I've Been There Before

“What … do you mean?” Payne was surprised. Grace turned around. He quickly grabbed her arm tightly and said, “Did you really find a donor?”

He stared at Grace nervously. Grace lowered her eyes when noticed Payne’s nervousness, anxiety, and hope.

The hope of survival.

She smiled and answered, “Yes, I did. You won’t die.”

Pulling his hand away, she seemed to have made up her mind.

When she walked to the door….

She smiled at him. He would never forget that smile.

“Payne, stay strong and enjoy your life.”

Then, the door was closed.

Payne didn’t even have time to say “thank you”.

The next moment, he called Mrs. James excitedly, “Mom, I’m saved! I won’t die!”

He was overjoyed.

Mrs. James couldn’t believe it. She kept asking, “Really? Who is so kind?

I must show my thanks to the donor.

I’ll call your ruthless sister. She actually refused to save you!

Even a stranger was willing to do it.

She should be guilty!”

Payne blushed. He said with embarrassment, “Mom, don’t do that. Grace found the donor for me.”

Mrs. James was surprised at first. Then she said, “Whatever. She is not the doctor. She found a donor for you just because she doesn’t want to donate her own bone marrow.

Do you think she did this for you?

She did this for herself.”

Payne’s face turned even redder. “Mom, I’m tired. I must hang up now.”

Not long after, his attending doctor came and told him that he could have a bone marrow transplant.

Payne hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t ask who the donor was.

The doctor only said, “You’re lucky. From today onwards, I’ll prescribe antibiotics for you as preoperative preparation. You have to take this. After your body indexes return to normal, I’ll arrange an operation for you.”

The doctor added, “I need to talk to your family. The result would come out one month after the operation.”

…

you want

can still live.” The nurse in

lack a kidney usually have poorer health and can’t lift heavy things. They would easily get exhausted and suffer from some

know those symptoms

marrow. The bone marrow is like leeks and will grow

health condition…. Before donating, you need to be injected with growth factor for four to five days in a row. We will collect hematopoietic stem cells.

condition is

the collection of hematopoietic stem cells is not entirely safe.

condition is

you sure

take responsibility for any consequences.” She picked up the pen and signed her

surname James?” The

grandfather’s surname is James. I have

The nurse was puzzled….

…

returned home, she saw a

to turn around and leave, but she resisted the urge to leave and walked

She said slowly.

his dark eyes. “OK,” he said in a

you

said, “You broke your words first. You agreed to

Why was he here?

meant he

He didn’t deny that.

still

“Where did you go?”

was an

and said calmly, “I didn’t go anywhere. I just had

“Oh … I see.”

felt that there was implication in his

busy with work at that time. He couldn’t know where she had

you not going

raised his eyebrows and noticed that she did not take out the keys to

“You promised to leave me alone for some time.

at her. “Alright, I’ll give

turned around and walked into

you to be there for me for the

trembled, and she lowered her

lifetime is too long. I’m not sure,” murmured she. However, the elevator door had closed. She took out her keys and opened the door. Walking into

Virgin Mary. She was aware of the dangers of bone marrow donation. Even the risk should have been small, it might not be the case

marrow

depended entirely

take the risk

was on the right track, grandfather’s

her hands. She didn’t let her late grandfather down. She didn’t care if his love

find a bone marrow donor for her brother.

mind when she returned from Erhai

that Payne would