Season 8

Episode 817: “Secrets and Lies”

Episode 817: “Secrets and Lies”
Original Air Date: March 2, 2002
Written by: Brian Bird
Directed by: Armand Mastroianni
Produced by:

Martha Williamson
Jon Andersen
R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

 

Alan John Heard
Suzanne Patricia Kalember
Robby Trever O’Brien
Erica Jeanette Brox
Debbie Sherry Hursey
Dr. Nathans Bernard White

 

 

Allen Lowry is having a great day at the gym with his wife, Suzanne and their 17-year-old daughter, Erica. Things couldn’t be better. Unfortunately they could get a lot worse, and they do. In the middle of a one-on-one basketball game, Erica collapses. When Allen and Suzanne rush to her side, they discover a series of dark bruises across her back.

The next day, at the hospital, the family waits for Erica’s test results. When Dr. Nathans arrives he is accompanied by, Monica, a counselor from the organ donor department. The news is grim. Erica has leukemia and if she doesn’t get a bone marrow transplant she is going to die. Allen heads downstairs to get tested for bone marrow compatibility while Suzanne comforts Erica. While Gloria draws blood for the test, she explains to Allen the odds of finding a match. Since Erica is a mix of the genetic material of both Allen and Suzanne, chances are that neither of them will be acceptable donors. She says that a brother or sister would stand a much better chance. Allen thanks her and heads home. Once there, he rummages through a box hidden in the attic and pulls out a mysterious address.

The next day, Allen arrives at the address and knocks on the door. Robbie, a boy of about sixteen answers. Allen asks if his mother is home, Robbie says that she’s out and offers to take a message. Allen tells him his name. Robbie recognizes it as the name of his father. He lets Allen in and they start to talk, but Robbie’s mother, Debbie, arrives and tosses him out. Before Allen goes he tells her about Erica and pleads with her to let Robbie be tested. She refuses.

Robbie skips school to go to the hospital. He meets with Allen and agrees to the test. Monica reluctantly allows it when Allen signs the release form as Robbie’s father. Later on, the news comes in: Robbie is a match. Allen and his family are relieved, but Robbie wants to meet his sister. Allen eventually lets him when Robbie promises not to tell Erica the truth about who he is. Soon Debbie arrives to drag Robbie away. The confrontation forces Allen to tell his wife about his infidelity. Suzanne is crushed by the news, and shattered by Debbie’s refusal to allow the transplant.

Everything looks hopeless, but soon the angels are there to talk to Debbie about understanding, and to Suzanne about forgiveness, and to Allen about truth. The transplant goes through, the truth is uncovered, and a life is saved.

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