Page 60 of Run with Me

“Mary and Anna. You’re both perfect matches.”

“That’s wonderful news!” Mary almost jumped out of her chair, and then asked, “When can we do the surgery?”

The doctor waited until the excitement settled, and continued. “While Mary’s a match, and ideally a parent would be best, Mary’s not a good candidate for surgery at thistime.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because Mary, you’re pregnant.”

After a unanimous gasp, silence filled the room. The doctor mentioned something about her being quite far along, Jack asked a few questions, then Mary, and as they discussed both the baby she carried and Cameron’s health, I tuned them out. The thought of what would happen next came to me without a warning, and I knew what I had to do. I also realized what my choice meant. I didn’t even notice when the room silenced again, and everyone focused onme.

“Before you all decide what you want to do, I must tell you that a surgery on an eight-month-old child is very dangerous,” the doctorsaid.

“But if we don’t doit?”

“He will eventually need to go on dialysis.”

There were a few more questions, along with suggestions of the best medical course to take for the baby, but in my heart, I already knew what wasbest.

“I’ll do it,” I said, drawing their attention back to me. “I’m a match. Of course I’ll doit.”

“Anna, I know you’ve been waiting to go back for a long time. I can’t ask you to put your life on hold forus.”

“You don’t have to ask, Mary.”

If I refused to accept this, I’d never forgive myself. How could I even look John in the eyes, knowing that my friends’ son had a health crisis and I could have actually done something to help him, yet I’d chosen to come toPace?

“John would want me to help you. He would understand. How long would this take? How long’s recovery?”

Xavier tightened his grip on my hand. “They’ll need to run a few more tests, but if the doctors clear you to donate, we can probably get a surgery scheduled within a month. Then it’s another month and a half or two of recovery, Anna. We’d have to delay our travels until before Christmas.”

That would mark the time I’d been away from Pace at about sixteen months. It sounded much longer than I realized. But how could I put any value to time when my godson was in need of a miracle to survive?

There was no other option. Any other choice would have been a sin. Little did I know, Fate had already sealed my future, and no matter what choice I made, my life would forever be changed.

*

The next fourweeks passed by more quickly than all of the previous year. We went from one doctor appointment to another. I was prodded and poked with countless needles on my arms, I was tested for all sorts of diseases and illnesses before the doctors agreed that I was in good health for the transplant, and Iwas.

Deep inside I knew I would be. On some level I believed that God had led Jack to find me so that I could help his little boy. There was nothing that could stop me from giving this kidney to Cameron, and just as hard as I believed my fate was to go through with the surgery, I also believed that Cameron would beokay.

The surgery was successful. While Mary and Jack stayed with Cameron at the hospital, I went home within two days. My kidney was functioning in his body, and nothing in my life had ever felt more right.

Jack and Mary not only hired a private nurse for me but also a full-time nanny to help me with Hope while I recovered. Xavier bought me books to keep me busy and stayed in his home office for the most part, preparing for our trip. In less than a week, we would make a trip back to Pace, where I could finally tell John about Hope. I practiced my words to him over and over again.

“Do you think he’ll leave Pace and come withus?”

“I don’t think he’ll do anything to jeopardize your safety.”

“So you have doubts?” I asked.

“Anna, we both know who we’re dealing with. Cortez doesn’t give up. If John leaves Pace, we have to ensure that Ben has no reason to follow him. Ben needs to be neutralized.”

“That won’t beeasy.”

John would not only have to leave his family, but most likely he’d need to ensure their safety before he left as well. Would he leave his family forme?

“I can’t think of an easier decision. If you told me that you had my baby, I’d follow you to the end of this world.”

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