Chapter 7
Washington, DC.
Me, Caroline Rodgers, and the whole crew from the Hotel were in a small hotel just outside Washington. The next morning, they all would be in front of a committee investigating the drug testing program. The FDA had been involved in starting a new program where the drug companies would have to pay a testing fee to the Government to accept a new drug. It could cost millions. I didn't care who made this drug. I could manufacture it himself. It was a mix of existing drugs. That is why my program was so quick to start up.
It seemed that several congressmen and senators wanted to talk to Me. I couldn't figure out the angle. Senator Battle from Arkansas was on the committee. I didn't know if that was good or not. It seemed that in previous hearings, this senator was favorable to the drug lobby. The senator grabbed me in the hall way and got me to one side.
"Dr. Gurber, we've heard all the reports. You mean that this stuff cures cancer?"
"Yes senator, it does. Completely and totally."
"What about the side effect everyone is talking about?"
"Well that is why we want to continue to test. It is the reason I personally will not let anyone on this drug unless they are dying."
"Have you tried to change the effect of the drug?"
"I have tried. It doesn't work unless the sex change occurs. It has something to do with the DNA in cells. We haven't completely figured it out yet."
"Well as a senator on this commite, I will try to help you as much as I can."
"Excuse me senator, am I in some kind of trouble?"
"Oh God no son, I just meant that I will make sure that no one gets to ugly with you."
"I still don't quite understand senator. Why would anyone want to cause me harm when I have found a cure for cancer? Its almost like someone is wanting to shut me down. Well senator, I want you to know one thing. I am fully prepared to go to the public with this program and I know that if I do, you guys and most of the research community will have a lot to explain."
"Now wait a minute Doc, don't do anything hasty. It could go very bad for you if you got a few people mad over some publicity."
"Well senator, it could also go very badly for you if the public perceived that you were withholding a cure for cancer from them."
"OK son, I see where you are coming from. I will tell the other senators on the committee and maybe we can come to some kind of arrangement."
"Senator, I have nothing to deal about. I am going to let the process go as it should. I will have to wait the appointed amount of time."
"It isn't done that way."
"I do not trust any of you. I foresaw the drug lobby going after me. I came ready for you. If I go to the news media, you are going to have hell. The drug works, completely with no ill side affects other than a sex change. That is the patients choice to do this. Live as the opposite sex or die. Its up to them. Senator, I didn't set out to do this. I stumbled upon this stuff."
"Son, lets go inside and talk about all this with the other senators. I think we can short circuit some of the waiting period. It was done for the aids stuff. That is what this is all about. Its time for you to go on now and testify."
I felt that Mr. Battle would defuse the situation when the other senators heard how ready I was to stir a stink. I still didn't trust the man one bit. Time would tell.
Me and everyone from the "Hotel" were sworn in. Then the senators started stating why they were called to testify about the program.
"In so many words, the Drug industry feels that you have given the general public the misconception that there is a cure for cancer and that all the money over the years spent for research has been a waist of money and time. They also think we all are stealing money from the system. Doctors giving their whole lives to are now made out to be cheats. The public thinks that you and your program should continue and the other programs be shut down and all those other doctors assigned to continue this research you have started. The problem is that your specialty is not cancer, but plastic surgery. How could you come up with this so called cure when this isn't even your specialty. The pressure on all the other researchers is incredible. What is your answer to all of this? "
"Senators, first, I am a doctor. I have one of the finest private labs in the country. My lab has everything one of the big lab has. I have personally dedicated MILLIONS of dollars to this project. I am not a fly-by-night operator. I have used the prescribed methods the FDA requested that I use. Just because I do re constructive surgery does not mean that I am no less a doctor as these nay sayers who feel threatened by my discovery. I have a cure for cancer. It is not for everyone. It has serious side affects. The question is, how bad does the individual want to live? My drug works. Its been responsible for saving the lives of HUNDREDS of chimps. Zoo's all over the country send their animals to us for evaluation and testing. We prove the drug every day. In this room, I have 6 individuals here who have changed or are going through this change. They would have died without this drug. They are alive now. Are you going to deny them the right to live? No, I think not. I may not be able to work round the clock on refining the drug. I have no problem with other doctors working with the drug. I will retain the patent and copy right to the drug. But not for monetary reasons. I do not want unscrupulous individuals to get control of it. It would be a disaster in epic proportions. You see the drug, once administered to a cancer patient, can never be discontinued. It has to be taken for life. The patient has to take a dose of it once a day. It has its problems, yes, but it is a small price to pay. No, I am not a full time researcher. I have only done this part time. It was pure luck. I do not wish to shut down the other programs in existence. I think they have their place. But now a terminal patient does not have to die. Yes there will be physicologal problems. That is why we set up this program this way. Support for each of the patients has been provided. You will get your chance to talk to all of these people. I have only one more thing to say. If it is your intention to take this program away from me, then be forewarned. I will not give up easily. I will fight any attempt to shut me down. I understand the legal restraints and have been operating by them. I am ready for questions."
