Moments of Time

Chapter 4

I sat down in my car, this time alone. I swept away the stray pieces of hair that had fallen from my pony tail, and into my face away. I turned the keys, and the car whirred to life. I looked over to the empty passenger seat as I buckled my seat belt and began to pull out of my spot. At least I had Emma. I just left the parking lot when my phone buzzed. I pulled over onto a street that led to a dead end. I opened my purse and pulled out my phone. It was a text from my dad

Dad - Clare's being taken to hospital. Can u meet us.

I stared at my phone in shock. My little sister in the hospital? I quickly started my car again and turned around with the dead end. I casually drove down the highway, until reaching the exit to the parkway. Then I drove as fast as I could without being pulled over or worse, causing an accident. Those two things were really the last things I needed today. I passed a big blue sign

Now Leaving Maryland - Come again soon!

The next sign I saw welcomed me in Delaware. Thank God the airport was so close to the border. I left the parkway into my sister and parents' town. I looked for the sign pointing in direction of the hospital, and drove down that way.

When I finally reached it, there were no parking spaces in the front. I frantically drove down until I found a spot, quite a walk away from the entrance, but it would have to do. I parked my car, grabbing my keys, phone, and bag as I quickly ducked out, slamming the door behind me. I ran to the entrance, and pushed through the revolving doors. I went to exit through the door, but was only greeted by a glass wall. Oh come on. I put my hand to my head, and found my way out of the door. I shrugged it off, and hurried to the front desk.

"Hi, I'm Angelina Wood. Here for Clare Bradley." I said quickly. The secretary looked up at me with her beady eyes.

"Only family." She snapped, a turned back to her computer. I rolled my eyes. I thought that only happened on TV.

"I am family. I'm her big sister, I got married." I calmly replied, showing her my left hand with my wedding ring on it.

"Congrats honey."

"CanI see my sister now!?" I said, still trying to keep calm. The elevator rang, and the doors open. Out came my dad, his black hair messy and his blue eyes missing the light they usually had. He looked miserable.

"Daddy." I said, running to him and hugging him. Before he could open his mouth to say anything, I looked up at him. "She doesn't believe me." My dad continued to hug me, but glared at the secretary. She rolled her eyes and nodded. 

"Come on, honey." he said, letting go of me, but keeping hold of my hand. He led me into the elevator and pressed the button for floor 12. 

"Dad.. what's going on?" I asked him, afraid of the answer. Was she dying? Was this the last time I would see her?

"You know how your sister has had diabetes since she was little?"

Wow. I almost forgot about that. She hides it so well. "Yeah."

"Ang.. She's in the early stages of kidney failure."

"No." I said persistently.

"Honey, I'm sorry." 

"Will she live?" The elevator doors opened, and we began to walk down the hallway to her room. 

"Yes. The doctors caught in while it's in it's early stages. He said eventually, she'll need a donor. Your mother, brother, and I all got tested. We're not matches."

"I want to get tested." I said without thinking.

"No, Angelina. You won't be able to have kids. I know you and Tony want that. Talk to him about it first." My dad said, looking at me through worried eyes. He knew I wouldn't give up on this.

"Let me get tested first, then, if I'm even a match, I'll talk to Tony."

 He fell silent as we reached the room. He pushed the door open, and I saw her alseep on her bed. That's when the reality really hit me. I stopped in the doorway and looked around the plain, boring room. My mother was sitting in a chair, her face hidden by a tissue. My dad was behind my mom, with his hands on her shoulders to comfort her. My older brother, Tom, was sitting next to his girlfriend, Heather, near the windows.

I heard someone behind me, and turned around. There stood a middle-aged man, with glasses and approached me.

"So, you must be Angelina. My name is Dr. Miller and I'm your sister's doctor." He said, holding his hand out. I shook it, and turned around and looked at my mother. Her brown eyes red from crying. I nodded to her, but she shook her head no. I nodded again, she just closed her eyes and started crying again. 

"Hi Dr.Miller, I'd like to be tested?"

He smiled and nodded. I looked back at my family one more time and left the room. He led me to a room with a nicely decorated room with a desk two seats in front of it. 

"Please, take a seat." He said, sitting in the chair behind the desk with a sigh. I sat down and got comfortable. I knew I would be here for a while.

"So, Angelina. You want to be your sister's kidney donor?"

I nodded. "Yes, absolutley. But I do have a question, the decision won't change my mind, but I'm just curoius."

"Yes?"

"Will I be able to have children?"

"Being a donor does not impact a person’s ability to have a child." 

Relief rushed through me. Of course if the answer was no, I would still give my kidney, but it really helps that I could. 

"Why don't you think about this, though?"

"I've already decided that I want to be tested, and if I'm a match, I'll talk it out with my husband first." 

He nodded. "Let's get started then. I'll ask you a series of questions, please answer them all truthfully." I nodded and he began.

"Do you or have you had any type of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease?

"No, none of that."

He noddedd and smiled. "That's a great start then. How old are you and your husband?"

"I'm 27, and he's 28. He's in the Afghanistan right now." I said. If only he could be here with me. Dr. Miller looked up, interested. 

"Would he be able to come home for you if you're a match? For about 2 months?"

"I would have to ask him. If not, I can stay with my parents, or my brother. Probably my brother, my sister still lives at my parent's house, so they'll take care of her." I said, thinking it through more. They'd let Tony come home for me.. right?

"Alright... Do you have an idea of what blood type you are?" Dr. Miller said while he jotted something down. I shook my head. I, honestly, had no idea.

"Alright. I'll have a nurse come and take your blood pressure and find out which blood type you are. Then you can go back to your sister's room and I'll be there with the results as soon as possible." He said, smiling at me. "It's a great thing you're doing."

I smiled, "Thank-you." The old nurse opened the door. I bid the doctor goodbye and thanked him one more time, then left with Nurse Sophie. She was an adorable little nurse, at least 50. 

"Come in here, princess. I'll be very gentle." She smile, and wrapped the blood presure wrap around the top of my arm. She brought her stethescope to right below where the wrap was, and started pumping. My arm got tighter and tigher, until she finally released it.

"Your blood pressure is perfect!" She said cheerfully. "Now, I'll be right back to take care of your blood work."