Today we have a sneak peek from author Krista Tibbs’ lab lit novel, The Neurology of Angels.
Every day a choice must be made between saving one child and treating thousands.
Galen is a neuroscientist and entrepreneur who loses everything to develop a cure for stroke. Eddy is a devoted father who enters politics on a mission to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Elizabeth is a pharmaceutical industry lawyer who is raising a daughter with a rare and fatal genetic illness. Their families become forever entwined as the three parents engage in a tug-of-war over a failing system of good intentions. In the wake, heroes are born.
The Neurology of Angels is available through Amazon.com, Amazon UK, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.
Here is an excerpt from The Neurology of Angels…
“There’s a doctor working with a company in Boston,” Elizabeth said, “and they’re looking for people with VWM to try a new treatment.” Sera didn’t say anything. “This is your decision. I’m not going to talk you into it.”
Sera looked away, as if ashamed. “I want to, but I’m afraid.”
Sera had never been afraid of dying. What had changed, and where had Elizabeth been while it happened? “Sweetie, you won’t be the first person to take the drug. A lot of people use something like it already to prevent strokes.”
“That’s not what scares me. What’s the worst that could happen? I’d get a terminal illness?” Sera smiled weakly and turned her eyes back to her mother. “I’m afraid that it’ll work.”
Elizabeth was stunned, at Sera’s words and at her own reaction. She felt a white flash of anger, hotter than when her husband was taken from her, hotter than when Sera’s symptoms manifested despite Elizabeth’s belief in miracles. She’d been plenty angry at God in her life, but she wasn’t prepared for this fury toward her own daughter. She wanted to yell: What is wrong with you? Don’t you love me?
Tears formed in Sera’s eyes as she watched her mother’s speechless response. Elizabeth’s anger drowned under a swell of love and understanding. She hugged Sera tightly. “Fear of the future is the plight of us mere mortals.”
…
Lexi knew Sera better than anyone, but she didn’t understand, either. Sera tried to explain. “When every day is a bonus, you notice each little bit of it. When I wake up and can feel my toes all warm in the blanket and wiggle them just by thinking about it, I know it’s going to be a good day. I’m happy because I can zip my jeans and tie my shoes and paint my fingernails and brush my teeth. I like to feel the weird way the air gets cold afterwards…I want to fill every day with experiences. I want to dance or sing or play music or smile or twirl or just stretch. Because tomorrow I might not be able to tell my brain to do any of that…So I guess I’m afraid if I get better, I won’t notice any more how good it feels to stretch. You know?”
Lexi nodded slowly. Sera had spent her whole life as a sprinter, and now she might have to run a marathon.
…
Later, Sera told her, “When I heard the drug was called Lexi-VM, I had to do it. Everything happens for a reason.”
“Okay,” Lexi said. “But don’t blame it on me if it works and you have to go to college and actually study for a change.” They laughed, sharing a future for the first time.
