Goodwin grappled with how to deal with her ex-husband’s diagnosis as Dr. Charles offered his support on Season 9, Episode 6 of Chicago Med.
It was news that no one ever wants to hear, but Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) was forced to face her ex-husband’s health problems on Season 9, Episode 6 of Chicago Med, as Bert Goodwin (Gregory Alan Williams) got an official diagnosis for the issues he’d been having.
Previously in Season 9, Bert was seen suffering from some memory loss and confusion. He ended up in the hospital after he fell on his grandchild while babysitting. And his daughter, Tara, showed her mom Sharon video from a baby monitor recording in which he seemed confused about where he was and how to leave her child’s room.
Concerns only grew after Sharon and Dr. Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt) asked Bert in Episode 5 to undergo a physical exam, which ended with Bert blowing up at the two after Charles pointed out he noticed “some short term memory issues.” Bert accused Sharon and Dr. Charles of trying to get his money and pension by making up health issues.
Bert reluctantly agreed to return to the hospital for further testing. In the opening moments of Episode 6, Bert, still angry at his ex-wife, arrived at the hospital where Sharon works and when he spotted her waiting for him ahead of his appointment with a neurologist, told her, “I’m not nervous. I told you, I’m fine, Sharon. I don’t need a damn babysitter watching my every move.”
Later on in the day, Sharon ran into Bert as he walked back through the hospital, and she asked him how the appointment went.
“You got what you wanted, okay?” an upset Bert said, and after not revealing what the neurologist told him, added, “I was doing just fine until you had to go and screw everything up.”
Sharon expressed that she’s just concerned about Bert, but he shouted at her, “We’re divorced! Stay out of my life!”
Sharon Goodwin’s ex, Bert, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
Sharon decided to visit Bert’s neurologist herself, and since she was listed as her ex’s primary emergency contact, he was able to tell her he officially diagnosed Bert with Alzheimer’s dementia.
“There are treatments available to him, but as you’re well aware, this diagnosis can be a long and rough road for everyone involved,” he said to Sharon. He also told her that he offered Bert some pamphlets on the disease, but Bert wasn’t interested in taking them.
“He didn’t take the news well?,” Sharon asked, and the neurologist replied, “In my experience, few people do.”
Dr. Charles comforted Sharon Goodwin over Bert’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis
As Dr. Charles told Sharon how sorry he was to hear about Bert’s diagnosis, she responded, “I guess the upside is now I know what I’m dealing with.”
“Exactly. And you know what? I mean there are some very promising clinical trials happening right now,” Dr. Charles tried to reassure her. “Some exciting new medications are being developed. I’m confident if we get the right kind of help, we’ll be able to navigate this.”
Sharon pointed out that most of the burden will fall on her.
“The decisions that’ll have to be made. The appointments. The treatments,” she reminded him. When Dr. Charles suggested that Sharon and Bert’s children will also be there, she declared that she doesn’t want them to have to take on any caretaker burdens.
“They’ve got their own lives,” Sharon said. “I don’t want them to have to deal with this either.”
Sharon Goodwin broke down over ex-husband’s diagnosis
Sharon also worried that having to care for Bert would affect her job and her new, budding relationship with chief oncologist at the hospital, Dr. Dennis Washington (John Earl Jelks).
“How am I going to do it? I’ve got a hospital to run. I’ve got a new relationship that is really going well,” Sharon told Dr. Charles. “And then what? I have to take care of my ex-husband on top of it all. I know it’s selfish just to think of myself.” Dr. Charles assured her it’s not selfish.
Sharon admitted, “I can’t do it, Daniel. I can’t,” of taking on care of her ex.
Later, Sharon got a phone call from her worried daughter, Tara, because Bert wasn’t answering his phone. As Sharon was leaving the hospital, she ran into Charles and told him that Bert’s phone is going straight to voicemail.
“You know he’s tried to take his life once before, so, I’m just going to head over to his place,” Sharon said, and Dr. Charles pushed to accompany her. When they entered Bert’s home, he was sitting in a chair, just staring straight ahead.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me,” he told Sharon despondently, adding, “I don’t want to make this anyone else’s problem. I have to deal with it on my own.”
But Sharon refused to let him take on all of the burden, and said, “No, no you don’t, because I’m here… and it’s gonna be alright.”
Watch all-new episodes of Chicago Med on Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
