  “How does that tie in with the HLA?” Abramhoff again jumped in.

  “Well,” Norfolk said with a smile, “two of our patients had childhood rheumatoid arthritis, and they both tested positive for the rheumatoid factor antigen and the HLA B27. After four cycles of chemo, they went into complete remission for the cancer and the rheumatoid factor. Most interestingly, when we retested them for HLA B27, it was no longer there.”

  “This is getting interesting,” Abramhoff was quick to add. “So you are suggesting that in some way we can also make HLA B66 … vanish.”

  “I don’t know, because our patients are cancer patients treated with chemo agents mixed in Peak Hole water. Is it the chemo? Is it the water…?” queried Dr. Norfolk. “Our conclusion, however, is that it has to be the water only, because we have treated these types of patients for years and there has never been any documented complete cancer cure, and there has never been any HLA interference previously.”

  “So let me try to understand you, and try to make some sense as to where you’re going with this,” Dickerson said. “You would like us to give this water, intravenously of course, and see if it wipes out HLA B66.”

  “That’s one way of doing it,” Dr. Norfolk said. “We can also try it with blood transfusions, as Dr. St. John in Boston is suggesting, or try it with chemo … kinda like a three-arm study.”

  “How are you planning to design this study?” Abramhoff asked.

  “That’s why I am calling for help. All we need, I think, is probably about ten to twenty HLA B66-positive people in each arm, then follow the three arms and see where they go.”

  “When do you suggest calling it off, if nothing happens?” Dickerson asked.

  “I think six months will be sufficient. What do you think?” Dr. Norfolk asked.

  “I don’t know,” Abramhoff said, with a strong doubt in his voice, “I can see giving the water only for six months, but to give someone chemo or a transfusion when it’s clearly not indicated, that’s a whole different issue.”

  “Can you at least give it a thought, and then let me know?” Dr. Norfolk asked.

  There was silence at both ends of the line, and then Dickerson spoke. “I guess that will be okay.”

  “I have no problem with that,” Abramhoff agreed.

  “What do you think?” Dr. Dickerson asked after Dr. Norfolk hung up.

  “I don’t know. I have strong reservations about the outcome. How do they know it wasn’t the cancer cells themselves that obliterated some regions on the B locus?”

  “I think they are reacting to the nuances of this water, and its supposed wondrous deeds,” surmised Dickerson.

  “I know, but there are just too many variables here for legitimizing the association between the water and the supposed obliteration of HLA B27—”

  “You know what I think?” Dickerson interrupted. “I can foresee doing only a two-arm study here, if at all—one for the water only, and the other for the HLA B66 positives who happen to be either anemic and require frequent transfusions, like the hemophiliacs or sickle cell patients, and certain cancer patients.”

  “If it is the water we are after, let’s just do the water for three months and see what happens,” countered Abramhoff.

  “You know what? Let’s just sleep on that and converse later.”

  “Okay.”

  5

  “HOW ARE YOU DOING?” Dickerson asked. She was on the phone with Detective Pinkett. Dickerson was surprised to hear from her friend. Ever since she had relocated to Washington, D.C. to co-spearhead the Pellagrini-Pinkett Project, there had been little communication between them, except for occasional phone calls to exchange information. There had been little time to talk and gossip.

  “I’m fine. We’re very busy here in D.C.,” the detective said. “The constant phone calls around here are tasking. Hours of investigative work, dispatching field agents to collect the triple six samples…”

  “Triple six?” Dickerson said. “You guys are so cavalier about that number.”

  “Why shouldn’t we be?” Detective Pinkett said. “If your theory is correct, and so far it appears to be, these people should be treated like the scum they are.”

  “I guess you’ve got a point there,” Dickerson agreed, a little subdued.

  “What’s the problem?” asked Pinkett, detecting a little resignation in Dickerson’s voice. “You sound somewhat down or something.”

  “Oh, nothing,” the doctor said. “There are just too many little things happening around here.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like … like running the state mandatory testing program … Like running the university’s heme-onc lab … Like…”

  “Hey … hey, what’s a heme-onc lab?” Pinkett asked.

  “Hematology-oncology; that’s my department.” Dickerson made a hissing sound like Pinkett should have known that.

  “I didn’t know what that meant,” Pinkett said. “And don’t be giving me that hissing sound. You really don’t feel well, do you?”

  “I am fine.” Dickerson was emphatic.

  “Again I ask, what’s the problem?” Pinkett persisted.

  “Well, if you must know.” Dickerson took a deep breath. “The federal government is taking us to court.”

  “Uncle Sam is taking you guys to court … for what, dereliction of duty?” Pinkett asked.

  “No, silly, they claim that the state of California violated federal statutes by imposing mandatory testing on United States citizens.”

  “What kind of crap is that?” the detective asked, sounding angry.

  “I don’t understand that one, either. I thought states had the right to test their populations for certain conditions, if they chose to,” Dickerson said. “Just like the alcohol breath test—not all states have an alcohol breath test. Even the test itself varies from state to state.”

  “And that’s absolutely true,” the detective said. “That’s why you guys should fight this all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary, because I see the courts as where the final decision is gonna come from anyway.”

  “You may be right on that one. The governor is already preparing the defense team.”

  “What about the testing? It continues while the case is being argued in court, doesn’t it?”

  “No.”

  “No! And why not?”

  “A federal court issued an injunction against us to cease and desist until the resolution of the case.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I thought we were all on the same page on this issue. Why is mandatory testing an obstacle to them folks on Capitol Hill?”

  “I believe the order came directly from the president. He directed the attorney general to file a suit against California.”

  “You guys should fight this.”

  “We intend to.”

  “I wish you luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Take care of yourself. Seriously.”

  “Don’t I always?”

  Dr. Dickerson wondered out loud why Pinkett should as
k her to be careful. Does she know something I don’t know? Dickerson asked herself. Dismissing it as nothing, she headed toward the ladies’ room.

  6

  AT THE RONALD REAGAN Federal Court Building at the corner of Tenth Avenue and L Street in downtown Santa Ana, Federal Judge Alberto Finney was presiding over the case of the United States Government versus the State of California.

  The federal prosecutor, in his opening statement, noted, “First of all, your honor, the state of California went ahead on its own and ordered a mandatory testing program without consultation with the federal government.” He was waving a pencil in the air, at about an eye level, as if to write home his point as he argued his case.

  “Mind you,” he continued to argue, “the state did not even bother to notify the CDC and NIH before undertaking this colossal task, which may have both national and international implications. This is something the federal government should be deciding, not the state government.”

  The California state attorney general responded, arguing that the state had every right to test the citizens of California in matters of health and civility.

  Witnesses were called to the stand to argue for the federal government.

  In rebuttal, the state of California had the state health commissioner, and the Pellagrini-Pinkett Project directors testify. Dickerson was also called to the witness stand.

  With leading questions from the California attorney general, she meticulously, and with great ease, explained the HLA B66 findings and their implications. She also shared the latest statistics from the Pellagrini-Pinkett Project. Avoiding her own personal interpretation of the HLA B66, she maintained that the state had the right to monitor citizens who might be HLA B66 positive.

  At the conclusion of the day-long testimony, Judge Finney thanked the participants for their enlightenment and promised to render an opinion in less than a week.

  After that, Dickerson called it a day and went home to retire early.

  * * *