"The chair recognizes Senator Hatchet from Tennessee."
"Dr. Gurber, you say your a plastic surgeon. What credentials do you have that would convince us that you are qualified to continue with this research ?"
"Senator, while in medical school and in residency at Oshners medical center in New Orleans, La., I was given enough background in research to specialize in this research. I am as qualified to do this as any of the other doctors who do this. I just didn't get a grant like other research projects to go full time. This is all about money. I had to support myself and pay back my medical school bills. I also liked to help people. So I specialized in plastic surgery. But I never gave up the cancer studies. I have continued to research in my private lab as a hobby and side interest to my main practice."
"Did you say hobby?"
"Yes, for lack of a better word. I take it much more seriously than a hobby. It would be my full time profession if not for the governments policies in granting research dollars. The doctors with political clout get the bucks."
"Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice over this grant money thing?"
"Yes, I feel I was cheated long ago over this. I have never given up. I want to stop the desease of cancer in my life time. I think I have almost done it."
"The chair recognizes Senator Battle from Arkansas."
"Dr. Gurber, you stated earlier privately to me that you might go to the news media if this proceeding did not go the way you wished. Is that your intention?"
"It is too early to say senator. If I feel I am treated fairly, then I would have no reason to do something unproductive. If you backed me in a corner and were going to take this program away from me, then that might be a different situation."
"That is a hell of a threat to walk in the door with."
"Its not a threat. It is my right as a citizen of the united states."
"Then citizen, it is our responsibility to make sure that what you are doing to these people is the best possible care available."
"How do you know that these people are terminal?"
"I have all the medical records of each of our patients on computer disk. It is available to your consultants for review. Sworn statements from each of their previous doctors is also on the disk. Hard paper is available. Confirmation is easily obtainable. You should review the material yourself. No one in this program was admitted unless they were confirmed terminal by their doctors. 2 months to live. That is the prerequisite for acceptance."
The senators adjourned for a conference with their doctors and consultants. The material was rock solid. They would not be able to dispute any of the material. When they came back, It was just as he thought. None of their doctors would dispute any of the findings. They were deciding weather or not to allow the FDA to grant a special clearance to open the testing to more patients.
"Doctor Gurber, the chairman of the committee asked, Would you allow other researchers to use your findings and start other programs similar to yours?"
"Of course sir. I would ask that they kept the same guidelines."
"OK, thank you Dr. Gurber. We will recess for 1 hour. During that time, the committee members would like to talk to each of the patients in your program. Is that allowable to you?"
"Yes it is and thank you for asking in that manner."
"Recess for one hour."
Billie was a hit. She charmed most of the old senators with her "feminine charms". But most of the attention was focused on Fran and Helen. And that was good. This was what I wanted. Yes it was dangerous to say the least. But the program would benefit from total honesty. Frank and Helen did very well. They were totally honest. Both expressed their problems with the "change", but were thankful to the me for saving "her" life. I think the senators were a bunch of dirty old men. They wanted to see the breast development on both of the M to F patients. Billie did the strip tease as usual. It ended up taking 2 hours instead of one.
The committee reconvened and announced that they could not find any reason to limit the program.
"Would you agree to allow your program to expand?"
"Sure", Doc said. "They must follow the guidelines. The formula is easy to reproduce."
"The FDA will contact you and set up parallel programs."
It was over. Much too easy, I thought to myself. When will the other shoe drop?
The FDA representative came up to the "Hotel" staff and asked if he could come by in Little Rock and see the Hotel and their setup. "Sure," they all said.
After he left, I told them, "From this day on, we are in the public eye. Its time to hit all the talk shows. These old farts are going to stab us in the back on the first opportunity. Before any one else gets the formula, we are going to take credit. Can you all deal with this?"
They all looked at each other and shook their head.
"Ok, Billie, start calling the list we came up with the other day. Just as soon as we get back to Little Rock."
At the Hotel, I spoke to Caroline.
"What do you think of an appearance by Alice?"
"Here in Washington? I think it will be too dangerous. Can you wait until we can go to New Orleans?"
"Yea, I guess you are right. Just a flight of fancy."
