The Billion Dollar Health Lie

By Leo August Jr.

As Dean and Heidi Wilkes race from their home in Salamanca, New York, to a town outside of Syracuse where their only child is attending a Christian summer camp, all they know is that thirteen-year-old Sara is ill with a severe sore throat. They are concerned, but not panicked—until they see her.

After the couple unsuccessfully attempts holistic methods of healing, the teen begs them to take her to a medical doctor so she can stay at camp and continue having fun. When they arrive at a hospital emergency room, Sara is given a new antibiotic that has reportedly had encouraging results. But soon after Sara takes the drug, she has a violent reaction that ends her young life. Two months later, the grieving parents meet with their attorney and subsequently embark on a challenging quest to battle the pharmaceutical industry and manipulative government watch dogs determined to stop their lawsuit and undermine the alternative health industry. But what no one knows is that there is no one more determined to instigate positive change than two grieving parents.

In this riveting tale, a couple who loses their only child to a controversial prescription drug set out on on a complex quest to battle the pharmaceutical industry and government watch dogs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781532061011

Leo August Jr.

Leo August, Jr. is a chiropractor who runs a private practice in Ellicottville, New York. Dr. Leo is an advocate for alternative health practices and the father of three grown children. The Billion Dollar Health Lie is his first book.

Book preview

CHAPTER

1

Heidi Wilkes came running down the driveway to where her husband, Dean Wilkes, sat waiting in the started car. Heidi took the bag she held in in left arm, threw open the back seat of their SUV, and tossed the bag onto the back seat.

Let’s go! She commanded her husband.

Dean backed the car out of the driveway. Leaving their home in Salamanca, New York, the couple, married fifteen years, and the parents of one child, a thirteen year old girl, sped through town until they got onto Route 86 to head east towards Syracuse. Neither parent was feeling overly concerned by the phone call they’d just received from their daughter, though they were rather stressed and frustrated by the timing of the issue.

The nurse at the camp made her call us. Heidi shared how she first learned that their child was ill. Sara’s throat was so sore she could barely speak.

Sara never gets sick. Dean frowned. Why did this have to happen during the only time she’s ever been away from us?

Oh, she must be mad! It was the first light moment they shared.

Yeah, her husband smiled along with her, Sara wanted so badly to express her independence and be away from her Mom and Dad.

His smile faded.

Now this.

It was a three and a half hour drive from their home in Salamanca to Baldwinsville, a town right outside of Syracuse where their daughter was attending a Christian summer camp. During the trip the couple listened to music and talked.

She was really looking forward to this. Dean said out loud what he was thinking.

I know.

And you also know that I wasn’t raised in the church like you. There were no spiritual summer camps to attend. Summer was all about baseball and swimming in the neighbor’s pool. Sara is an awesome softball player and I’m glad we sent her to softball camp at the end of June, but I’m far more thrilled to send her to a Christian camp where she can learn more about Jesus. And of course, he grinned, Sara is more thrilled this time because while at softball camp, her Dad isn’t there with her volunteering to help out.

No, she wasn’t happy about that at first. Heidi chimed in. "But she got used to the idea of you baby-sitting her once we promised to let her go to Christian camp alone."

The couple remained silent for over two minutes as they drove.

Why is this happening? It was Dean who broke their silence.

Sara sounded so happy when I called her on Monday. Heidi remembered. She liked all the girls in her cabin and she told me that they entered a karaoke contest and got second place among the other cabins of girls and boys.

Dean grimaced.

I almost forgot that there were boys there too. He muttered quietly. "Well, she’s thirteen now so I guess these boys will be a situation on the horizon of our parental adventures. Sara is a very cute girl. He paused. And why wouldn’t she be? She looks just like her mother."

We still have so much more to look forward to. Heidi said as she reached for her husband’s hand. One of the many things she liked about Dean was how much he doted on his daughter.

Can you believe she’s already thirteen.

It’s all going way too fast.

I’ll be teaching her how to drive in just three years. Dean mused.

Why do you think you’ll be doing the teaching? She playfully challenged. I am capable too. Why should you be the one? I’m just as good a driver as you are.

Dean chuckled as he prepared his comeback.

"You get to do all the girly stuff. You’ll be the one to go out and buy her prom dress, wedding gown, and you’ll also probably be the first to grab a grandchild out of her arms."

