Your Fatal Flaw

On a recent television episode of the hit medical drama series, "House," the doctors are completely bewildered over the diagnosis of a woman who is mysteriously dying. Her main symptom is such deep sleep she can’t wake up except for brief periods.

After endless testing and eliminating every possible cause, the only diagnosis that remains which matches her symptoms is African Sleeping Sickness. Though treatment will cure the otherwise fatal disease, the medical team cannot dispense the cure without being certain of the diagnosis.

The doctors question the woman’s husband if she or he ever has been to Africa. The husband states that neither of them ever have. The medical team is forced to ask a very delicate question: if he or his wife has ever had an affair - because the disease can be transmitted sexually.

The husband is greatly offended by the question and vehemently denies this. He also vouches for his wife’s absolute loyalty to him, explaining they’ve been married for 10 years and have been deeply in love ever since they were high school sweethearts.

During one of the woman’s awake periods the doctors explain to her the gravity of her situation. They tell her what they believe her diagnosis is. They explain that the disease is curable if they can be sure that it is the correct diagnosis and begin treatment immediately. They ask her the same delicate question about a possible affair, and she reaffirms what her husband has told them, vouching for both their loyalty and long-time love for each other.

The doctors are more mystified than ever. What else can the sickness be?

When the commercial break comes, I turn to Paulette, a special friend whose home I was visiting when the episode aired, and said, "I know the ending."

Paulette doesn’t believe me. Not wanting to ruin it for her, I write it down on a piece of paper.

At the end of the twist-filled show, Paulette smiles at me, certain I could never have guessed the surprise ending correctly. She grabs the piece of paper I wrote on earlier, and to her dismay discovers I hit it dead on the nose.

"How did you ever figure it out?" she demands.

I’m not usually the best at guessing the ends of TV or movie plots, but this one I knew with absolute certainty. So I tell Paulette how I knew.

My question to you is how "did" the show end?

And even more importantly - how did I figure it out?

(Clue: my background as a holistic doctor for 20+ years helped . . . but not in the way you might think).

The answer to the mystery is extraordinarily luminous, and has a wonderful Wealthy Soul lesson hidden within it. It pertains directly to your life, and very well may have a direct impact on the way you handle future decisions in your life.

Share your answers to the above 2 questions on my blog below.

Next week I’ll let you in on the actual answers.

Yours for the greatest wealth,

Michael

** The first person to record on my blog not just how the show ended (because you might have also seen it on television), but who correctly explains how I knew it would end the way it did, wins a free 40-60 minute coaching session with me ($300 value). 

Comments

[Fay]

I don't have a clue! Can't wait to hear from you next week!

[Rakesh Govind]

The husband had an affair but did not get the disease; however he transmitted the disease to his wife who developed symptoms of the disease.

[Janet Thome]

She has created another reality that she escapes to with a life that she loves better than her own waking life with a beautiful lover in Africa and she longs to spend every moment there.

Janet

[Liz]

I'm really guessing here.

The wife had an affair and she would rather die than to let her beloved husband know about it. Sleeping is one way of avoidance even if there is a physical cause.

[Terri]

I think she had an affair, and wouldn't admit it.

[Terri]

Oops sorry, have to revise that...
I think the husband is the one that had/has the affair. Because I just read that he got GREATLY OFFENDED. That's the clue right there... :)

[Forest Beavers]

As it happens, she had had a one-time tryst with a man from Africa, but was so ashamed that she wouldn't admit it, even at the risk of her life, until the very end. It was because she feared her "uptight" husband's knee-jerk reaction to her momentary infidelity.

[Terri]

Ok here we go again... LOL
Third time is the charm!
I think I was right about him having the affair, but possibly it's not african sleeping disease, but he is slowly posioning her with some undetecable herb,because he wants to be with his lover.
Ok I think I'm done now... Oh yea you figured it out because you know plants and how they effect the body being a wholistic dr. That's where I got that clue.

