Ep 20. Changes

In House season 7 episode 20, titled "Changes," the team is faced with a case that hits close to home for Thirteen. The team is presented with a young woman named Emily who is suffering from a rare genetic disorder that neither Thirteen nor House have ever encountered. Emily's mother is also present, and she is struggling to cope with the fact that her daughter's condition is not improving.

Meanwhile, House is dealing with some personal changes of his own. He's recently started dating another doctor at Princeton Plainsboro, which is uncharacteristic for the notoriously independent and emotionally guarded physician. This new relationship forces House to confront his own feelings and vulnerabilities, which is a difficult task for someone used to shutting down emotionally.

As the team continues to investigate Emily's case, they begin to uncover some troubling facts about her family dynamics. While Emily's mother seems to be overwhelmingly supportive and attentive to her daughter's care, her father is strangely absent. When they finally track him down, they discover that he's been in a long-term relationship with another woman and has fathered a second child.

As Thirteen works on Emily's case, she begins to see parallels between the young woman's situation and her own life. Thirteen has been living with Huntington's disease for several years now, and her condition has forced her to make some difficult decisions about her future. She's been grappling with the idea of getting genetic testing for her own potential children, and Emily's case brings those anxieties to the forefront.

As the case progresses, the team must navigate some tricky ethical dilemmas when they discover that Emily's father is a perfect genetic match for her. Despite the fact that he's been absent for most of her life, he's suddenly offering to donate part of his liver to save her. The team must decide whether or not to allow the surgery to go forward, or to leave Emily to suffer from her disease.

Overall, "Changes" is a thought-provoking episode that delves into some complex issues surrounding genetic disorders, family dynamics, and personal identity. It's also a powerful exploration of House's emotional growth, as he begins to confront his own feelings and open himself up to vulnerability.