Chapter 200
“Damn. He is insane.”
Leanne muttered under her breath, striding away without a backward glance.
When she returned to her office, her face still flushed with anger. Amy and Donna had just. returned from lunch. Catching sight of her expression, they paused their conversation mid-sentence.
Amy said, “I heard from Joy over lunch that you ran into some drop-dead gorgeous doofus at the clinic this morning. He got dumped by his wife and showed. up at the eye department to see a doctor. Seriously? What was his wife thinking?”
Donna rubbed her temples and interrupted, “There’s something wrong with him. No matter. how good-looking, it’s a waste. I’d dump him, too.”
Amy disagreed, “Well, you can’t say that for sure. If a guy is that hot and a bit off, maybe. he’d give me the time of day.”
Leanne shook her head. The frustration Curtis had caused dissolved into a reluctant chuckle.
There was a meal on her desk from a local diner Curtis used to take her to.
Opening the take-out box, Amy drifted over, enticed by the aroma, and took a few bites, resuming her discussion with Donna.
“Ruben tried to talk her down this morning, but no dice. She had none of it, so worked up. that she almost threw her stainless-steel lunchbox at him.”
“Patient in bed six?” Leanne inquired.
Mrs. Brown, the woman from bed six, was a case everyone at the hospital knew.
Her daughter Jada, only nine years old, had been battling cancer for five years.
After being diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric cancer, Jada’s condition was dire. With astronomical medical bills piling up, Mrs. Brown, a single mother, juggled multiple jobs and fundraised through every possible avenue to keep them afloat for over five years.
But fate often strikes hardest at those already burdened. Mrs. Brown had contracted herpes simplex keratitis and had foregone proper treatment in favor of just antiviral medications to save money. Her condition had deteriorated to the point where her right eye’s cornea was necrotic and perforated, requiring a transplant.
Cornea donors were scarce, and the waiting list was long, with millions awaiting their chance each year.
Jada had become Mrs Brown’s single beacon of hope in this dire circumstance.
Chapter 200
Amy nodded. “The people from the Red Cross have been over several times, promising to. cover all their medical expenses from here on out. But she refused to sign off and sent them away with an earful each time.”
“I get where she’s coming from,” Donna interjected. “The young ones may not completely understand the depth of a mom’s love, but trust me, I’d do the same. I’d rather lose
my sight than take my own daughter’s cornea.”
“The thing is, we all know Jada’s situation. I overheard her primary doctor mention that she might not make it past three months. If her cornea could be transplanted to her mom, her body donated to the Red Cross for research, and her story could bring more attention. to the disease, possibly getting it recognized as a rare condition sooner. Well, that’s hitting three birds with one stone.”
Sighing deeply, Amy turned to Leanne. “What do you think? She’s your patient. Maybe your could talk to her
Leanne replied, “Logically, you’re right.”
“Is there a “but’ coming? What about emotionally?”
“Emotionally,” Leanne said, pausing for effect, no one has the right to talk her into it.”