“I will but I suspect the only thanks he wants is to see Jill walk.”

“We’re working on that. I think you need to have Gwen and Wendy try the crutches. Get help so they don’t fall. Remember when I told you it was important for you to have authority? Now’s the time. We need to have them progress but we can’t have an accident.”

“OK. We’ll try.”

“Let me know as soon as the session is over. If we get the word of them walking to the FDA by March first we may be able to do the next operation in time for you to supervise the recovery over spring break. I want Joyce to be involved in this one. Then we’ll be ready for the summer.

That evening the girls tried the crutches. They actually walked. Kathy called Dr. Western to give him a report of the good news.

“Great. I got two more shipments this afternoon. I’d estimate the value of the three of them at eighty five thousand dollars. One was a bunch of processor, memory and ROM chips. They threw in about ten thousand assorted resistors too. The only chips we didn’t get that we use are the specialized stuff, what they make just for us. We have enough to build over fifty processor units. All of the processors are the new ones we used on the para’s. The other shipment was fifty sets of cases, batteries, regulators and chargers. These are the good mil spec batteries that have half the weight of yours. Fred’s having a field day. This is the stuff he wanted since day one and we couldn’t afford. He got a call from Ken the other day, he didn’t tell me because he thought it was just curiosity. Ken asked him what equipment he was short on if he had to handle fifty patients. After today I’m almost afraid to open the mail. How’s this guy do it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Tell him thanks, really thanks. That extends our money to two more patients, at least and the stuff is top of the line. We’re not working in a bargain basement. I can’t believe the way things have gone.”

Kathy told the girls about Ken that evening.

They exercised some more and Barb was able to take a few steps on her own. They had considered inviting Ken but they decided to wait for something special. That happened about two days later. Both Gwen and Wendy were able to take steps without either the walkers or the crutches. One of the girls from the dorm recorded it on a video camera and made two copies. One was placed in Ken’s mailbox and the other was Federal Expressed to Dr. Western.

Ken arrived at the office at six thirty as usual. He checked his box and found the tape. He saw the note, “For a special friend from Kathy and friends.” The sticker on the tape proclaimed, “Photographed by Jan

Williams.” He didn’t know Jan so he put the tape aside for about an hour. When he got his morning coffee he took it to the electronics repair area and slid it into a recently repaired player. He watched the whole twenty minutes in silence. Two of the technicians saw him but walked out quietly when they realized he was crying.

He took the tape, walked to his desk and dialed a number. Kathy answered the phone. Before his voice failed he was able to get out one word, “Thanks. That tape tells it all.”

He hung up and held the tape in his arms. He had work to do. He placed it on the shelf and began dialing the phone.

The women were now the key to the success of the project. The FDA approval for two more surgeries came the first week in March. They concluded that the operation had no apparent and serious problems and proper evaluation required a couple of additional subjects. The mandate was clear about the subjects. They must be in good health, have a severed spinal cord and one of the two must be male. Dr. Western called Kathy to ask Barb’s boyfriend’s name. He may well be the first candidate. He was aware of the program, fit the medical requirements and as a student, he fit the grant requirements. Of course, Jill would be the other candidate.

Kathy’s Legs: Chapter One, The Accident

Kathy’s Legs: Chapter Seven, Kathy is Without Her Legs Again

Kathy’s Legs 9: Ken to the Rescue