[Saras]

She's not dying - she is frquently slipping into very deep alpha levels for extended periods and feeling nonetheless for it!!

[Chrissey]

Michael--the one thing i have learned about human nature is its phenominal ability to go into denial rather than be responsible for ones own behavior...I would not doubt that either one or both had an affair--even with the same person , hence could not let out the poisonous "secret." Having difficulty breaking from a disastous 30 year marriage--i walked on a broken ankle for 2 years under this orthopedic doctor husband rather than leave---of course there were children involved which confused the issues i was facing--You and I have spoken on the phone before and i would certainly appreciciate some coaching after shifting the road in my life---i nearly died because of medical neglect...by trying to keep the family together , I hurt myself more than than my ex--the doctor

[Judy]

The husband was "greatly offended" because the script was designed to throw you off course.
You could tell the wife was lying about not having an affair because of the movement of her eyes.

[Evangeline]

I think they both have had an affair and became infected......don't know the ending, probably the wife dies because of her shame......

[Judy]

The wife had an affair. You could tell the wife was lying about not having an affair because of her lack of emotional response.

[Judy]

The show ended with the wife finally admitting that she did had an affair, and medicine was administered to cure her. Then the husband walked out on her. You knew the wife had an affair because of her facial expression and lack of emotion, and that the husband would leave because of his emotional reaction.

[Gerard]

I think the wife's response reflects one's ability to be asleep at the wheel, waking up only momentarily to the bumps along the road of life.

I suggest that the husband is the one who had the affair, and chances are that this is not his first time. The "sleeping sickness" is the wife's way of responding to her knowledge of his infidelity even to the point that it can kill her. She'd rather stay in the marriage and pretend than grow a spine and leave...sleeping is the only way that she can be in the marriage and "not be present" at the same time. Sleeping also makes her unconscious of what's going on around her...it's the same way some of us live our lives..."wide awake in a dream". This way she is not held accountable for her actions and he can go on with his infidelity while she is not "present" in her own marriage.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Gerard]

I think the wife's response reflects one's ability to be asleep at the wheel, waking up only momentarily to the bumps along the road of life.

I suggest that the husband is the one who had the affair, and chances are that this is not his first time. The "sleeping sickness" is the wife's way of responding to her knowledge of his infidelity even to the point that it can kill her. She'd rather stay in the marriage and pretend than grow a spine and leave...sleeping is the only way that she can be in the marriage and "not be present" at the same time. Sleeping also makes her unconscious of what's going on around her...it's the same way some of us live our lives..."wide awake in a dream". This way she is not held accountable for her actions and he can go on with his infidelity while she is not "present" in her own marriage.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Debra]

The wife goes into a deep meditation and cannot or does not want to exist it...I've heard of some woman in India that also experiences this. And I've even experienced it a few times also, trying to come out of a deep meditation sometimes, the eyes do not want to open.

[Pete]

The problem with the woman was that she had bought an African shawl at a flea market. Hidden in the folds, dazed but not dead, was the dreaded Tse Tse fly. When she donned the shawl the fly revived and bit her prior to escaping.
The show ended by leaving viewers up in the air because, most importantly, thousands of mindless viewers had to be told what soap to use.

[Beverly]

The husband's best friend went to Africa; he and the dying woman had an affair. She did not want to hurt her husband or his friend by telling the truth. The husband is unable to handle the truth when he finds out and chooses to leave her.

At the beginning of the show, the two men are running together and something was mentioned about the friend having been to Africa. Jokingly, something was mentioned about the friend having had sex that day and it affecting his running.

[Maria]

I am clueless..but I like Debra's comment. I too believe the Tse fly is somehow responsible. I kid around with my sisters all the time..about being bitten by it.

