Page 45 of The Wish

B ack at the hospital but in a different ward this time, Alex follows a nurse into a small cubicle. She hands him a clip-board and pen and indicates the gown he is to change into.

‘After you’re changed, bring the papers back to the desk and a technician will be with you shortly. This is marked urgent, so we’ll get it done and analysed quickly.’

As the nurse closes the curtain Alex sits on the chair and reads the heading on the two-page document: CONSENT FOR BONE MARROW DONATION . He immediately turns to the second page and signs; he’s not interested in reading the details – nothing could deter him from helping.

Changed into the gown, Alex hands over the consent form. A nurse dressed in scrubs introduces herself and asks him to follow her. Taken into a small room, Alex does as he is told and lies on the bed as two other staff join them.

‘Remember this is just a biopsy to type your marrow for a possible transplant if a suitable recipient is found. We thank you for being part of the bone marrow registry, your results will go worldwide. I see you have a rare blood group, so that will be very helpful,’ one of the technicians says.

‘Yeah, I had a bike accident a few years back and discovered it. I’ve been a blood donor a few times, probably not enough but I’ll do better.’

‘I understand you know someone who might be able to benefit from your donation. I hope we can make it work for both of you,’ she says.

‘I hope so too.’

‘We need to take a small amount of bone marrow from your hip. We’ll have you lie on your right side; we’ll give you a local anaesthetic injection into both the skin and bone to numb the area. You will feel a sharp sting when the numbing medicine is injected.’

The nurse holds up a large needle. Very large. Alex thinks of young Sam going through this to help his sister.

‘As you can see this needle is quite wide; there is a needle inside the needle, so to speak. We will insert the larger needle into the bone of your hip, then remove it, leaving the smaller, hollowed-out needle, which will be moved deeper into the bone. We will attach a syringe to the thin needle and remove a small sample of bone marrow. This won’t take long.

When we remove the needle we will apply a pressure bandage to the area, give you a cup of tea or coffee, and ask you to wait around for about half an hour. Do you have any questions?’

‘No, thank you for explaining it. I’m ready.’

‘OK then, if you’re ready, will you roll onto your right side?’

When Alex returns to his clothes, he checks his phone to see several missed calls from Kelly. Dressing, saying goodbye to the staff, he waits until he is sitting in his car before returning her call.

‘Hey, it’s me.’

‘Where have you been?’ Kelly asks him.

‘Ah, just sorting out a few things.’

A pause. Kelly waits for Alex to say more but he remains silent. He hates that he is keeping from her where he is and what he has done but he has to, no one can know anything until the results are in.

‘OK, well.’ Kelly takes a deep breath. ‘I thought you’d want to know that Jesse was very weak when they got her home this evening.

She was asleep when they took her out of the car.

Mandy and Dean couldn’t rouse her or get her to eat anything.

They put her to bed, but they were so concerned that they rang Christine.

She’s suggested that they take her back to hospital for a while. ’

‘Hospital?’ Alex realises what this means. ‘So, this might be . . .’

‘We can’t know, Alex,’ Kelly tells him. ‘She might recover after proper rest and fluids, if she’s not eating. It’s just one day at a time at this stage. She’ll sleep at home tonight and return to the hospital in the morning for assessment.’

Alex stares out the window of his car, letting her words sink in. He can’t think of anything to say.

‘Dean has raced out to buy things for the puppy – they’re grateful for the bed and toys you supplied, but they need more food. And other things. I thought they could use the support right now. I’m not Jesse’s doctor but I think they might feel able to relax a little if I’m here.’

Again, Alex is silent. All he wants to ask is how long Jesse has, but he knows there’s no answer to that question – at least not until she’s back at hospital in the morning.

Kelly tries again. ‘So, I wondered if you’d like to join me here? I thought we could have pizza, find a movie for us all to watch, and take turns checking on Jesse. Alex . . . are you still there?’

Alex clears his throat. ‘Sorry, I’m just shattered after the past few days working to get Jesse’s wish made. I’m going to have to crash tonight. Good luck, I hope it all goes OK.’

Kelly is puzzled by Alex’s tone. They’re all shattered. He’s been so amazing these past weeks. What has suddenly changed?

‘OK, fine. Well, you get some rest.’

‘And Kelly—’

It’s too late, she has ended the call.

Late that evening, curled up on the sofa with Max, music playing but not heard, Alex is staring into space, more asleep than awake.

He pretends he doesn’t hear his phone ring.

Max watches him ignore the ringing phone.

Max places his large paw on Alex’s hand and nudges him.

Alex stirs and looks at the missed call: not Kelly or Jesse or Mandy.

An unknown number. Dropping the phone back on the sofa beside him he closes his eyes.

He is about to nod off when he jerks up, grabs the phone and hits return call. It answers on the second ring.

‘Hello, Alex, this is Christine, Jesse’s doctor.’

Alex says nothing.

‘Are you there, Alex?’ Christine asks.

‘Yes. I’m here.’

‘We have your bone marrow results back.’

‘Uh huh.’

‘I can’t say you’re a perfect match, but Alex, you have enough markers for me to go and speak to Mandy and Dean.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘That, if you’re willing, and Mandy and Dean agree to what is a risky procedure given how sick Jesse is, we would be prepared to undertake a transplant.’

‘What do you mean, markers?’

‘Well, it’s quite complicated but we can only consider a transplant if there are a certain number of matching markers between the donor and the recipient. I’m saying you have enough markers for us to do so.’

‘You’re saying you could give Jesse a transplant from me, and it might work?’

‘Yes, if you are prepared to donate and Mandy and Dean say yes to the procedure.’

‘OK.’

‘What does that mean? I need to hear you say yes.’

‘Yes! I mean yes!’