Episode Report Card Kim: A- | 231 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT Alone In A Crowd
By Kim | Season 11 | Episode 15 | Aired on 2005.02.17
As Luka examines Ellie's eyes, she sings in her head, "I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of, I'm afraid that I'm not sure of..." Heh. Everyone loves the Croatian Sensation. ["Even lesbians!" -- Wing Chun] Luka says that Ellie's heart rate is still up, and that Sam should give her more fentanyl. Ellie wholeheartedly agrees. Ellie notes that Luka isn't wearing a wedding ring, and says she likes his sexy accent. Then she decides that she's pathetic, because her heart is racing since Luka touched her. She quickly realizes that Luka's touch isn't the only thing making her heart race, as her pulse goes out of control. Sam reports that her pulse is 240, and Luka gives some med orders. Ellie says she's getting dizzy and can't breathe. Abby asks if this is related to the stroke. Luka says that if her heart doesn't beat properly, blood can pool. Abby adds that she threw a clot and it went to her brain. In other words, the heart problems caused her stroke in the first place. Ellie continues to suffer as Sam pushes the drugs. Luka tells her that she might feel a few seconds of discomfort. Abby bags her as Ellie's one good eye opens wide and she looks terrified. The room fades to white.
There was a time when this show might have killed Ellie off before the end of the episode, but that time has passed.
Ellie is flatlining as her husband, Dan, walks in. From the vignette at the beginning of the episode, I thought they were divorced, but I guess not. Ellie gets a normal rhythm going as Luka explains to Dan what they are doing. Luka checks the paper strip from the monitor and realizes that Ellie has an atrial flutter. He explains to Ellie that they can now give her the proper medication, and that it won't cause problems like what just happened. Ellie's eyes are just kind of randomly rolling about, and Dan asks if she's awake. Abby says that she has shown "spontaneous eye movement." Dan moves to Ellie's side and asks if she can hear him. Her one good eye focuses on him and she thinks, "You're here!"
Luka pulls Dan aside to explain the medical options available to Ellie, including the risky clot-extraction procedures, which could reverse her stroke. Abby explains the risks: "Infection and other complications that could lead to coma or death." Dan asks if she's in a coma right now, and Luka says that she's not, but that the stroke affected the language center of her brain, so she can see and hear, but can't communicate. Well, that should catch up all the people who've been watching another show and just tuned in. Luka asks what Dan thinks about the procedure, and Ellie thinks, "Say yes." Dan asks what happens if they don't do the procedure. Luka says she won't improve neurologically, and Dan says, "But she won't die." Ellie wants Dan to approve the procedure. Dan asks how long she can live like this, and Ellie thinks, "I can't live this way," as Abby answers, "Indefinitely." Dan doesn't know what to do. Ellie telepathically tries to remind her husband about when they talked about his cousin who had been in an accident and she said she'd rather die than live that way. Dan says it's not like she's a vegetable, and Ellie thinks, "This is worse, Dan! I'm aware! I don't even get to be brain-dead." Luka says they need Dan's consent as Ellie screams, "I consent! I consent! Dan, have some balls! If you love me, don't leave me like this." Dan is still unsure about the best course of action, but then he notices Ellie lifting her left hand and races to her side. They stare into each other's eyes as she silently begs him to give consent. Dan says okay. Couldn't she also communicate through blinking if the hand-squeezing won't work for some reason?