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.”

…

sure you want to donate

can still live.” The

a kidney usually have poorer health and can’t lift

should know

is said that human body can regenerate bone marrow. The

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

your condition is

and the collection of hematopoietic stem cells is not entirely safe. There is still a small risk. Although it is small, it can’t

your condition

you sure

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

your surname James?” The nurse

grandfather’s surname is James. I

The nurse was puzzled….

…

Grace returned home, she saw a man at

and leave, but she resisted the urge to leave and

She said slowly.

at her with his dark eyes. “OK,”

you

said, “You broke your words first. You agreed

Why was he here?

meant he bothered

He didn’t deny that.

still

“Where did you go?”

an

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

“Oh … I see.”

was implication in his words.

told herself not to be worried. He must be busy with work at that time. He couldn’t know where she

going to invite

did not take

to leave me alone for

squinted as he looked at

around and walked into the elevator, staring at

for the rest of your life,” he said

suddenly trembled, and she

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

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

bone marrow was

depended entirely on

the risk

right track,

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

find a bone marrow donor for her brother. If she

made up her mind when she

would take charge