Invest In Love

Episode Guide

Kids in distress. That's what it's all about tonight.

The first child was a preemie baby, born to Laura, a mother suffering from major head trauma after a car accident. After sustaining injuries and only 30 weeks pregnant, the baby doesn't have much hope for survival.

Alex is despondent after being served with an enormous medical bill for his MIA wife, who still isn't coming in for her IL-2 treatments.

He's resigned to the fact that the baby is going to die, but not so resigned that he doesn't make sure she gets held before she dies.

"You're not alone," he whispers to the baby.

When the baby's condition suddenly improves, Bailey says that skin-to-skin contact could save her, and demands Alex remove his shirt.

When the baby makes it against all odds, Bailey muses that Karev would be good in pediatrics. Much like Addison thought years ago!

The second patient is a 15-year-old girl who fell off her roof while eating mushrooms in the middle of the night and believing she could fly.

When her parents start to get outraged, she reminds them that she gets straight As, is on the honor roll, runs student council and the school paper, and tutors kids with reading problems.

Her attitude inspires Christina, Callie and Owen to reminisce about their own childhoods while do perform surgery. Jackson starts to chime in, but they don't care.

Of course, something goes wrong during the surgery. Perhaps inspired by Derek's rogue turn last week, Cristina steps in to do an invasive cardio procedure herself, with Owen and Callie shouting their objections.

After all, she's unqualified. Jackson is the only one who backs her up. Owen tears her a new one.

Jackson, however, thought Christina's intrepidity was hot - similar to the way Burke used to. Jackson drunkenly kisses her later, but she pushes him back.

Now for the big story. "Dr." Wallace Anderson, a child suffering from short gut syndrome, often joins Arizona on rounds to work on his math and science skills after seven months in the hospital.

Early in the episode, Arizona promised Wallace that they'd celebrate their shared birthday together.

Wallace's mom and dad ask for a meeting with the Chief and Arizona, presenting the hospital with a generous $25 million donation.

They want some of that to researching their son's condition. But it's too late, as Arizona doesn't think that Wallace will survive another surgery, and if he does, surgery will only buy him two painful months.

Pressured by the Chief, and the weight of all that research money, Arizona reluctantly agrees to do the surgery. Wallace is a smart kid, though.

He's been in the hospital a long time; he knows there's only two ways out of there, and he doesn't see a light at the end of his tunnel.

His first surgery goes alright, but later, complications arise and he dies while Arizona tries to save him. Afterward, Arizona is curt and clearly furious with the obvious dollar signs in the Chief's eyes.

Arizona has always had trouble standing up to authority. No tears tonight, until she gets home to the ill-timed surprise birthday party Callie threw for her.

Luckily, Arizona's words got through to the Chief and he invited her back into the room to speak to the Andersons, despite Jennings' protests.

Parents want to know that the doctors care. They want human compassion. And with Arizona they will get it. With that $25 million, there's little doubt she can really make magic come true.

Vitals

Season: 6, Episode: 8
Air Date: 11/5/2009

Rating: 9.8 / 10

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Pictures

Videos

Quotes

Meredith: [narrating] They say the bigger your investment, the bigger your return. But you have to be willing to take a chance. You have to understand, you might lose it all. But if you take that chance, if you invest wisely the pay off might just surprise you.

Music

Correatown - "Everything All At Once"
Brandi Carlile - "Before it Breaks"