#114 MIRROR IMAGE (Original air date: 01/21/97)
Written by: William Schwartz & Deborah Starr Seibel Directed by: Stuart Margolin Produced by: Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen & R.J. Visciglia, Jr. Guest Cast:
Tess Della Reese Rachel Essence Atkins David Derek Webster Kenny Brian Gross Salesman Tim Maculan Nurse Marianne Marianne Muellerleile Dr. Dickerson Ilene Wood Excited about their upcoming anniversary and having Claire all to himself, Russell embraces her tightly to dance. This causes Claire to wince and later in the shower she discovers a painful lump in her breast. The following day Claire slips away to a local women's hospital alone. There she becomes fast friends with Rachel, a young woman she meets in the waiting room. Rachel becomes really shaken after learning she must face the mastectomy of her left breast. Everything's changed for her now. She's scared. Angry. Rachel decides to break things off with David, her fiancé. Claire consoles her on their drive home. Once at the trailer park, Claire gently finds the words to tell Russell of her own ordeal. At the hospital with Russell for the first time, Claire's mastectomy proves inconclusive. She must undergo a biopsy. The entire family is told of what Claire is facing. Josh and Dinah are quietly alarmed. Nathaniel is very vocal about not wanting Claire in the hospital where "people go to die". Hattie pulls them back from the edges, by reminding them that God is the one who holds their family together. Rachel comes out of surgery feeling groggy, yet more resolved to face life on her own as "half-woman" now. During Claire's surgery, Russell shares his wisdom and hope with David. Then Russell ducks into a stairwell to pray. He tells God of his fears of losing Claire. He's full of pleading questions. Tess appears; lighting the stairwell and dispelling the darkness of Russell's doubts. Claire's biopsy is negative. The entire family celebrates as Russell and Claire renew their vows. Rachel and David join in, committed to each other and the life that is still possible for her to lead.