“Mrs. Cohen, I’m sorry I got your hopes up,” Dr. Lassiter said as Nora leaned against Randy for both physical and emotional support. “I was very encouraged when you informed me that Grant has three siblings,” the doctor went on. “I knew this was a possibility, but I very much believe in what I told you…we will find a match.”
“But what you are telling me is that outside of siblings…my son’s chances of finding a donor becomes somewhat of a crapshoot?” Randy snapped.
“I won’t lie to you, General Cohen,” Dr. Lassiter said straightforwardly. “Siblings were his best chance…but that, by no means, implies that finding a donor for your son becomes impossible. We have already put Grant’s name on the national registry. People across the world are being tested everyday. We’ll find him a match.”
Randy wasn’t satisfied. “Our older kids didn’t match Grant, but, if I understood you correctly, they would have been satisfactory matches for each other. So what are the chances that a sixth child would match Grant?”
“Is there a sixth child?” Dr. Lassiter seemed pleased. “The odds would be the same as we discussed in regard to the other kids.”
“So it’s highly possible that we could get lucky this time?” Randy nodded.
“Randy, what in Heaven’s name are you talkin’ about?” Nora sighed. “Are you hearin’ yourself?”
“I saw it on TLC, Nora,” Randy said seriously. “It was a show about how new scientific breakthroughs are helping women beyond their childbearing years to conceive. I know it sounds extreme…but this is our son’s life we are talking about. With as many technological advances as there are in medicine today, they could probably even guarantee us a child who is a match.”
Dr. Lassiter shook his head. “I know your son is very sick, and you are desperate to assure that he receives the best care you can give him, but I am not sure that this is the most healthy solution for anyone.”
“Then what do we do?” Randy snapped. “What do we do next?”
“We wait,” Dr. Lassiter nodded. “We give this some time and pray that a match is found. The more people who are tested to be donors, the better the chances become every day. So, for now, focus your attention on encouraging people…family, friends, neighbors…. to be tested.”
“We wait,” Randy sighed, his face red with frustration. “That is all I can do for my son?”
“I’m sorry,” Dr. Lassiter nodded.
David and Melissa began doing all they could back in North Carolina. The police department organized a rally to have people tested. Melissa offered free food at her restaurant to anyone who was tested.
Wally stared a campaign on his band’s website that encouraged people to be tested to help Grant and other men, women and children in need of a transplant.
Hailey, Jessica and Emily were all tested before helping Jack organize a rally at the school, encouraging the entire Hope Hull community to be tested.
Hailey stood inside the gymnasium at Hope Hull High School one evening, staring at bleachers full of familiar faces, all willing to do what they could. Paul put his arm around her as they stood before the cheering crowd. On the back wall of the gym, a giant projection screen was showing a highlight film of Grant in his Hope Hull basketball uniform.
When she teared up at the movie, Paul reached for Hailey’s hand, and he squeezed it tight. “Listen,” he whispered, ”I know Grant and I didn’t always…”
“It’s okay,” Hailey gulped.
“I just want you to know that Misty, Billy Wayne, Joe John and I…we’ll do whatever we can to help,” Paul whispered. “My dad and a doctor friend of his from Memphis are making is possible for people to be tested right here in Hope Hull. Misty’s been going door-to-door, reminding people of exactly where and when they can be tested. Maude and Maybelle have been over at Ms. Dottie Miller’s house all day, making cookies and baked goods to hand out to people after they’re tested. Look around, everyone is here…our entire town is behind Grant!”
Hailey’s eyes scanned the room. Everyone wore t-shirts with Grant’s picture on them that had been specially made for the evening’s rally. In the front row, Nora and Randy wore their shirts proudly. Hailey glanced at her own shirt, seeing Grant’s smiling face, that perfect smirk, and she read the words written in green across the top that read: HOPE GRANTED. Hailey wasn’t sure which of her friends had come up with the slogan for the rally that combined the name of the town with Grant’s name in a simple yet meaningful summation of what they were trying to accomplish, but she loved it. She looked around again, amazed by the outpouring of genuine support from her community.
Everyone was there…everyone except the one they were all fighting for. Hailey turned back to the highlight reel playing on the wall just in time to see herself leaping into Grant’s arms. That was how the film strip ended, Hailey in Grant’s arms, both of them with one arm raised in victory.
Hailey squeezed Paul’s hand. “Perfect,” she nodded as she wiped away tears.
On a Saturday morning in April, Randy and Nora dropped Hailey and Grant off at the front of the hospital before going to park the car. Grant stopped by the restroom while Hailey walked ahead to sign him in.
“Hi, Hailey,” a familiar voice behind the desk said, and the tone alone told Hailey that something was wrong.
When Grant rounded the corner, ready for the usual drill, Hailey was standing next to Wanda, a short, chubby, African American nurse whose pleasant, reassuring demeanor Grant had come to prefer over the rest. Wanda was bossy, funny, and she and Grant had developed an easy rapport.
“There’s my favorite nurse!” Grant called as he approached them. He looked around curiously. “It sure is quiet in here. Is my little munchkin off this morning, Miss Wanda?”
Nurse Wanda shook her head. “Jillian won’t be here today,” she said, her voice soft but even.
“Did she have to check in?” Grant asked. He had become accustomed to the drill, and, when either he or Jillian didn’t show up for chemo, it meant that one or the other of them had been admitted to the hospital with some complication.
Wanda glanced at Hailey, and a tear ran down Hailey’s cheek. “Grant,” Hailey’s throat felt so tight, she struggled to breathe. “I have to tell you something.” She paused, trying to steady her emotions.
Instant panic registered on Grant’s face.
Hailey couldn’t speak.
Wanda lowered her head. “Grant, we lost Jillian last night.”
“No,” Grant shook his head fiercely. “No!” he said again, more loudly this time.
“She was a special little girl,” Wanda recalled fondly. “We’ll all miss her.”
“She’s really dead?” Grant exclaimed, shock, heart-break and anger all registering in his voice. “Just like that…she’s gone?” He was crying now, still shaking his head in disbelief.
Hailey moved to hug him, and she gasped when he pushed her away.
“Grant, she’s in a better place, where she’ll never have to be sick again,” Hailey cried, her voice shaky.