[Lance]

You, being a wholistic physician and chiropractor, are aware that Dr. House was having an affair with the husband, and that the real reason for his limp is due to spinal subluxation which can be estimated by the difference in relative height between House and husband. Husband does not consider it an affair due to his love of House, and as well love his wife, and wishes the three of them could work something out, and therefore vehemently denies his situation as being an affair. Dr. House is the original carrier of the disease which has been transmitted to the wife. The show ends with the wife dying and Dr. House and husband living happily ever after... actually, I didn't see the show and am only vaguely familiar with the character Dr. House. Forgive my speculation. I can't wait for the real answer....

[EveLyn]

I enjoyed reading all these answers, but mostly I love those submitted by Gerard and Beverly.
I couldn't "beat" any of them, so I will just look forward to your revelation, Michael.
(By the way, the "clock" on this site is screwy. It is four hours fast.)

[David]

It would be my judgment that neither the husband or the wife had an affair, nor been to Africa, etc.

The woman in fact did not have African sleeping sickness, just misdiagnosed by well meaning but human doctors who like me, never at first look to the possibility of being wrong but always to anothers flaws.

The good doctors finally accept their defeat and in that acceptance is reavealed a cure for the sleeping woman. THAT IS MY STORY AND I WILL STICK TO IT! Sure hope it has a positve and happy ending.
David

[David]

Oh, I forgot to add how you (Michael) figured out the shows ending! You figured it out because when in "peace" you hear things, see things and know things of the spirit which allows for a reality view of human nature. You are at "peace" and you figured it out.
David

[Judy]

The show ended with the wife finally admitting she had an affair, and her husband leaving her.
You figured it out because of her eye movement to the right, indicating she was lying.
If you figured out her husband would leave her, it was because he was so strongly emotionally attached to the idea of love and loyalty.

[the condor]

the diagnosis is incorrect

[M. K. Menon]

I believe that the lady must have contacted the disease by the use of the same hotel room/towel after the African has checked out. These couple may have checked in later and the germs may be still active in the used blanket/towel/bedsheets which may not have been properly washed in a sterile way.The bacteria may have found its way by the various avenues available to it.

[M. K. Menon]

The lady must have contracted the disease through contact with apparel used by another having this disease. e.g. by using the same bathtowel, hotelroom bed, blanket,bedsheet etc. from which the virus had not been fully washed up in a sterile manner.

[Bil]

I think it's to easy to blame the sickness on an affair, it seems to logicial. I think has contacted this rare disease as a result of working with rare plants and floweres. Of course you figured it out because of your wholistic background

[Pete]

The woman is part African. Her mother had the relationship with an African and never told anyone.

They question the husband and wife and not the family. They talk about affairs and visits, but not blood lines and roots.

[Kate]

Though I love this show, I didn't see the episode in question and I don't have a clue!!! so here I wait, with baited breath to know the ending!

Don't wait TOO long to expose the mystery!

[Sadie]

I'm inclined to believe she is not suffering from African Sleeping sickness, but a psychosomatic illness in order to leave the marriage. I think she is TIRED of him! Sounds like he could be the type to be emotionally sucking his energy from her and her body is dealing with it in this way.
Actually, it is just a tv program and I don't think any script writers would go down that road. So I'm clueless. Can't wait for your answer, though.

[Mandy]

The husband may have had the affair...although for me I went straight to cellular memory also DNA...blood line....???

[ron]

Hi
Without a great deal of thought, one of them may have had the disease from a parent. Another option is one or both had affairs before they married. so their comments about each other's loyalty is appropriate.

Of course, she lives, can there be any other solution to our "everthing ends up okay society."
ry

[Judy]

You knew the wife had the affair, instead of the husband, because he insisted she was loyal to him, without asking her and letting her speak for herself. Then she confirmed your suspicions by her reaction, letting her husband speak for her, and detecting, from the wife, fear of losing her husband. He would not be able to forgive her.

