for his wife to have another arm of support.”
16
It was later that evening, and Rene was back home and at her computer with a glass of chardonnay and Silky in his basket at her feet. Over the hours she had let Nick’s words help her come to terms with the reality that she had done the right thing by her father. That at the time there were no other options. “
She typed the name in the Google search box, and instantly a community newspaper site came up with several hits of the same article:
MAN COMATOSE FROM JELLYFISH ATTACKA man was found washed up and unconscious on a beach on Homer’s Island. Jack Koryan of Carleton, Massachusetts, was barely alive after being stung by dozens of rare jellyfish while swimming.Koryan was taken by emergency helicopter to the Cape Cod Medical Center … .Scientists from Northeastern University and Woods Hole Institute said that Koryan had gotten caught in a large school of Solakandji jellyfish, which is only the size of a tennis ball but which has three-foot-long stinging tentacles. The highly venomous creature is a native of the waters of the Caribbean. Dr. Jason Marchi, a marine biologist from Woods Hole, said that the increased water temperature and the rise in nutrients from fertilizer runoff tend to support a rise in jellyfish populations … .Like other species of toxic jellyfish, the Solakandji tentacles have millions of stinging cells called nematocysts … .According to medical experts, there is currently no antivenom available for the Solakandji sting, which has caused deaths in Jamaica … .
She finished reading the story, then stretched out on the couch with her wine and Silky on her lap. She clicked on the television and lowered the volume just to decompress before getting ready for bed. On the news were the usual grim stories about the Iraq war and some local crime. She listened with half interest. Something was bothering her and she could not put her finger on it. Something to do with that Jack Koryan guy—something that sat under the upper layers of her mind and kept sending up little tremors.
After maybe fifteen minutes of distraction, she got up and went back to the computer and did a search for
The Solakandji jellyfish (related to Irukandji jellyfish of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef) is found in warm waters of the Caribbean and southern Atlantic.
Minor envenomations cause pain, swelling, and localized numbness that often subsides within hours of onset. Serious envenomations are associated with a rapid progression of symptoms, including erythema, paralysis, respiratory arrest, cardiac failure, and death … .
Other sites offered information about how to treat stings with vinegar, news stories about how victims in the Bahamas and elsewhere suffered a rapid rise in blood pressure and a cerebral hemorrhage that led to their deaths. Her mind returned to poor Jack Koryan in a deep sleep, unfortunate victim to happenstance, his entire universe reduced to a bed and that bank of monitors and destined never to open his eyes again.
She clicked onto more technical sites intended for dedicated marine scientists and scrolled down until she came to a dead stop.
N. A. Sarkisian, Mavros, N. T., et al. Neurotoxic activity on the sensory nerves from toxin of the deadly Solakandji tropical jellyfish
Mavros, N.T.
Nick. He had published a paper on the toxin thirty-five years ago. She read on.
The abstract described the Solakandji toxin as a novel proteolytic agent whose molecules functioned as an NMDA receptor antagonist. Furthermore, the substance was identified as a glutamate inhibitor affecting aspartate —an excitatory amino acid-transmitter in the brain, similar to glutamate.
“Glutamate inhibitor affecting aspartate.”
The words jumped out at her.
That was the same neurochemical function that Jordan Carr had described—the same neurotransmitter was linked to seizure activity and agitated behaviors of people with dementia. By inhibiting glutamate, demented patients were demonstrating better behaviors and enhanced cognitive capabilities.
2
17
“WHO THE HELL’S THIS COMMCARE WOMAN?”Gavin Moy’s eyes blazed down on Nick. He pulled a letter out of the folder. “Rene Ballard, Consulting Pharmacist. CommunityCare Pharmacy.” He handed the letter to Nick. “Isn’t she your friend?”
The letter was elegantly blunt, like a silver-plated bullet. “Yes, and former student,” Nick said.
“Well, your friend and former student says that medical records of some patients are missing—‘a violation of regulatory procedures,’ and she quotes the state and federal codes—blah, blah, blah—and she expects that all the records ‘complete and intact’ be returned immediately or she’s obligated to file a report with the IRB and request FDA review of our trial protocols. Jesus H. Christ!”
Nick had to repress the smile. “I believe she’s just doing her job.”
“Doing her job? She may be doing a job on friggin’ medical history.”
“Then maybe somebody should comply with her requests. Rumor has it that withholding nursing home records from consulting pharmacists is a violation of regulations.”
“Who the hell’s side you on?”
“Truth and beauty.” Nick smiled broadly.
Moy snickered. “Which is why I called you. But I must say, she has balls.”
“Because I taught her everything she knows.”
“Well, Jordan Carr says everything’s being returned, so tell her to wrap up.”
“What about the other nursing homes serving as research sites?”
“There, too. We want everything on the up-and-up.”
They were alone in Gavin Moy’s office at GEM Tech—a handsome, voluminous space with windows on two
