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 donate

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

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

know those

that human body can regenerate bone marrow. The bone marrow is

need to be injected with growth factor for four to five days in a row. We will collect hematopoietic stem cells. Then

your condition is

is not entirely safe.

your condition is

James, are you sure

for any consequences.” She picked up the pen and signed her name on the donation letter—Grace Shaw,

surname James?” The nurse was

“My grandfather’s surname is

The nurse was puzzled….

…

Grace returned home, she saw a

to leave and walked to him. “I

She said slowly.

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

you call me

words first. You agreed to let me think about it,

Why was he here?

meant he

He didn’t deny that.

still

“Where did you go?”

an

hands into her pockets and said calmly, “I didn’t

“Oh … I see.”

in his words. But

shook her head and told herself not to be worried. He must be busy with work at that time. He couldn’t know where she had been and

you not going to invite me

did not take out the keys to open

“You promised to leave me alone for

looked at her. “Alright,

into the elevator, staring at

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

and she lowered

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

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 for her because

bone marrow was

entirely

dared to take the risk before for many

was on the right track, grandfather’s efforts

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

returned home, she had already made the decision to find a bone marrow donor for her brother. If she hadn’t, his

had made up her mind when she returned from Erhai

would