The Rough Tide

chapter 9

*Alwan*

On getting to the room of the little girl I pushed the door letting Mahmud in first

"good evening, I'm doctor Mahmud and this here is my intern Alwan" he said as he assumed his serious doctor mode .

There was a man on the chair though he stood as Mahmud spoke and a woman on another chair whose back was to us before she turned around, the parents I presumed.

"Salamu alaikum" the man said coming closer and extending a hand to Mahmud, before freezing mid step

"Ya Mahmud?" He said, he had this look of utter surprise on his face. Confused I turned to Mahmud just in time to see his expression morph from a confused one to recognition.

"Sadiq?...Ya Allah, is that you?" And they went in for a manly hug

"Its so good to see you Ya mahmud, it's been so long... Zara?" He said turning to the woman who was now beside him, she looked really bad with red and puffy eyes.

"Ya Mahmud, its good to see you again" she said a small smile playing on her lips

"Zara, it's good to see you too, both of you...how have you been?

"Fine thank you, alhamdulillah" she said just as the man said "alhamdulillah"

"So tell me are you two married now?" Mahmud asked

"No!" Both of them answered quickly which made Mahmud laugh, I coughed and nudged him a little to remind him why we were there

"Oh, I'm sorry, this is Alwan my intern and brother, you might remember he's our brother who was with gramps, I'm sure Maryam must have mentioned him to you at one point in time"

"Yes..." Zara said "...salamu alaikum"

"Wa-alaykumussalam" i answered As I shook hands with Sadiq though I still didn't understand who they are, but I was sure gonna find out.

"So..." Mahmud said finally getting down to what we were there for "...Zara I believe she's your daughter?"

" yes" she answered as her eyes welled up with tears. Sadiq moved closer but made no move to touch her

"I'm really sorry but In shaa Allah she will be fine, Alwan here will tell you about the surgery procedure and the after events, he'll also answer any questions you may have... Alwan?"

I steped forward and began

" the surgery will last for about 6-7 hours, before that she'll be taking 2 immunosuppressive medications against any form of rejection of the new implant, she'll also take some other medications to prevent complications and some vitamin and nutritional supplements. The immunosuppresives will be tappered slowly after the surgery to about just one a day and the other medications will be stopped. She'll be in the I.C.U for three days so she can be monitored after which she will be transfered to the recovery ward for two weeks, that is the transplant unit. After she's been discharged she'll have to be visiting the clinic for a while for check-ups but all that will be arranged and the doctor in charge will let you know" I finished taking in a much needed breath

"And all this has to be after after a liver donor has been gotten?" Zara asked

"Yes" I answered

"But the earlier the better?" She asked

"Yes" I said

"Normally about how long does it take before a donor can be gotten?"

I watched her carefully before answering and wondered how she'll take my answer

"It could take weeks, months or for some patients years it all depends on the donor list" I said sadly watching as her eyes widened before she muffled a sob with her hand. I looked to Mahmud and he had on the same helpless expression as me

"Zara, please sit down" Sadiq said his voice sounding awfully croaky

I nudged Mahmud and inclined my head to the door, as far as I was concerned the woman needed some time with her cousin, friend or whoever Sadiq was to her.

He nodded before saying " we'll come back in a bit"

We turned to leave but had barely taken two steps when Zara stopped us

"Wait..." She said, we turned and I saw this glimmer of hope on her face as she wiped her tears and got up.

"A living donor transplant...I've heard of those, can't we do that?" She asked

I turned to Mahmud and just as he was about to answer, the door opened and in came a woman with two very full bags. All of us except for Zara made to help her with the bags and I watched as Mahmud greeted her and she recognised him.
And just when I thought they wouldn't stop the pleasantries, the woman whom they called Mami cut the whole thing short, frankly I was curious as to who these people who could make Mahmud go out of "doctor mode" were

"So Mahmud I'm guessing you are the surgeon who'll undertake Ameera's surgery?" She asked

"Yes Mami"

"OK then alhamdulillah I know she's in safe hands In shaa Allah"

"The living donor transplant?" Zara brought us back to the topic at hand

"... A Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT) is an option..."

" then I'll donate mine" Zara cut in a hopeful smile on her face but it disappeared at Mahmud's next words

"Well its not that simple" he said

"How do you mean? " Sadiq who had been silent the entire time asked

"We'll have to carry out some tests to determine if you are a suitable donor"

"Then I'll take the test" zara said

"I will too" Sadiq and Mami said at the same time.

I looked at all of them and then at the sleeping child on the bed and thought how lucky she was.

****
Back from the dead, apologising is quickly turning into my thing now.
:Π

Vo-co lovely readers
Pretty please