"Yea right. Right in the place where everyone is out to get you and discredit you. Use your head. You been taking some of the stuff you've been giving your patients?"
"No of course not. You are right. I will wait for New Orleans and the quarter."
"Good. But if you want to dress up at the house, that would work to."
"Yea, but its no fun unless I go out in public. Plenty of time for that."
When everyone got back to Little Rock and the Hotel, Billie got on the phone. Donahue, Opra, Leterman, and the black guy that worked late night had called to schedule them all on national TV. The list was passed around looked at closely. Everyone had seen how the shows were set up. So everyone knew what to expect.
Billie had been watching me closely and finally came up and garbed my arm.
"Doc, you got to do something to get rid of this stress."
"Is it really showing that bad?"
"Yea and your temperament is changing a little to. You got to relax and forget all the bullshit going on around you."
"Billie, they are going to take all this away from us."
"Us?"
"Yes, us. If they shut down the program, you guys are reduced to lab rats. The drug will have to go underground. I will have to move to Mexico or somewhere to continue. The FDA might continue to give you the drug, but they will mess with the mix to the point that they might kill one or several of you."
"Doc, you need to get female."
"Yea, I know. I wanted to do it in Washington, but Caroline thought it might be a very bad idea."
"Well then its time to go to the Quarter."
"Don't tell me. You want to see Robert."
"Yes I would."
"OK its party time. We will leave Thursday. Want to bring Lorrie?" "Can we trust her?" "I am sure."
"OK, then go ahead and tell her to pack."
Lorrie's reaction to the news that I was a transvestite was a little hard to swallow. She didn't believe Billie at first.
"How did all of this start?"
"Well it seems that Doc had to dress like a queen to get the original drug. It was an illegal drug given to the queens for breast enlargement and feminization. Then it was to keep the locals from knowing who he was. Now it is transvestitism at its best. He just likes to go out and fool the general public. He is good too. You will not recognize him dressed as a woman."
"Does Dr. Rogers know this?"
"Oh yes. She has been to New Orleans with Allen several times."
"I got no problem with it at all."
"Then pack your sexy stuff. We wear all the stuff that we cannot here."
"Great, I have been wanting to show off these back killers for a while."
"Yea, I have had the same problem until I got used to the extra weight."
"Billie, I need to ask you a personal question."
"Sure Lorrie."
"You were gay right?"
"Yes. How did you feel having sex as a woman?"
"First, I am one of those who always wanted to be a woman. I just couldn't go through all the sex change stuff. I also had to work. Eating and living indoors is life's biggest incentive for working. Sex, well, is mostly being close to someone. My partner Robert doesn't care what sex I am. He would have been my partner, lover, or what ever term you want to use. I still like the gay forms of sex. But now I got this new pussy. It works real good. I think I am now a nymph. I like it a lot. I am monogamous. Me and Robert are going to get married when I am declared legally female. I am trying to get Allen to move everything to New Orleans. It would be good for getting patients and it would be good for his head. He needs to dress to break stress. Oh yea, when you are ready I will recommend this marvelous toy penis."
"A dildo?"
"Yes, it feels wonderful for the first time. And you don't have to worry about all the diseases out there. I have a very old fashion set of beliefs and I live by them. One partner till death. It almost was death until Allen showed up. I wish the straight world would give us a break. I have just as much religion as one of those hypercritical idiots down at the local church. By the way, if it had not been for Allen being in drag one night, I would be dead now. He can do anything he wants in my book. Don't tell him this but I would go any where to help that man. I'll tell you the whole story on the way to New Orleans on the airplane. Be ready for a good time."
Billie had pictures of Allen dressed a Alice. Lorrie was completely blown away.
"That cannot be a man."
"Yes it is. No hormones. It's done with foam padding."
"I bet it is hot."
"Yes, it is. Doc goes crazy in the summer months. But now is the perfect dressing weather. A chill in the air. Doc needs no coat outside unless it rains."
"Wow. I am totally amazed."
"Better even in person. He has the body language down. The voice is also perfect. We have been coaching him."
Me and Caroline got on the plane first. Then Billie and Lorrie got on. Billie and Lorrie were dressed very sexy. They were attracting a lot of attention. That was good. Allen and Caroline wanted a distraction on the plane before they were noticed. Lorrie's body was developed now to the point that she was sexy. The curves were nice. The hips and ass were outrageously beautiful but smaller than a real woman's. She had a long while to go for completeness. And the voice needed work.
Billie was dressed and made up like a total whore. Every man on the plane turned his head and looked. Every woman on board was checking her out too. The distraction plan was working. No one bothered me or Caroline.
