Aahana Swrup
Hope Valley is currently undergoing a difficult time in ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 12 as a tragic ailment takes over Little Jack. Recently diagnosed with diabetes, a yet incurable disease, the young boy faces an unsure future. Nonetheless, his friends and family refuse to give up on ensuring he retains a fighting chance. As a result, episode 11, titled ‘Having Faith,’ finds Mei and Hickam undertaking a crucial journey to find a new medicine that can help out Elizabeth’s son. Meanwhile, the town kids come together to show their love and support for Jack and bring baseball to him in a unique way. Thus, even as tensions run high, the community corrals behind the Thorntons and Grants.
Mei Finds an Experimental Trial For Curing Diabetes
In light of Little Jack’s unfortunate diagnosis, an air of sadness overtakes the town. Yet, Mei jumps into extensive research, unwilling to accept the tragedy without putting up a fight. Luckily, the pharmacist finds an article in a medical journal about a new experiment that the University of Toronto is conducting with insulin to cure diabetes. Since the experiment is still in its early days, the University is actively looking for trial volunteers, which means Little Jack could have a chance to procure the medicine. Yet an issue remains. Little Jack’s young age makes him unlikely to get selected for the trial that isn’t yet being experimented on kids.
However, Faith’s connection with one of the doctors at the University persuades them to make an exception for the kid. Since Elizabeth and Nathan can’t undertake the arduous journey given Little Jack’s condition, Mei and Hickam step up to the job. In preparation for the trip, Faith asks Elizabeth to write a letter of consent in which she can make a case for her son to be included in the trial. Despite her reliance on her writing skills so far, the teacher feels herself unable to pen perhaps the most important letter of her life. Fortunately for her, her best friend, Rosemary, is there for her and helps her put her emotions into words. Thus, she’s able to present the letter in the nick of time as Mei and Hickam are leaving for Toronto.
Hope Valley Puts Out a Baseball Radio Show For Little Jack
While Mei and Hickam are out looking for a cure, the kids at Hope Valley attempt to make Little Jack feel better with get-well-soon cards. Still, they feel like they can do something better for their friend to ensure they can make him happier despite the dark times. As such, the boys come up with the idea to host a baseball game commentary on Rosemary’s radio so that Jack can listen to the game even from his sickbed.
They even figure out the logistics of covering an in-field game from the saloon by forming a system to pass information like a game of telephone. As such, Little Jack is able to enjoy the game with his family while still on bedrest. Regardless of the learning curve, the boys figure out how to make their commentary interesting—thanks in part to Angela, who is used to experiencing baseball games this way. Thus, the idea remains a huge success, bringing happiness to the young patient.
Elizabeth Tries to Build a Clinic in Town
After Mei and Hickam arrive at the University of Toronto, they receive some disheartening news. As it turns out, the doctors had mistaken Little Jack for a resident of Toronto. The nature of the insulin and its administration makes it difficult for the research team to safely send the medicine to the young boy in Hope Valley’s remote town. Yet, one possible solution emerges. The research team is actively trying to branch out by opening more clinics. Therefore, if the town residents can find ten willing participants to undergo the experimental trial by traveling to Hope Valley, they can open a clinic in town.
Even though it poses a Herculean task, everyone takes up the responsibility of spreading the word. Rosemary broadcasts the trial and their attempts to open a clinic on her radio show. Meanwhile, the rest of the women in town travel to nearby communities to share pamphlets and find volunteers. Eventually, they managed to find eight additional volunteers before the deadline. One of them has a sister who has the same condition but is unwilling to expose herself to the experimental trial. Consequently, it’s likely that once her sister’s treatment takes off, she will come around to the idea as well.
As such, despite falling short by one person, Elizabeth manages to convince the University to let Faith operate the trial clinic out of her practice. As a result, they agree to send over the insulin to Hope Valley, trusting Mei and Faith to operate their new clinic. Although the former and her husband have some trouble returning to town in time—thanks to an inconvenient storm—Lee and Lucas are able to drive them back to the clinic in time. From there, Faith administers the insulin, and the wait commences to see how Little Jack reacts to the medicine. Ultimately, the insulin works for the young boy, ensuring that his medical condition won’t entirely overtake his future.
Read More: When Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 10 Recap: Through the Valley
