"My my," exclaimed the angiographer when the flower lady's brachiocephalic artery burst forth with double cherry blooms. As quickly as they had appeared, during the venous phase the petals fell, one by one, until the floor of the angio suite was covered with a layer of fine shell-pink petals.

Angio staff scuffed through them like little kids. The petals crushed underfoot gave off a sweet, honeysuckle aroma that followed the patient and her entourage around the hospital and back to her room. Her grandchildren cut up the still films from her aortogram, planted the pieces in foam cups and egg crates, and sprouted dozens of tiny cherry, quince, and plum trees.

When the seedlings were ready to plant outside, the lady chose one, a double-blossomed cherry, and sent it to the radiologist in gratitude for the stent graft that saved her hands.