Wallace Anderson

Wallace Anderson was a 10 year patient of Arizona Robbins. He suffered from Short Bowel Syndrome and had been living in as a patient in Seattle Grace/Mercy West Hospital for the past 7 years and had undergone over 15 surgeries in his lifetime.

Storylines:

Wallace is at the centre of the series 6 episode 'Invest in Love'. Out of gratitude for all the care given to Wallace, his parents declare to Arizona, Richard Webber and Board Chairman Larry Jennings that they wish to donate $25 Million to Seattle Grace/Mercy West's pediatrics programme, half of which to go towards research to find a cure for Wallace's condition.

Sadly Wallace deteriorates rapidly and Arizona informs his parents, Richard and Larry that he does not have long left to live and that they should all prepare themselves. Not wanting to accept this, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Richard and Larry pressure Arizona into performing a very risky surgery to extend Wallace's life for 2 months, which goes against her better judgement. Wallace survives the surgery, however complications set in after and is he is brought back into the OR but dies of 'septic shock'.

His body is seen later, when Arizona takes his parents to the morgue to view him. Although she could not save him, his parents agree to donate the $25m in gratitude of Arizona's efforts not Larry's 'ass kissing'.

Personality and Traits:

Wallace is a very intelligent child. Not wanting him to fall behind in his education, Arizona allows Wallace to accompany her on rounds. He appears to be aware of the seriousness of his illness as he notices how other patients in pediatrics have come and gone (both being discharged and dying) but he is still there. Also he seems to understand that he may die from his illness and only seems afraid that if death is like sleeping he will have nightmares. When his parents view him in the morgue, his mother and Arizona chant "bad dreams bad dreams go away, good dreams good dreams here to stay" over is body, which he believed kept nightmares away.