That will be the best; won’t it?

No, Dean quickly insisted, the best has already happened for me. Nothing in my life will ever beat meeting, falling in love, and marrying you.

Heidi knew he meant every word of it.

By the time Dean and Heidi Wilkes arrived at their daughter’s dormitory room late Friday night, their thirteen year old, Sara, was still complaining of a severe sore throat, headache, and unbearable joint and muscle pain. Sara’s parents were certainly concerned by the witnessing of their daughter’s illness, but they knew she would be fine. She would just miss out on a few days at camp while she healed.

But once they were there for awhile, panic set in. Sara Wilkes was still in her morning pajamas and her hair was a mess. Her eyes appeared glazed and her complexion was hideously white. The child looked like a ghost.

Have you been throwing up? Her mother asked in an attempt to assess the situation.

Sara shook her head no and pointed to her neck to indicate that speaking was difficult. Dean Wilkes stood behind his wife, peering over her shoulder at their daughter.

I can barely talk, Mom. The child whispered. It just hurts.

Should we take her home? Her father asked her Mom.

Heidi Wilkes thought about it for a moment.

I don’t want to go home yet, Mom. Sara begged. I’ll be fine. I only called you guys because the camp nurse made me. It’s just a little sore throat; that’s all. Please don’t make me leave.

Her mother turned to her husband and suggested that he next do as she asked.

Get in the car and find a health food store or a supermarket which sells organic food. She instructed. Here’s what I want you to get.

Dean pulled out a note pad to take a list.

She needs raw honey, Vitamin C, which I have in the car, and see if you can find stevia, some type of probiotic, ask the person in the health food store, l-lysine, and oh, she remembered something she regarded as important, get some raw garlic. Raw garlic is a natural anti-biotic. She needs that.

Then she turned to her daughter.

You are not to have any dairy or grain, and get off all sugars. I want you to drink lots of water and, Heidi noticed that her husband was still standing behind her.

You can go get the stuff she needs. She smiled at her husband, partly because she hoped to have the health promoting substances soon and partly because she wanted their daughter to see that her parents were not overly concerned about her condition. The sooner we start on these things the better!

In less than forty minutes Dean Wilkes returned with raw honey, vitamin C, probiotics, l-lysine, and raw garlic.

Did you forget stevia?

They didn’t have any.

For the next few minutes Sara took the health substances as instructed by her mother. The child was completely compliant with her mother’s wishes.

I want you to just lie back and get some rest, honey. Her mother strongly recommended. Give all that stuff you took time to take effect.

Once again the child did as Mom ordered.

Heidi turned to face her husband.

Let’s take turns staying up with her. I will take the first shift for a couple of hours. You sleep and then I’ll wake you up to take over. I’ll have everything ready for you to give her.

It’s a deal. Dean replied.

Heidi and Dean were exhausted following a work day and the three hour drive. Sara could not sleep all night because of her cough. Later when Dean woke his wife to designate that it was her turn to stand watch again, he whispered, hoping that Sara wouldn’t hear him.

She’s no better, honey. Dean whispered into Heidi’s ear. I think that we should consider bringing her to a medical doctor. I believe she’s getting worse. I gave her an adjustment. Dean Wilkes was a chiropractor. The stuff we got her hasn’t helped either.

Heidi Wilkes sat up, now fully awake.

What we got her will work. She explained, supporting her approach to care. We’ve got to give it time.

I want to get better right away!

The cry came from across the room where Sara Wilkes sat up in her bed and faced her parents. They were the first words the child had spoken since trying to sleep. Heidi quickly went to her as Dean followed.

Are you feeling better, sweetheart?

The child faintly shook her head up and down.

A little. She shared with a tiny grin. But then her expression changed as she looked into her mother’s eyes and pleaded, Mom, it’s so fun here. I don’t want to miss another day. Do what I heard Daddy say. Take me to a doctor and get me an anti-biotic that will heal me fast.

But you’re already doing better. Heidi was trying to reason with their only child. It will probably only take a few days and you’ll be back on your feet again. Try to be patient.

"I don’t have time to be patient, Mom. Tomorrow night we’re having a talent show and I’m going to sing that song I wrote. You know the one. It’s called Lilacs for Daisy."

Dean lightly squeezed Heidi’s shoulder to get her attention.

