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“Stabilized. For now. However, she will need a kidney and liver transplant in the next seventy-tw
o hours.”
The news hit him like a brick wall crumbling to the ground. His sister gasped and clawed his arm with her manicured nails.
“Kidney and liver transplant?” echoed Daniel. He was numb.
“Ms. Winters sustained numerous grave injuries when that car hit her. The impact shattered her rib bones and fractured her left clavicle. There’s a fracture in the ulna and radius bones of her left arm. Fractures in the fibula and tibia of her left leg. Her left ilium bone is also broken, but we were able to reconstruct it with pins. Both of her kidneys are damaged from the impact. One is only twenty-percent functioning, but we have to remove the other. Because she suffered so many bone fractures during the accident, some of them damaged her liver. We are keeping her on dialysis, but she needs those organ transplants. Fast. Within seventy-two hours preferably.”
Daniel had a hard time finding his voice after hearing the extent of her injuries. When he finally spoke, he was surprised to find that his own voice sounded angry. “Due to my fiancée’s grave condition, isn’t there a donor program available to save her life? If it is about money, I assure you that—”
Dr. Huang cut him with a wave of his hand. “What makes this particular case complicated is that Ms. Winters has a very rare blood type—AB negative. Only one percent of the world’s population shares the same blood group. I checked with my colleague in the organ donor registry, and there is no suitable donor for Ms. Winters at present. We are hoping that Ms. Winters’ immediately family have the same blood type and are willing to become an organ donor.” The portly doctor fixed his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “If I may inquire, what condition does her mother have that means she has to be treated in Bellevue?”
“She’s unstable. Emotionally,” said Daniel diplomatically.
“And how about her current physical condition?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t met her in person, but I can find out and forward the information to you immediately.”
Dr. Huang thumbed the file in front of him. “Given that you have the power of attorney over Ms. Winters, if her mother—Mrs. Mary-Ann Winters I see is her name—is a suitable donor, we should schedule the surgery as soon as possible. When can Mrs. Winters be here?”
Daniel calculated. “Tonight. There is paperwork I must complete.”
“Understood.” Dr. Huang gave him a stack of documents to sign. “This is my direct number. Please contact me when you have an update on the patient transfer. On behalf of Harborview staff, we are looking forward to working with you, Mr. Addington.”
Daniel got up and shook the doctor’s hand. Anika did the same.
“Can I see her, Doctor?” asked Daniel.
“Yes, but she won’t be conscious for the next few hours.”
“That’s all right. I just need to see her.”
Daniel Addington prided himself on controlling his emotions. However, when he saw how bad Charlotte’s condition was, he almost lost it. The woman he loved was in a private room, as Daniel had requested. Her broken body lay supine on the hospital bed. A few different machines recorded her vitals. In addition to the highly trained staff in the hospital, Daniel had requested that his own family physician monitor Charlotte’s condition in person. Dr. Hartford was en-route from La Guardia Airport at that moment, taking the earliest flight with his own staff.
Daniel sat wordlessly next to the bed. He took Charlotte’s hand and squeezed it tight. Only this morning they’d made love, and he’d promised her he’d teach her something new. Now, watching her sleeping with so many wires and needles attached to her was surreal.
“Danny,” Anika started. “I’m sorry.”
He just realized that his sister had been with him for hours during the surgery. It was rare for Anika to show empathy like this, especially to his girlfriends. Actually, as he recalled, his sister had never been nice to his exes. Being the only girl in the family made Anika a little too competitive and attention seeking.
“I appreciate what you did for Charlotte,” said Daniel. “Thank you, sis.”
Anika touched his shoulder. “What can I say? She’s growing on me, this girl.”
“She’s special.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“I’ll have a judge grant me the power of attorney for her care. Then, I’ll fly to New York to retrieve her mother.”
Anika seemed to want to say something but decided against it.
“What is it?” he pressed.
“What if Charlotte’s mother doesn’t want to be an organ donor?”
Daniel stood up and released Charlotte’s hand. He didn’t answer his sister’s question. “Can I trouble you one more time?” he asked.
