Ethan tells Cal about the funding for the research and a possible cure for Huntington's disease. Based on 'Pride Comes Before A Fall'.
Funding for research and a cure. That's what the patient had said. A cure for this dreadful disease that was lurking inside his body. Ethan felt a bit of hope when he had heard that she and some other professors were working on finding a cure for neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington's. The disease that had slowly killed his mum and now was slowly killing him. But, at the end of the day as her doctor Ethan knew that the cause of her collapse was due to the amount of hours she was spending on work and had to advise her to not take the job if it wasn't what she wanted for herself or for her family. Ethan knew that while it would have been great news for those living with the disease to know that there could one day be a cure, it shouldn't come at the cost of another person's health. So putting aside his own emotions he had persuaded the patient to not take the job.
"Are you alright?" Cal asked as they came home after finishing their shift. "I mean you've been ever so quiet since we got into the car."
"Just a tough shift that's all." Came Ethan's reply.
"When isn't it a tough shift?" Cal joked.
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to know there could have been a cure for your illness but then told the person who was making the breakthrough to stop because it was damaging their health?"
Cal looked at his brother.
"What are you talking about?"
"This patient. She was a professor who had been offered funding for research and a cure for neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's. She told me about what they were doing and said there could be a cure."
"Wow, that's brilliant, mate."
"She didn't accept it."
"What? Why?"
"Because I told her not to. And before you ask why would I do that, I'll tell you why. The amount of hours she was spending and would have spent was damaging her health. As her doctor it was my job to advise her to not take the job if it wasn't what she wanted."
While Cal understood Ethan made the right decision, he knew how hard it must have been for his brother to have that small bit of hope, only for it to be taken away.
"I'm sure there'll be another team who would dedicated their time in finding a cure."
"I'm sure there will be."
Ethan's tone was more down-hearted than Cal would have liked.
"But?"
"But, it won't be in my life time. I know that sounds selfish and I don't mean to be. I mean it's great to know that for future generations there will be hope of eradicating the disease one day but, what about those people living with the disease now? It's too late for them. It's too late for me."
"Don't say that, Eth. It may take years for your symptoms to show. And who knows? When your symptoms do start to show they might have already found a cure."
"But, how do you know my symptoms haven't started. I mean looked what happened a couple of weeks ago. I was on the roof top ready to push myself off. That wasn't me. And what about when I resigned. That wasn't me either. I don't know what's happening to me, Cal."
"Those things that happened was due to the stress and the black alert that was put in place. We were all stretched to our limits that it was only natural for you to feel the way you did. Everyone was."
"But, how do you know it was because of the black alert? The stress could have already been there because of the symptoms. Plus I even shouted at two patients. That's not like me."
Cal pulled his brother into his side.
"Look, I know you're scared. I am too, but like I said before, we'll get through this together. If you're so worried that the disease has started to present itself, how about I make an appointment with the neurologist and they can run some tests to see?"
Ethan quickly shook his head.
"No, I can't go."
"Why not? It will help put your mind at rest."
"What difference will it make? There a chance that the neurologist will say it has started, there's another chance where they will it hasn't. What if it's the latter? I'll still be wondering when it's going to happen. It's never going to go away."
"Well, if the neurologist tells us you haven't got the symptoms then at least we can prepare ourselves for when it does."
"That's the problem though. We won't ever know when it will start. It could be now, it could 10 years. I can't live with my life with this constant worry.
"That's why I think it's a good idea if we go and make an appointment."
"What about what I think?" Ethan snapped.
"I know you don't want to, but it would be better. I'll come with you if you'd like?"
"No, Cal. I said I'm not going."
"You'll only keep worrying."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you. I'll always be worrying. Whether or not it's started, I'll always be worried."
"Then what difference will it make if you go see the neurologist?"
"Because then it will be final. It will be the beginning of the end. I can't go through that."
"So what do you want to do?"
"At this moment, nothing. I just want to get on with my life. And while I know I'll never stop worrying, I just don't want to have it ruin my life now, not while I still have control over it."
"You know you're going to have to face it sooner or later?"
"You think I don't know that? I'll face it when the time comes but, now is not the time. I would have hoped you'd support me in that at least."
"I'm your big brother, of course you'll have my support."