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 to

speaking, can still live.”

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

know

said that human body can regenerate bone marrow. The bone

five days in a row. We will collect hematopoietic

your condition

surgery can fail, and the collection of hematopoietic stem cells is not entirely safe. There is

condition is indeed

you sure

pen and signed her name on

your surname James?” The

said indifferently, “My grandfather’s surname is James. I have

The nurse was puzzled….

…

Grace returned home, she saw

wanted to turn around and leave, but she resisted the urge to leave and walked to him. “I know you have called

She said slowly.

at her with his dark eyes. “OK,” he said

you call

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

Why was he here?

he

He didn’t deny that.

eyes still

“Where did you go?”

was an ordinary

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

“Oh … I see.”

was implication in his

herself not to be worried. He must be busy with work at that time. He

going to

and noticed that she did not take out the keys to open the

to leave me alone for

at her. “Alright, I’ll

around and walked into the elevator,

be there for me for the

and she lowered

I’m not sure,” murmured she. However, the elevator door had closed. She took out her

the dangers of bone marrow donation. Even the risk should have been small, it might

marrow was her

depended entirely on

to take the risk before

on the right track, grandfather’s efforts would not lead to

hands. She didn’t let her late grandfather down. She didn’t

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

her mind when she

Payne would take charge