It’s a special week. He stated his view of the matter. "Let’s find some doctor who’s open on a Saturday morning and get her a quick fix this one time. What harm could there possibly be? He stopped. It’s already six in the morning."

Where are we going to find a medical doctor on a Saturday? She fired back.

We’ll find somebody open or, Dean was thinking out loud, we’ll take her to the emergency room. I remember passing a hospital on the ride here. They’ll give her something.

Heidi spun around to assess their ailing daughter. She sighed.

This is not an emergency. Sara just needs a few days to rest, take the supplements we’re giving her, and she’ll be fine. She still has a week of camp left. We can take her home and then bring her back when she feels better. This will heal her naturally and not hurt her immune system like antibiotics do.

Sara reached out and tugged on her mother’s shirt sleeve. Her throat was too sore to talk a lot but her face was begging in agreement with her Dad.

Alright, her mother gave in to their wishes, we’ll put some of their damn drugs inside of you. Then she smiled. But only this one time.

Sara Wilkes had been in Baldwinsville, New York attending a Christian summer camp. Baldwinsville was a town right outside of Syracuse. This was the thirteen year old’s first time away from home for such an extent of time and before she became ill, the kid was having a blast. She’d gone swimming, played all kinds of sports and partook in every activity she could while making new friends at camp. Getting sick like this was a real bummer!

Unfamiliar with the Central New York area, the Wilkes drove all around, following their GPS, to locate an open medical facility. Nothing seemed to be open so they decided to just go to the hospital Dean had noticed on the drive up.

What does it matter which doctor we take her to? Heidi said flatly. They’re going to put her on some anti-biotic. She was searching through her purse while Dean drove. Heidi was in charge of the Google map on her phone and her husband was repeatedly requesting the most recent update on directions to the hospital. Oh, here it is. She announced as she pulled a card from her purse. I don’t believe we’ve ever used this thing. Heidi muttered to herself as she looked the prescription card over. We never had to. Then she added softly, until now.

The hospital parking lot was packed even for a Saturday morning, so Dean pulled the car up to the front entrance to let Heidi and Sara out. As he watched his wife put her arm around their daughter and practically carry the child into the hospital, Dean frowned. He figured it was a good time to talk to God, so as he maneuvered around the lot, searching for a space, he spoke quietly aloud to the Lord.

Why this week, Lord? Sara has been looking forward to this summer camp for two months now. She was probably looking even more forward to being free from Mom and Dad too. And look what’s happened. Heidi and I are up here with her when she hoped to express her independence away from us. I know, Lord, worse things will happen to her during her lifetime. But Sara never gets sick. Why did it have to happen this week of all weeks? Okay, Dean parked the car and shut off the engine. Then he sat still for just a while before deciding to join his family inside the hospital. Here’s my prayer. I’m asking you to touch my daughter’s body and restore her to health quickly so that she can still enjoy her week at summer Christian camp. She’s here to learn more about you, Lord. Sara has a heart for Jesus and her spiritual commitment is real. She loves you. Please Father," Dean softened his voice as he walked towards the hospital entrance. He was still speaking out loud but he didn’t want anyone nearby to think he was crazy. Heal Sara so Heidi and I can just go home and then we’ll drive back next weekend to take her home.

The ER was overflowing. Dean found his wife and child seated together by the back wall of the reception area. Sara was leaning all her weight against her mother. There was nowhere else for him to sit so Dean stood waiting. The wait was close to an hour.

I hate these places! Heidi hissed. They make you wait forever out here and then they’ll just move us to another waiting area and we’ll sit there for an hour.

Dean make no response. He was quite familiar with his wife’s impatience. Yet on this occasion he knew there was much more to her ire than this seemingly eternal waiting. Heidi was always dead set against any medical/prescription drugs intervention.

How are you feeling, sweetheart? He directed instead to his ailing daughter.

Young Sara attempted to smile but her Dad could see right through her brave effort to convey that she felt fine.

Names continued to be called from behind the glass keos.

It’s probably like this every day. Dean remarked as he swirled his head around the ER.

How can this many people be sick or injured every day? Heidi then answered her own question with a hint of disdain. People don’t take care of themselves. They push down every pill and potion medicine prescribes and then probably half of them return to the ER with side effects. I’ll never understand why people trust these guys. I know I don’t trust them.

