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

can still live.” The nurse

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

should know

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

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

your condition

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

condition is indeed

are you sure you’re going to do

pen and signed her name on the donation letter—Grace

surname James?”

surname is James. I have changed

The nurse was puzzled….

…

returned home, she saw a

leave and walked to him. “I know you have

She said slowly.

stared at her with his dark eyes. “OK,” he said in a low

didn’t you

You agreed

Why was he here?

he

He didn’t deny that.

eyes still dark,

“Where did you go?”

an

and said calmly, “I didn’t go anywhere. I just

“Oh … I see.”

implication in his words. But she was

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 what

going to invite me

eyebrows and noticed that she did not take out the keys

promised to leave me alone for some

he looked at her. “Alright, I’ll

around and walked into the elevator, staring at

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

and

lifetime is too long. I’m not sure,” murmured she. However, the elevator door had closed. She took out her keys and opened the door. Walking into the

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

bone marrow was her

entirely

take the risk before for many

the right track,

She didn’t let her

the decision to find a bone marrow donor for

her mind when she

would take charge of the