Episode Report Card Lauren S: B | 5 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Meddling Mama
By Lauren S | Season 8 | Episode 5 | Aired on 10.13.2011
Ryan is remarkably zen for someone standing in front of a room of at least 100 doctors without a stitch of clothing. He had penile cancer and lost his own soldier in the battle 11 months before. However, he is now cancer free (and Catherine gives him an enthusiastic if semi-awkward and mom-like high five) and a donor became available in Seattle, so he agreed to fly out and make this a teaching opportunity. This time, when she asks who is with her, every hand goes up other than Jackson, whose valiant attempts to become one with the upholstery have failed. Mark then stands up and introduces himself so that he can ask why they would do a transplant when reconstruction is so much less risky. She answers him with a question: "Do you like your penis?" All of the knowing women (and there are a lot in that auditorium) laugh heartily at this as Mark admits that it does the job. She points out that reconstruction leaves the patient with very little function, and she wants to break new ground so that this young man has more of a fighting chance to live an, er, stand-up life. She sounds just like a politician as she commends his bravery and selflessness to help advance medicine and whips the crowd into an excited frenzy of applause. Ryan actually smiles as she concludes enthusiastically, "And now let's give Ryan a penis!"
Afterwards she's thrilled to see Jackson even though he doesn't seem as thrilled to see her, and she acts like any mother, surgeon or not, as she comments on how he looks skinny and asks how he is sleeping. She then immediately wants to meet his ladyfriend -- she does know that her name is Lexie but that isn't thanks to Jackson, who is appalled that she found out the info -- and mocks him for sending her out of town, asking if he is ashamed. They are interrupted by Mark and it's probably the first time ever that Jackson has been relieved to have him walk up and take over a conversation. He brings up some more of his concerns about a transplant and in the course of the conversation it comes up that he is mentoring Jackson. Catherine is stunned and just the teeniest bit wistful to have not known this but Mark just plows ahead and actually compliments Jackson's surgical abilities. The sky is green today, ladies and gentlemen, and pigs are flying past. She invites Mark to scrub in so that she can hear some more about her son but after he leaves, Jackson tries to get her to mind her own business. She of course has no interest in doing so and gets in one more dig at Lexie's expense with a giggle. Jackson might at least admit that he sent her away rather than let his mom think she's a coward, come on.