Sara and her parents remained silent for a long while. The critical discussion on the dangers of the medical profession was closed.

I just want to get out of here or take Sara back to camp. Heidi thought to herself. I hope the drug they prescribe won’t be too powerful.

Sara Wilkes?

A voice cried out from behind a glass plated area. Heidi quickly rose to her feet while she and her husband each took an arm to support Sara up to the reception desk. A nurse escorted the three of them to a private room. Sara lay on an examination table while her parents sat in chairs nearby. Here, they waited for a long time again.

Finally the doctor on duty appeared.

The doctor’s name was Arun Salmon. He was dark, thin, wore glasses and he was a native of Pakistan. He looked to be in his mid-fifties. His face was congenial but his manner was hardly friendly. Dean imagined that the doctor had already had a long morning judging by the number of people in the emergency room. Heidi and Dean watched Dr. Salmon examine their child, but neither spoke to the man while he did so.

Her throat is very swollen and filled with white infectious dots. Dr. Salmon described what he saw in layman’s terms. It might be best to keep her here for a while until I can take some blood tests and wait for the results. The doctor continued with his suggestions. I’m going to prescribe an anti-biotic called Dioccykapsterone. It’s relatively new on the market and the results so far have been encouraging.

Is it a quick healer?

Dean was the one who asked. He was hoping for a wonder drug that would get Sara back on her feet and quickly back to camp so the child could enjoy herself. While Dr. Salmon handed Dean the hand-written prescription, the father prepared to make a rapid exit, find a drugstore nearby, and buy this Dioccykapsterone stuff. Dean wanted Sara to take the prescription as soon as possible, especially since they would be waiting awhile for the results of the blood test. He figured that why not get her started? We’re going to be here for a while anyway.

Wait! His wife attempted to stall her husband.

Dean stopped.

I want to talk about this. Heidi said as she motioned with her hand for him to step outside of the room for a moment. Mommy and Daddy will be right back. She assured their daughter.

In the hallway, Heidi Wilkes practically got right into her husband’s face.

Are you sure about this? She confronted him. You know this is not the way we do things. You’re a chiropractor! Don’t you warn your patients all the time about the dangers of prescription drugs?

It’s one time, Heidi. It’s not going to kill her! His impatience was on overdrive. Let me just go and get this stuff while you stay back with Sara. I want to get her out of this place just as badly as you do. You can give Sara all the raw garlic, raw honey, and probiotics you want, once we get home.

Shouldn’t we take her home today?

Dean sighed.

She wants to get back to camp. Let’s give her the anti-biotic, wait awhile and see how she’s feeling. Then we can decide whether to take her home now or not. He paused. Are you okay with that?

Heidi was getting emotional.

These prescription drugs all have side effects. She admonished her husband. What if it makes her feel even worse?

Then we’ll take her home.

Heidi nodded and tapped Dean’s arm.

Alright, she agreed, I’ll stay with Sara and ask the doctor about possible side effects.

Dean turned and hurried out of the hospital and into the parking lot.

Two hours passed since their daughter took the prescription drug, Dioccykapsterone. There was still no noticeable improvement.

But suddenly there was a change.

Sara Wilkes’ body began to convulse. Her pale complexion became an alarming bright red and her breathing grew short and heavy. Something was now severely wrong. A nurse was summoned and Dr. Salmon entered the room a minute later.

Take her to intensive care! Dr. Salmon roughly ordered the nurse on duty.

Intensive care?

As her frightened out of their wits parents ran behind their daughter’s gurney, down to the intensive care unit, they could hear Dr. Salmon shouting out instructions ahead of them. Before they even reached the swinging doors of the intensive care entrance, they saw their daughter’s body suddenly jerk forward as though the child had been violently shocked. Dean put his arm around his wife as the two of them watched in horror. They stood helplessly as Dr. Salmon ordered the gurney to be halted, placed his stethoscope on Sara’s chest, and when he wasn’t apparently satisfied with that, the emergency room doctor laid his ear on the girl’s chest. The Wilkes continued to witness it all, their scared hearts pounding, and their minds wild with thoughts of impending disaster.

The surreal moment hit its climax as Dr. Salmon lifted his ear from their daughter’s chest and gravely faced the couple.

I’m afraid we’ve lost her.

CHAPTER

2

Honey, where are you?

