MrBallen Podcast: Diagnosis Vol. II – Detailed Summary

Title: Diagnosis Vol. II
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Host: Ballen Studios
Podcast Series: MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Introduction

In the episode titled "Diagnosis Vol. II", MrBallen delves into three gripping medical horror stories that explore the thin line between reality and the unimaginable. Stripping away the usual advertisements and introductory banter, the episode immerses listeners in tales of unforeseen medical mysteries, each more chilling than the last.

Story One: The Shadow

Timestamp: [02:44] – [08:35]

Synopsis: The first story, "The Shadow," centers around Brian Thomas and his wife Christine. Living a seemingly peaceful life in a coastal village in Wales, Brian and Christine's tranquility is shattered when Christine is diagnosed with a potential cancer scare. The ensuing wait for test results strains their relationship, highlighting Brian's deep fear of losing his wife of 40 years.

Brian, in an effort to make up for not fully appreciating his wife's importance, takes Christine on numerous vacations. On one such trip, their idyllic evening takes a dark turn. After a night of enjoying the serene coastal views, Brian experiences a horrifying event inside their camper van.

Key Events:

• Nightmare-Induced Tragedy: While asleep in the camper, Brian suffers from a severe somnambulism-induced nightmare. Believing an attacker is invading their space to harm Christine, he violently confronts and ultimately kills what he perceives to be the assailant.

• The Horrifying Revelation: Upon waking and calling the police, Brian is in shock and unable to explain the incident. The investigation reveals that the person he killed was, in fact, his wife Christine. Brian's sleepwalking episodes led him to unknowingly commit this tragic act.

• Legal Aftermath: Overcome with guilt and grief, Brian confesses to the police, expecting severe repercussions. However, the presiding judge recognizes the profound impact of Brian's somnambulism, choosing to drop all charges. The judge states, “This was a mistake and you're going to live with grief and guilt for the rest of your life. And that's punishment enough” ([08:35]).

Notable Quote:

Judge: “...you are a good and decent person. This was a mistake and you're going to live with grief and guilt for the rest of your life. And that's punishment enough.”
— [08:35]

Story Two: Night and Day

Timestamp: [08:35] – [19:00]

Synopsis: The second tale, "Night and Day," follows 13-year-old Shoehe Bahmed and his 9-year-old brother Abdul Rashid from a rural town in Pakistan. These brothers exhibit a bizarre condition where they transform nightly, becoming paralyzed and mute as soon as the sun sets—a phenomenon that baffles their community and medical professionals alike.

Key Events:

• Daily Life and Transformation: During the day, Abdul and Shoaib are active and energetic, earning them the nickname “solar boys.” However, as dusk approaches, both brothers inexplicably lose all motor function and speech, remaining in a state of paralysis throughout the night.

• Scientific Investigation: A team of scientists from Pakistan's Institute of Medical Sciences conducts extensive research, including blood and urine tests, and observes the brothers’ transformations. Initial theories, including psychological explanations and even exorcism attempts, fail to explain their condition.

• Breakthrough Discovery: Under the leadership of Dr. Javed Akram, the medical team uncovers a genetic mutation affecting dopamine production in the boys' brains. This mutation causes their bodies to shut down essential functions at night. The simple yet effective treatment involves administering dopamine pills before sunset, which restores their natural bodily functions and prevents the nightly paralysis.

Notable Quote:

Dr. Akram: “It turns out the boys' genes were mistakenly shutting off dopamine production every single night. The dopamine pills basically just turned the boys' bodies back on.”
— [19:00]

Conclusion of Story: With the discovery of the dopamine deficiency and subsequent treatment, Abdul and Shoaib return to living normal lives, free from their mysterious nightly afflictions. This breakthrough not only saved the boys but also potentially paved the way for understanding and treating similar rare genetic conditions.

Story Three: Leg Pain

Timestamp: [21:52] – [36:45]

Synopsis: The final story, "Leg Pain," narrates the tragic case of Robert Smith, a retired army veteran who experiences a series of debilitating symptoms following a kidney transplant. His journey from routine health to a fatal, inexplicable illness underscores the terrifying possibilities of medical oversights in organ transplants.

Key Events:

• Initial Symptoms: Robert, who had maintained excellent health post-transplant, begins suffering from intense right hip and leg pain, which a doctor initially diagnoses as sciatica. Despite following medical advice and taking over-the-counter pain medications, his condition deteriorates rapidly.

• Escalating Health Crisis: Over three days, Robert's symptoms escalate to include severe weakness in his leg, persistent nausea, abdominal pain near his transplant scar, high fever, profuse sweating, and confusion. His condition worsens despite hospital care, with multiple tests failing to identify the cause.

• Mysterious Diagnosis: After 17 days in the hospital with all tests negative, Robert ultimately succumbs to a rare, highly contagious virus. The autopsy reveals that the virus was transmitted through his kidney transplant from the donor, William Edward Small, who had died from rabies—a detail initially misreported as ciguatera poisoning.

• CDC Investigation: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) steps in to trace the source of the virus. They discover that William had been bitten by raccoons, leading to a rabies infection that was not detected before organ donation. This transmission highlights a critical lapse in the organ screening process, given the rarity of rabies.

• Aftermath and Prevention: Fortunately, the CDC tracks down the other three organ recipients from William, administering the rabies vaccine in time to prevent further tragedy.

Notable Quote:

Narrator: “Rabies can look like the common flu at first... for everybody who contracts rabies and who does not get a vaccine right away, because a vaccine does stop rabies in the early stage. So if you don't do that, everybody dies.”
— [36:45]

Conclusion of Story: Robert's untimely death serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities in the organ transplant system. The discovery of rabies transmission through organ donation prompts urgent reevaluations of screening protocols to prevent similar future occurrences.

Conclusion

"Diagnosis Vol. II" masterfully intertwines true medical cases with elements of suspense and horror, showcasing the fragility of human health and the unexpected ways in which our bodies can betray us. From sleep-induced tragedy and genetic mutations to fatal oversights in medical procedures, MrBallen presents stories that are not only enthralling but also serve as poignant lessons in the complexities of medical science.

For those captivated by these eerie medical mysteries, MrBallen invites listeners to explore more chilling tales through their various podcast offerings and YouTube channel, ensuring a continuous supply of strange, dark, and mysterious stories.

Notable Additional Quotes:

• Mr. Ballin on Story 1:
  “...I did this. Take me in.”
  — [08:35]

• Mr. Ballin on Story 2's Resolution:
  “...the fix was actually quite simple.”
  — [19:00]

• Mr. Ballin on Story 3’s Conclusion:
  “Rabies can look like the common flu at first...”
  — [36:45]

Final Note: All stories within this episode are based on true events. The use of pseudonyms and fictionalized details serves to protect the identities of those involved while enhancing the dramatic impact of each narrative.