This was going to be a big weekend for them all. We were going to have our own room together and Lorrie and Billie would bunk together. There would be some time for Lorrie to get to go out alone in the Quarter and see the sights. But most of the time, she would be with one of the others.
Lorrie was going out casual. Jeans and a tea shirt. But even that way, those breasts were an attraction. Billie suggested going bra-less.
"No, I'm not ready. I feel more comfortable in a bra, Billie."
"OK but just look at all the attention you would attract. No one would doubt what sex you are."
"I don't need to advertise that. Yea I am a little tall, but who cares."
Alice finally meet them down stairs. "It is a miracle. I don't believe it. Doc you look beautiful."
"Lorrie, please, don't call me that. Call me Alice. Just like in wonderland. OK?"
"OK, sorry."
"Good. I am hungry. Lets go eat."
The group went out and had a good time. Being Lorries first time out, they went to all the places in the Quarter. Even the Queen bars. It was an eye opener for Lorrie.
"You mean you had to run around in those places to find out what was going on with the pushers."
"Yes. It was fun(sarcasm). There was so much danger involved that I will never forget the rush." The group even went to see Mary perform at Criss Owen's night club. She was now a head liner. Alice walked in the door and everyone she knew was there. It was old home coming day. They stayed there the rest of the night. Every one wanted to know about the drug program and it's states.
"We are going public next week. Everyone watch. The program is about to expand and those of you in this community who need help with cancer, can come and enroll. You guys remember, this stuff is for only terminal cancer patients. You got to be dying. But I have the feeling that it won't be that way in a couple of years." (It will happen sooner or later.)
They stayed around for a few more hours. It seemed that every queen or transsexual in the quarter found the group just to ask questions. It seemed that there was an underground network of communications. If anything important happened in the quarter, it was out in minutes. But the quarter was friendly to Me. It was trying to help me. It was the most unusual thing that I had ever seen. No one there would threaten any of them or the program. They must of sensed that I was a person who was trying to help everyone. It was totally amazing.
"One of these days, I think I might move down here. I like the openness of this place. It might be rough to the tourists, but they sure treat us well."
One of the reporters for the local television station had a tap in the quarter pipeline. The guy was closet gay. So he picked up on everything going on. But I was told that this guy was trustworthy. It was no coincidence that we bumped into the reporter in the quarter.
The reporter walked up to Billie and asked "are you one of the cancer patients on that new program?" Yes. "I am Richie Hill from channel 24 here in New Orleans. Do you know if I could talk to Dr. Allen Gurber?"
Billie cleared her throat and said "Uh the Doc is kinda out of pocket right now."
"I understand. Let me tell you that I want to help all of you in this program. I understand from the line that you folks want to go public."
"Yes we do. We are just not ready this minute."
"Ok then, no tape or writing down. I just want to know about what is involved in the program. Then we can do a formal interview later."
I spoke up. "You mean that everything said here is off the record?
"O yes, I could not survive down here in the Quarter if I didn't have a good reputation."
"OK, I think I can get you an interview with Allen Gurber. Just don't report how I look OK?"
The look on Richie Hills face was priceless. "Uh Uh, I don't understand."
"You got to understand that I have been running from people like you for the last 2 years. I couldn't be spotted. So I have to be invisible."
"Your not invisible, that is sure.
"Well thank you."
"I don't understand something. Why drag?"
"OK, you figured it out. Its a long story. Remember the Hazlewood couple a couple of years ago?"
"The drug pushers down on Esplanade?"
"Yup, that's them. This is how I got my hands on the crude form of what is now NOL-5. I couldn't just walk in there in a 3 piece suit."
"True. One thing for sure, your good. I had no idea that you were any thing other that what you appeared."
"Good."
I gave Richie Hill the background of the program. They even set up a formal interview for the next day. I was to come down to the television station. This was going to be a 5 part series that the station would carry. It was the first public description of the program. It went well. I introduced myself to Richie and it was total amazement again.
"Now remember, there cannot be any mention of how I got the drug or how I disappear in public."
"You got my word of honor Doc."
The interview was wonderful. Doc watched as they edited the footage for broadcast. Normally, this was not done. But Richie was being very open with me.
"Can I come to Little Rock and see the Hotel?"
"Ok, but you must get individual permission from the patients to show them on television". It was a done deal. I was even given a copy of the tape they were going to air. I could hear the screams of all the doctors in the cancer research lobby. Pandora's box was now open and the world would be at the door of the clinic Tuesday morning.
