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 sure you want

with only one kidney, medically speaking, can still live.” The nurse in charge explained to

have poorer health and can’t lift heavy things. They would easily get exhausted and suffer from

should know those symptoms

human body can regenerate bone marrow. The bone marrow is like leeks and will

growth factor for four to five days in a row.

condition

the collection of hematopoietic stem cells is not entirely safe. There is still a small risk. Although it is

condition is

are you sure you’re going to

signed her name on the donation letter—Grace Shaw, the name

James?”

said indifferently, “My grandfather’s surname is

The nurse was puzzled….

…

returned home, she saw

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

She said slowly.

dark eyes. “OK,”

you call

“You broke your words first. You agreed to let me

Why was he here?

meant he

He didn’t deny that.

eyes still

“Where did you go?”

was an ordinary

pockets and said calmly, “I didn’t

“Oh … I see.”

there was implication in his words. But she was not

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

going to invite me

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

promised to leave me alone for some time. Is that

squinted as he looked at her. “Alright, I’ll

around and walked into the elevator, staring

you to be there for me for the rest of your

trembled, and

had closed. She took out her keys and opened the

bone marrow donation. Even the risk should have been small, it might not be the case for

bone marrow

entirely

take the

the James Group was on the right track, grandfather’s efforts would not

least, the James was not ruined in her hands. She didn’t let her late grandfather down.

she had already made the decision to find a bone marrow donor for her brother. If she

her mind when

that Payne would take charge of