By Shelby Jennette
Rotunda ReporterWell, the attending surgeons finally get their wish. Meredith, Christina, Alex, April and Jackson strut the navy blue scrubs around Seattle Grace, but little do they know that this wish only lasts for one day. Everyone is excited about attendings for the day - save Christina, who is still moping around not caring. Poor little Lexie gets left out of the excitement, but not by choice. It is because she is only a lowly third-year resident.
Meanwhile, the chief announces a challenge for the actual attendings; Teddy, Mark, Arizona, Callie, Derek, Bailey and Owen. A $1 million dollar grant? I think so! Where will it be spent? Well that's the challenge. Each attending must give a presentation stating how they would use the money. Teddy wants the money because Cardio is where the hospital's prestige is - but she gets sidetracked (like always) and starts bashing Nuero. Mark wants to create better burn and cosmetic surgery units - but he ruins his shot by telling the chief that his sexual dry spell gives him a lot of untapped energy. Arizona begs to upgrade Pediatrics - but she destroys her presentation by going on a rant about how everyone expected her to cry in front of the chief (Callie even threw in a package of tissues to help). Callie wants to research xenographs - but her attempt is sabotaged by her own feelings of inferiority to Arizona. Derek wants to start a clinical trial to find the cure for Alzheimer's - but really, he's just worried about losing Meredith to the same disease that took her mother. Bailey wants to fix broken surgical equipment and to hire a night nurse - but Richard accuses her of not thinking outside of the box. Owen wishes to institute disaster training for the whole staff and mentions how such training could have saved lives on the day of the shootings (specifically Charles Presley). To Richards surprise, he has no argument and awards Owen with the prize.
Let's talk about the patients of this week. One patient is a case you don't see very often; Seth, 13-year-old kid with man boobs. Problem is, he is super skinny and they are really noticeable. Alex is put on this case and supports Seth's decision for plastic surgery. Seth's mother, however, thinks that he is too young for plastic surgery and tries to convince her son to back out of the surgery. Seth argues back and Alex takes up for Seth and expresses to Seth's mother about the psychological trauma that he will face from bullies at school. Obviously, this mom is oblivious to how vicious teenagers are in high school; she has no clue the humility that he will have to endure. In the end, the mother finally consents to surgery and Alex successfully removes the breasts. The corniest moment of the show happens when Seth tells Alex, "You're the man," and Alex says, "No, you're the man." Oh boy.
The next patient is an older woman with fluid in her brain. Her partner is very cautious about Meredith and Jackson performing the surgery but to her dismay, Derek reassures her to not be afraid. Meredith and Jackson still have to compete to get the surgery in Derek's eyes though. He sends both of them into the lab to practice cutting into eggshell without disrupting the membrane inside. Jackson psyches Meredith out and pretends to struggle immensely with the task but in the end, Jackson whoops Meredith. "You conned me!" Meredith protests. When the real surgery comes along Jackson bombs the surgery and Derek steps in and saves the day.
The next patient is a girl named Meg, the chick recovering from knee surgery that is hesitant about Lexie when she walks in the room. Lexie reassures the woman of her experience and responsibility by stating her medical chart verbatim. (Way to use that photographic memory, girl!) Of course when the patient starts having issues, she freaks, and pages Derek. Derek is in surgery with the older woman at the time, so he sends Meredith. Meredith rushes the patient into surgery and performs emergency brain surgery to stop a brain bleed caused by blood thinners taken by the patient. When Derek is finished with his surgery he comes to check on Meredith and her progress but, oh no, Meredith is rockin' it and tells Derek to back off. Derek compliments her on her work and Meredith looks pretty darn satisfied.
The last patient on the episode is a guy named Roy with messed-up lungs who's hoping to be added to the transplant waiting list. Since Christina and April are now "attending surgeons," Teddy makes them decide if Roy is a candidate or not. However, much to the frustration of Teddy and April, Christina is of absolutely no help whatsoever saying, "I don't know" like it's the only phrase she knows. Even though April and Teddy think that Roy won't make the cut for the transplant list, Christina finally steps up to the plate and hits a homerun for Roy, telling the panel that there are mitigating factors. The panel votes in Christina's favor, and Roy is added to the transplant list. Teddy is surprised and congratulates Christina on being a doctor that day. Seeing at least some hope in Christina provides a huge relief for all watchers.
The last scene, and probably the most important of them all, is when Meredith and Derek arrive home and Meredith it searching for her keys when Derek realizes they are already in her hand. Could this be the beginning stage of Alzheimer's? I guess we'll have to wait and see on the following episodes to come!
Be sure to tune into Grey's Anatomy, Thursdays on ABC at 9 p.m.
