Ep 9. Good Luck, Ruth Johnson

In ER season 5 episode 9 titled "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson," the focus once again shifts away from the usual assortment of patients and doctors that populate the emergency room of Chicago's County General Hospital. This time, the drama revolves around a single mother named Ruth and her young son, who comes into the hospital with a life-threatening condition.

As the episode opens, we see Ruth and her son, Jason, frantically rushing to the hospital after Jason collapses at a store. When they arrive, the ER is as chaotic as ever, but they manage to get in pretty quickly thanks to Ruth's persistence. Once they're in, it's clear that little Jason is in bad shape - he's having trouble breathing, his heart rate is elevated, and his skin has turned blue.

Despite the grim diagnosis, Ruth is remarkably calm and determined to help her son. She refuses to leave Jason's side, even when the doctors tell her that he needs to be moved to the ICU. In fact, Ruth insists on going with him, despite the doctors' warnings that she could be putting herself in danger.

Meanwhile, other patients in the ER continue to come and go, some more interesting than others. There's a woman who claims to be pregnant but turns out to have a bizarre growth in her abdomen, a man who is brought in with a snake bite, and a young girl named Sarah who is struggling with an eating disorder. But the focus remains on Ruth and Jason for most of the episode.

As Jason's condition deteriorates, the doctors become increasingly worried about his prognosis. They brainstorm ideas, perform tests, and consult with outside specialists, but it seems like everything they try only makes things worse. Despite this, Ruth remains stoic and resolute, even as her hopes of saving her son begin to fade.

There are a few moments of levity in the episode, including a running joke about one of the nurses who keeps getting paged to different parts of the hospital and missing all the action. But for the most part, "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson" is a tense, emotionally charged episode that pulls no punches.

The climax of the episode is both heartbreaking and uplifting; I won't spoil it here, but suffice it to say that it's one of the most memorable moments in ER history. By the time the credits roll, viewers will have been through the wringer, emotionally speaking, but also reminded of the incredible resilience and strength of the human spirit.

Overall, "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson" is an excellent example of what ER does best - tackling tough, topical issues while still delivering compelling drama and unforgettable characters. Whether you're a longtime fan of the show or a new viewer, this episode is not to be missed.