[Suresh Menon]

Dear Michael,
I think the wife had an affair and got the disease. To be able to be cured, she will confess about the affair to the doctors. She would then be cured of the disease because of the right treatment. Though the doctors would not want the husband to know the truth, the latter would come to know of it. He (the husband) would be shocked to discover this fact because he always believed that his wife was loyal and truthful. He never cheated her and expected her too to be faithful. After coming to know of her betrayal, he would leave her. That is how the show would end.

You could figure it out because your background as a holistic doctor has taught you that most human beings cannot resist the temptation of love and sex. And then they also resort to lies to escape the consequences.
I hope my guess is correct.
Suresh Menon

[dee]

Hi Michael
I don't think we get that show in Australia.
Love all the comments.
I think she read about the disease or saw it on tv. She then took on the symptoms.
She possibly has multi personalities. Some of these people "take on" different diseases when they escape to another personality.
Looking forward to the real answer.

[Patricia]

I at first thought that perhaps she was lying. Then him, because of his passionate reply. But then, I thought, why do we automatically assume that they had an affair? Because in the story you tell us that the Dr.s say that the disease "can be sexually transmitted". They didn't say it was the only way it can be transmitted. BUT, because they planted the seed, we were led to 'believe' it and assumed the worst. I did not watch the show, so I'm not privy to the other nuances to the drama, but I believe in happy endings, so I would like to say that perhaps the story ends with the Dr's finding that she has African blood in her,that this disease was passed on through (in her DNA) by distant relatives laying dormant until something triggered it...

Either the Husband or wife is not telling the truth.

Or maybe the wife received some tainted blood

[hurt all the time]

i don't feel sorry for him,cause all mens are dogs and they will cheat.to all wo
men...give mens just what they deserve....so maybe i need someone to talk to.

[Wentworth Stubbs]

The wife contracted the disease through the process of osmosis - that is coming into physical contact with an infected individual.

[Ali]

Gerard, you know nothing about emotional bondage. "Growing a spine" has nothing to do with it, as there are many very strong people who cannot leave their abusers. Cut the macho bull and grow some compassion and understanding.

[Kate]

Well, I believe in this day and age she could have got this other ways...
Bloood transfusions, blood tests at a un clean clinic or person who is taking the blood.
I believe there is a BIG issue of trust going on here.

[Kate]

My name is not ali, it is KATE

[Mary]

Michael,
I thought the parasite theory was a good one but I think that would have showed up in bloodwork. Here is the ending I came up with: The husband did have an affair but never told his wife the truth. His wife knew the entire time but never let on to him that she knew about the affair. She did love him and had hoped that some day he would be able to tell her the truth. Now on her death bed she is testing him and his love for her. She knows that without his confession she will surely slip into a coma and he knows this as well. The husband, who can no longer watch his wife suffer, admits to his infidelity to save her life. He feels like a weight is lifted off of his shoulders and she is treated and has a full recovery.

I think having a holistic background you are more in tune with human nature. Almost everything that happens on a daily basis has to do with emotions, relationships, etc. When dealing with people sometimes you have to read between the lines.
Mary

[bridget]

This sure is a mystery!its either one of them cheated on the other and transfered the disease or she got it from an infected person or was beaten by the tse-tse fly through an unknown means!

[Maria]

Psychological issues can cause one to use sleep as an escape.

That's the only thing I can come up with. She was escaping an intolerable situation.

I love mysteries... so what's the solution???

[Anita]

I did not see the show, but I do know there is such a disease as chronic fatigue syndrome, which I believe to be caused by eating disorder. The symptoms that this women has seem to be similar.
Knowing that you are a doctor of holistic healing, you probably have dealt with this disease before. I look forward to hearing the ending next week.

[Kana Overman]

I saw the show so I just want to say that I am anxious to see how you knew it ahead of time, if you had not experienced something similar.

[Mary Ann Ong]

Ah the mysteries of life and of love...
the wife may have escaped her reality by going into a fantasy world much more exciting and fun...There is no physical illness, only her spirit/mind that moves into a different reality. I guess it because i have.