Toxic Transplant

Despite his skill as a world-class transplant surgeon, Dr. Aaron Berk is powerless to save his dying wife, Alexie. She desperately needs a new heart but her rare blood type makes it doubtful she will get one in time to save her life. When an accident victim arrives at his hospital, Berk’s selfish hopes soar. He learns she has Alexie’s same blood type. If she becomes brain-dead, she can be kept alive on machines until her healthy organs can be harvested. It’s what Berk doesn’t know about this potential heart donor that may kill him.

Despite his skill as a world-class transplant surgeon, Dr. Aaron Berk is powerless to save his dying wife, Alexie. Her rare blood type makes it doubtful she will get a heart transplant in time to save her life. An accident victim arrives at his hospital and Berk learns she has Alexie’s same blood type. If Lily Carr becomes brain-dead, he can keep her alive on machines until her healthy heart can be harvested for his beloved wife. When Dr. Jordan Bradshaw, director of a federal grant at the same hospital, uncovers disturbing information about Lily’s past, he has to consider that his transplant research might present an ugly reality. His life unravels with alarming speed as he seeks the help of his best friend, Detective Dan Yazzie to search for answers and, more importantly, to stay alive.

Barbara Cable Nienstedt, Ph.D., has published academic articles in law, sociology, and criminology journals. Her research has been included in edited books such as The Media and Criminal Justice Policy, Quantitative Criminology and The Administration and Management of Criminal Justice Organizations. She is owner of a consulting firm, Research Network, specializing in research design, statistical analyses and forecasting. She has taught university courses in criminal justice theory and quantitative research and is a Past President of the Arizona Evaluation Network, a statewide organization of practitioners and academics. Dr. Nienstedt became interested in the field of alternative health and co-edited a textbook on Alternative Therapies.