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.”

…

are you sure you want to donate bone

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

kidney usually have poorer health and can’t lift heavy things. They would easily get

know

marrow. The bone marrow is like leeks

in a row. We will collect hematopoietic stem cells. Then normally the donor will have a fever for one to

condition

entirely safe. There is still a small risk. Although it

your condition is indeed

sure you’re going to do

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

surname James?” The nurse

grandfather’s surname is

The nurse was puzzled….

…

Grace returned home, she saw a man at the

the urge to leave

She said slowly.

with his dark eyes. “OK,” he

didn’t you call me

“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?”

an

her hands into her pockets and said calmly, “I didn’t go anywhere. I just had afternoon

“Oh … I see.”

implication in his words. But she

with work

you not going to invite

she did not

calmly, “You promised to leave me alone for some

squinted as he looked at her. “Alright,

and walked into

to be there for me for the rest of your life,” he said sadly in

and she lowered

she. However, the elevator door had closed. She took out her keys

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

bone marrow

entirely

take the risk before for many

Group was on the right track, grandfather’s efforts

not ruined in her hands. She didn’t let her late grandfather down. She

decision to find a bone marrow donor for her brother. If she

had made up her mind when she returned from

would take