The Wicked Doctor

78: Genetic Chimerism

A genetic chimerism or chimera, also chimaera is a single organism composed of cells with more than one distinct genotype. In animals, this means an individual derived from two or more zygotes, which can include possessing blood cells of different blood types, subtle variations in form (phenotype) and, if the zygotes were of differing sexes, then even the possession of both female and male sex organs (this is just one of many different phenomena that may result in intersexuality). Animal chimeras are produced by the merger of multiple fertilized eggs. In plant chimeras, however, the distinct types of tissue may originate from the same zygote, and the difference is often due to mutation during ordinary cell division. Normally, genetic chimerism is not visible on casual inspection; however, it has been detected in the course of proving parentage.

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Terrence

I stood by the door, looking at Dylan through the  glass panel. Nakatulugan na ni Anrie ang pagbabantay kay Dylan habang nakaupo sa bedside chair. 

Why does my heart feel like it's being squeezed seeing the two of them like this?

"Doc, pasok ka lang. Sabi ni An ok lang naman daw kung ikaw." Rachel told me as she passed beside me before going to the room. Sumunod naman ako sa kanya at tahimik siyang pinanood habang naglalagay  ng antibiotic sa infusion chamber. She left the room and I sat on the companion's bed within the room. 

Umungot ang bata at mahinang umiyak, senyales na nasasaktan siya dahil mahapdi sa ugat ang gamot na nakalagay sa swero niya.  I immediately took the cold pack from the mini fridge in the room and placed it over his hand where the infusion chamber was connected, hoping that it would ease the pain. 

"Tahan na. Konting tiis lang, Dylan." I patted his head and hummed a soft tune for him to go back to sleep. 

Tulog na tulog naman si An malamang sa puyat at pagod sa pagbabantay. She took an emergency leave and never once went home since Dylan was hospitalized. Hindi man lang siya nakaramdam nang binuhat ko siya at inilipat sa kabilang kama. 

I sat on Dylan's bed and touched his hair. 

"It hurts... Daddy..." He murmured while sleeping. Bumuntong hininga ako at nanatiling nakatitig sa bata. 

I checked his cannula on his right arm where the platelet infusion was given a while ago. He looked really tired and sick. Sa dami ng mamamana niya sa ina niya na magandang traits, namana pa talaga niya ang sakit nito simula pagkabata. Poor little kid had a clotting disorder similar to Anrie. Kaya naman pala makinis ang balat nito dahil hindi nila hinahayaang masugatan. 

I held his small hand and saw his identification band, a red clip holding it together. 

"He has allergies?" I more so asked myself. Nacurious naman ako kaya lalo ko pang binasa ang nakalagay sa name band niya. "Dylan Arryn K. Liu, K-28691, 27th March 2016." 

Lalong nabuo ang paghihinala at pagtataka sa isip ko kaya nagsimula ako gumawa ng kalkulasyon. I backtracked on the date of his birthday, counting back approximately 9 months and came to a halt after a few minutes. 

Nabitawan ko ang kamay ng bata at napaawang ang bibig ko. 

Counting back 9 months from March 27, he was possibly conceived between the last 2 days of June and the first week of July. We had a tryst after Jennifer's wedding... and that was July 1. 

Agad akong lumingon sa direksyon ni Anrie na ngayon ay tulog pa rin. 

"Is he my son?"

I balled my hand into a fist as I felt my eyes tear up with the realization that this little boy may be my son.