[ COACH ] Fall
[ SONG | ARTIST ] Ringing The Bells For Jimmy | Johnny Cash
[ WATTPAD WORD COUNT ] 1,471 words
Cold chills run down to my inner soul as I walked through the alley of our old neighborhood. Children wearing torn clothes, all dirty and without footwear, running with laughters covering the sound of their gurgling stomachs. T 'is time of the year that people in the streets were all smiling as lights twinkle and Christmas carols can be heard everywhere.
As I lost control of my emotions, feeling nostalgic about thoughts rushing through my vivid memory, I went straight to our old house that is just in front of the church. It is now one of my clinics providing free medical consultation for children that can't afford the skyrocketed price of all medical services as doctors nowadays were focused on cosmetic medicine and what we called "gold medicals" which is medical services for the riches. There were only few people in my field doing free consultations for the poor.
As I entered the clinic, my attention was caught by a mother crying and carrying her week-old baby boy that appeared to be newly discharged from the hospital. She wore worn out clothes, and the child is covered with white clothe.
I grabbed the child's chart from the nurse nearby who is obviously avoiding her, "Cough and colds?" I asked.
"No, it is a rare genetic disease that we can't handle, doc. All we can do is give them medicines for common colds and cough, as well as, flu vaccine. Doctor Hill said it is an SCID case," he answered.
"Glanzmann-Riniker syndrome?" the nurse's eyes grew wider as walked towards the mother and her sick child.
"Hi, ma'am, are you aware that your child has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency? It is also known as Bubble baby disease." The mother was shocked with the words I have just said but nod as a sign of affirmation. Maybe I was just too excited and didn't think of the words to say given the condition of the child but I was so overwhelmed. I felt like the time has come that all my hard work will finally be put in use.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, I am Doctor Tarra Glaze, and I specialize in genetic diseases and stem cell transplant." I smiled wider and saw the mother stopped crying, I think she already knew where the conversation was going.
That very moment she smiled, but the other minute she frowned and said, "But we are poor, and we can't afford any medical services for my pitiful child, Samuel." She was about to cry again but I tapped her shoulder so she looked up at me again.
"I will shoulder everything, first we need to know if any of your family members can be a donor for your wonderful baby, Samuel." Her face lightened as I broke the good news for her, everyone was looking at us as if they saw an angel.
Babies in this condition were so vulnerable of immune diseases, they're very prone to cough, colds, flu and pneumonia. Their immune system is so weak that every virus, bacteria and fungi can thrive in their immune system as they have defective anti-bodies. They can only survive to the longest time frame of a year, however, there was one in history that survived 12 years but was confine in sterile environment and had a hard time trying to have a normal life. David was a failed case of 1984. His older brother also died of the same disease at 7 months. It's already 42 years since the controversial "bubble boy" in the medical history and Samuel's the first case that I can handle.
We went to the hospital where we put Samuel in a sterile room specially made for patients that can't be exposed to different harmful microorganisms. It's made of plastic isolating him from the rest of the world, leaving him in a germ-free bubble. The bubble is connected via tube giving him the supplies the supplies he need.
The family members arrived after an hour, I asked them to gather in my office as I discuss what will transpire in the next few days as we try to save their little angel. The father was quite hesitant to entrust his son's life to me and the mother was worried that little child will undergo several operations in his small and fragile body. However, I saw determination from the young girl sitting quietly but listening eagerly, to save her baby brother. I remembered my little brother and my determination to save him that brought me to where I am today.
My 4-month old brother died of lymphoma, a complication of SCID, given that the environment we lived in was contaminated of fatal pathogens. The doctors said the chance of survival of my baby brother was very low, and we can't afford sending him in sterile environment. I went to church every day, and prayed to God to cure him. Every time I went home, Jim was always crying. It was heartbreaking to hear him cry, and my mother was carrying poor Jim in her arms.
That memory always tears my heart apart yet fuels my ambition that someday I can save someone from the same despair I've been through.
"What can I do for him, doctor?" I was withdrawn from my deep thoughts when I heard the little girl's voice. She was looking at me and waiting for something that will make her believe that I can truly help her brother. I explained that we needed to know if one of them can be a bone marrow donor for Samuel. We conducted a Bone Marrow Biopsy. After a week, we already have the result.
I called the family to my office to tell them the result of the Bone Marrow tests. They looked so worried and nervous. I looked at the parents of Samuel, "None of you were his match." The mother cried as if she lost every hope she has in her heart while the father stroked her back to calm her down. I looked at Angela, she looked too angry, and helpless.
"Doctor, you're a liar! You told us you could help save Samuel."
I smiled, she must have loved him that much to be enraged yet still determined.
"Do you really want to save him?" I asked.
"I will do everything to make him feel better," she answered looking at me directly in my eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes shed tears. She's already prepared to take anything that accompanies her decision. She's too ambitious like me.
"Mr. and Mrs. Salvatierra, Angela is a perfect match as Samuel's donor." Smiles lightened up their faces yet we aren't so sure of what has to come. Angela being a match for Samuel sure was a sign of hope that the baby could survive.
"Doctor, thank you very much."
"I haven't done anything yet, little one. We will save him." She hugged me tight. I felt the warmth I haven't felt for the longest time since Jim was gone. Her smile, her voice, I felt like I was brought back to time that I'm holding Jim's hand on the day he was born.
Maybe, just maybe, my angel baby brother was at my side. I can imagine his cute little face, his angelic white wings, and his luminous white robe as he guided my way to cure this child. As he lighted my path to save him, to fulfill my heart's desire, to accomplish my goal. I thought that my life here on Earth was meaningless. But today, I realized that I was not born unto this world to save my little brother, I was born to save Samuel.
I may not have saved him long time ago when he was so sick of the same disease. I may have lost him but I can still feel his presence in every patient I meet, no matter what sickness they have, no matter what other doctors think how long their life be, no matter what I can do or cannot do, all that matters is the will and determination to save them. The love they felt, the effort we've done as doctors, and the hope that someday they can overcome their sickness. This world might not be perfect, but every person deserves to live their life to the fullest.
I turned to Angela and said, "Princess, this is going to be really painful, but this could save your little brother."
"I am ready, doctor. I am willing to give up even my life for Samuel," she answered with determination. A brave young girl, she has a long way ahead of her. She's willing to take a detour for her younger brother yet I can picture out a lady with a high sense of responsibility.
The family hugged each other.
"Great." I smiled as I turned back to looked out the window and stared at the church tower. Suddenly, the bell began ringing the sound of hope. This is just the beginning.
