Chapter 10 - THE APPOINTMENT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT
The retired cardiologist lived forty minutes outside Pittsburgh.
Dr. Samuel Levin agreed to speak only after the hospital attorney confirmed that I had legal access to Liam’s records.
His voice shook over the video call.
“I remember your son.”
Grant sat beside his attorney. Judith refused to attend.
Dr. Levin adjusted his glasses.
“Liam had two episodes of exertional fainting and one nighttime seizure-like event. His ECG was not diagnostic at normal temperature, but the family history concerned me.”
“What family history?” I asked.
“Sudden deaths on the maternal grandmother’s side. A brother at nineteen. An uncle at thirty-four. A female cousin at twenty-eight.”
Grant turned toward the empty chair where Judith should have been.
“She never told me about the others.”
Dr. Levin continued.
“The genetic result confirmed a sodium-channel mutation associated with Brugada syndrome. I recommended that both parents attend a follow-up consultation.”
“I was never contacted.”
The doctor looked genuinely disturbed.
“Mr. Mercer told me you were aware.”
Grant closed his eyes.
“I told him Mara was working.”
“You signed the consent form stating both parents had discussed testing.”
Grant’s attorney touched his arm.
He stopped speaking.
I leaned toward the camera.
“What treatment did you recommend?”
“Immediate fever precautions, avoidance of certain medications, electrophysiology evaluation, and consideration of an implanted defibrillator depending on further studies.”
“Did Judith object?”
Dr. Levin hesitated.
“She believed we were creating fear over a child who appeared healthy.”
“Did Grant object?”
Another pause.
“He asked whether Liam could continue competitive hockey. When I said not until the evaluation was completed, the conversation became difficult.”
I looked at Grant.
Liam had been selected for a regional hockey program. Judith had organized a newspaper article about three generations of Mercer athletes.
“What happened after the appointment?” I asked.
“I sent the written report to Mr. Mercer’s office and to the address provided.”
“My home address?”
Dr. Levin read from the file.
It was Judith’s house.
Grant whispered, “Mom said she would bring it to us.”
I laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“You let your mother receive our son’s genetic report?”
“I didn’t think—”
“No. You didn’t.”
Dr. Levin removed his glasses.
“I called when the family missed the follow-up appointment. Mrs. Mercer answered. She said Liam’s parents had sought a second opinion.”
“We didn’t.”
“I understand that now.”
The call ended.
Grant remained seated, staring at the table.
“You need to believe me,” he said. “I didn’t know how serious it was.”
“You knew enough to hide it.”
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
I waited.
May you like
Finally, he said, “After the hockey season.”
Liam died three weeks before the first game.
