When doctors at a Texas hospital told George Pickering that his son was brain-dead, most would have accepted the grim prognosis. But George couldn’t—no, wouldn’t—believe it. What followed was an extraordinary act of desperation, defiance, and, ultimately, triumph.
A standoff for a second chance
Doctors were ready to take George’s son off life support, insisting there was no brain activity. To them, his son was already gone. But George’s intuition as a father told him otherwise.
In a shocking and desperate move, George pulled out a gun and refused to let the hospital staff proceed. For three tense hours, police surrounded the hospital, negotiators tried to reason with George, and the facility was placed on lockdown. Read the full story here ▶