They all came back Sunday afternoon. Caroline could see the stress I was under. She had caught me wearing the underwear under my male clothing. She didn't say anything. She understood. I was worried almost sick about what was going to happen over the next week. Everything rested on how the public reacted to the program and his patients. Billie could also see the stress. She ran as much interference for me as she could. Margaret and Claire could also see it. I was not thinking too much about his normal case load. The office staff was also buffering the load. But I wanted to work. So the surgery would continue. Billie, Margaret and Claire would handle the reporters and TV people. I was doing ok. The surgery seemed to get my mind off the news media. It had been four years since Mary and the drug pushers.
The first report aired Monday evening. The phone went crazy. Billie had the foresight to turn the answering machine on at the clinic. It was unreal. Mostly news media. There were one or two inquires from people who might be good candidates for the program. Tuesday morning, the telegrams started to come in. Federal express had something like 40 letters from people all over the world. The network news organizations had picked up the story. It had been broadcast all over the country and the world. The phone would prove to never go silent again.
Billie reviewed all the material so that I wouldn't have to worry with any of the crazies. There were a lot of legitimate inquires from doctors all over the world. There were many aids and cancer activist who were either critical or supportive of the program. When I saw all the material, it was incredible to me that the reaction was this good. Celebrity status was his overnight. It was obvious that the clinic would have to hire security for the general clinic and the "Hotel". It was also going to be necessary to have a personal bouncer type to help him get around. It was that bad. People didn't understand about the terminal part of the program acceptance. Many people made public spectacles of themselves. I didn't want to go outside too much after the first two or three days.
"Caroline, what am I going to do? I can't go anywhere or do anything unless someone wants to be cured of cancer overnight. All they know is that there is a cure. They don't understand anything else."
"Well you wanted to move to the French Quarter. Now is maybe a good time."
Caroline said. "Not yet. We still have much work with setting up the parallel programs. Be glad they aren't paying you any attention yet. You might have to do the same thing I am."
"I just run the primate studies. No one is interested in me."
"Any one with the program will soon be targets of the news media and these poor souls who think I can help them."
While they were talking, Billie walked in.
"Hey Doc, I got the perfect body guard and security for you. She is 6' 2" and 300 lbs."
"You said she."
"Yes, she is an ex-marine and security type and she at one time was a he."
"You mean a transsexual?"
"Yup. Believe me, she can handle just about anyone. She is good with that kind of stuff. She is presently unemployed. It seems that everyone who finds out that she is TS, doesn't want much to do with her."
"Where is she now?"
"Memphis."
"How in the hell did you meet someone like her?"
"Well, I belong to a few computer clubs and I met her that way. Her name is Marilyn."
"Does she attract a lot of attention?"
"Well, I don't think a person that big could be hidden. It doesn't matter much though. After all, you want to advertise the fact that someone is around to take care of you."
"Is she willing to relocate?"
"I've already taken the liberty of talking to her about it. She said she would move in a heart beat."
"My poor house. I might as well advertise my home as another hotel. We will have to work out the financial details."
"Don't worry, I think she will treat you well. I think she is even bonded."
"Good, but no guns. All we want to do is protect people from themselves. I don't want to kill anyone who is just looking for help."
"I can have her here in 2 days."
"OK do it."
Billie left Allen and Caroline in the office. It was amazing to Billie how complicated things were becoming. New patients would have to pay for the treatment. Dr. Gurber would have to come up with a price schedule for the drug.
I would have to make the first big batches of the stuff here in the lab. But eventually, a drug company would have to take over and I would get a royalty on the sales. That would continue the program. Billie had been in contact with some of the drug companies and NOL-5-F and NOL-5-M would be very profitable. It was as safe as any one of the hormones on the market today. Synthetic estrogen had a max. dose of 2.5 mg. This drug had 5 different compounds with a total of about 7 mg. It was very safe. If a man with no cancer took the stuff, it would just feminize him just like taking normal hormones. It would not cause a sex change unless cancer was present. The unknown factor was how much cancer would cause the drug reaction. There would have to be more tests.
Life was getting complicated. I felt boxed in. Caroline was very concerned and worried that the pressure would make me do things that could possible harm my work. It seemed that lately, as the pressure increased on me, the urge to cross-dress got stronger. Caroline had frequently seen me wearing all the female underwear to work. I was quite good at hiding it from the person who wasn't looking for it. But if you were, it was obvious. She would have to help me defuse this pressure. More and more, as they went to bed with each other, I would show up in panties, garters and stockings and a lace camisole. I was even sleeping that way. She didn't mind the clothing too much. She had a big problem with the leg shaving and chest shaving. Clothing could be removed. The hair was not a hideable thing. And it stuck her with the stubble. It would take time. But with some attention, things would be better.