Dean Wilkes was looking all over the house for his wife. He had checked the entire downstairs, both bathrooms, and the bedrooms upstairs, except one. He couldn’t bear to enter that room and imagined that Heidi wouldn’t dare to enter it either.

But where else could she be?

Heidi Wilkes, dressed in black from head to toe, stood alone inside the upstairs bedroom which used to be their daughter’s. It used to be. She felt as though she was riveted to the floor. It was only a short drive to the church so under the dreadful circumstances, she was in no hurry.

Why would I be in a hurry to arrive on time at my own child’s funeral? On time for what? Do I hope Sara looks attractive in that new dress I just bought for the occasion? This is hardly an occasion. What is it going to feel like to touch her, see her face, or to be told by others how peaceful our daughter looks? How unbelievable a day is this going to be in our lives!

You knew, Lord. The Bible says that you know each and every day of our lives. You knew exactly how many days my Sara was going to have on this earth. You knew! And you didn’t even try to stop it. Why did you let us give her that drug? How could we know it would kill her? How could we know? But you knew. As Dean was out searching for a pharmacy, you knew. When he finally returned, you knew. And when we persuaded Sara to take the damn pill, you knew. You knew, damn it; you knew!

Standing silently behind his wife, Dean Wilkes gazed forlornly into the room he vowed to never enter again. He saw that Heidi’s shoulders began to shake and he knew that she was crying. Yet at a moment when his wife of fifteen years needed him most, he did not move forward to comfort her. Instead, he spun around and headed back downstairs… where it was safe.

He too held thoughts which dulled his sense of reality.

I’m never going in that room. That’s Sara’s bedroom. That’s the place where she used to force me to play Barbie nearly every day after my work. When she was little we played Mountain Girl on that bed. My heart is dead. I possess no feelings. I don’t know and I don’t care how Heidi is getting through this. It’s hard enough just getting through it myself. In fact, I don’t want to go through it! Getting through suggests that there’s some kind of future on the other side. I don’t want that future. I don’t care what’s on the other side. You can hold my hand through the Valley of Death for forty years, Lord. I’m not sitting down at your table. Your rod and staff will not comfort me. And I don’t care if I dwell in your house forever. I don’t care about anything!

Then his mind returned to a place which refused to let go of him.

I was the one who killed her!

Why would I suggest drugs? Sara never took a prescription drug in her life! She may have taken an ibuprofen on occasion, but never anything as powerful as an anti-biotic. The anti-biotic was my idea. Heidi was against it right from the start. She didn’t really protest, but I knew she wasn’t in agreement with me. She blames me for what happened. Oh, she’s too nice to say it, but I know what she’s thinking. I just wanted Sara to get well quickly and rejoin her new friends at camp. My impatience took away not only the rest of camp but the rest of my child’s life. I’m the cause of this tragedy. And I’m not asking for any mercy, Lord. I don’t deserve forgiveness.

When he looked up and saw that his wife was descending the stairs, Dean was faced with an important choice. He could have reached out and took her hand or put his arm around her or at the very least say something consoling. Or he could simply make a little eye contact and then turn and head out to the driveway and climb into the car.

He chose the latter.

The church was packed. Besides the usual family members, there were teachers who taught Sara and other faculty who taught alongside Heidi Wilkes. Heidi was employed as a seventh grade English teacher in Salamanca, New York. On this sad day in her life she was thirty-nine, yet maintained the figure of a much younger woman. She was slim, well-proportioned and quite attractive. Heidi had long blond hair and a small face. Her petite nose and protruding cheekbones made her absolutely stunning to look at. When she smiled her hazel eyes could brighten an entire room.

She was not smiling today.

Other mourners in attendance were young friends of Sara and adult friends of the Wilkes couple. Many of Dean’s chiropractic patients came also to show their respect. Dean, standing beside his wife to the side of their daughter’s casket, did not notice anyone.

Dr. Dean Wilkes was forty-two, tall and thin, with brown hair and dark brown eyes. The bridge of his nose was mildly sloped and his handsome face sported a single day’s growth of beard. He too, was not smiling on this worst possible period of his life.

As Pastor Winfield Bowen strode to the podium, quiet conversations throughout the church ceased. Some of Heidi’s college and high school friends left her side to sit down. Young teenagers who were whispering and comforting one another returned to their seats beside their parents. Many of the young people were school mates of