Cole’s idea that it could have been the embalming fluid that caused Irene’s illness is rudely dismissed by House. Henry says that the symptoms might have come from one of the dead bodies that Irene was working on. The cause of death for one of the men was pneumonia, but his symptoms pointed toward Mad Cow disease. House sends the team to the cemetery to dig the man’s body up, take a slice of his brain, and do a biopsy. Cole says he can’t go, and here’s where we learn that he has a child to go home to. Cole is a single parent; the mother’s location is unknown. House uncharacteristically accepts that family comes first, but you can see in his eyes that he will use this information against Cole.
The brain biopsy is negative, so the team has to start the differential all over again. While running tests on Irene, Thirteen and Cole learn that Irene is seeing and conversing with her dead mother. Henry correctly points out that Irene’s delusions are another symptom. Irene insists that her mother is still alive, even though she actually died when Irene was a little girl. House thinks that whatever killed the mother could be killing the daughter, but they have no records to show Irene's mother's cause of death. Henry suggests that they talk to the mother through Irene.
While trying to press Irene for information about her mother’s symptoms, Irene says she sees an old man standing behind House. House plays along, and tells her that it is his grandfather. Irene says the grandfather’s name is Walter. House seems spooked by her mentioning the name and leaves the room. He goes to Wilson’s office and explains that he doesn’t really have a Grandpa Walt, but is just trying to reinforce the idea that he believes in the visions that Irene is having, so that she will be more inclined to give House the information he wants. The plan works and Irene describes symptoms that make House believe she has Parkinson’s disease.
Of course, it is too early in the episode for a correct diagnosis and Irene’s symptoms deteriorate until she is suffering from necrosis of the liver, an enlarged spleen, and internal bleeding. Chase performs the surgery to stop the bleeding, with Cole assisting. Henry thinks that Irene’s problem is vascular, so House tells them to do a visceral angiogram. During the procedure, Cole leans over Irene and begins to pray for her. Irene responds by trying to grope Cole. She is convulsing and delirious.
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