Chapter 26
“Ms. Quill, we understand your grief,” the organ donation staff member said humbly. “But have you thought that if Tinkerbell had managed to get a match for her bone marrow, she could have gotten the transplant and survived? I believe that if she were still alive, she would have wanted to save her peers too.”
Esther broke down in tears before the employee could finish. Her Tinkerbell was so kind that she had assumed Esther had visited the welfare home to adopt a child. She had repeatedly reminded her not to adopt a sick child like her.
It was her fault. Why had she listened to Camila? Why hadn’t she told Tinkerbell last night she was not there to adopt a child but to see her because she was her mother?
Jasper glanced at Camila, and the latter cleared her throat before speaking assertively. “Ms. Quill, before the maternity test result is out, I am still Tinkerbell’s guardian. I have the right to agree to donate her heart and cornea. I didn’t do so because I empathize with you as a mother.
“Tinkerbell is your daughter. We can understand what you feel. But put yourself in another perspective. If Tinkerbell had found a match, but the other party wasn’t willing to donate, you’d plead with them, right?
“You’re a mother, and the other woman’s a mother, too. Your love for your daughters is the same. Both of you hope for your child to live healthily and safely.” [1]
Jasper stepped in front of Esther once more and scowled at the director and the others, growling, “You’re forcing her!”
The organ donation staff member replied seriously, “Mr. Searle, it’s not that we’re forcing her. The heart won’t be able to save anyone if we wait any longer! We… We’re doing this for a sliver of hope for the other girl.”
“I… I agree.”
Esther gave in. She agreed to donate the organs because she knew how kind her Tinkerbell was. If Tinkerbell were still alive, she would have hoped that her cornea and heart could save
other children, too.
“Thank you, Ms. Quill. I thank you on behalf of the girl as well.” The organ donation staff member was delighted.
The teary-eyed Esther looked up and asked in a shaky voice, “Can I know to whom my daughter’s heart will go?”
“I’m sorry. Organ donation remains confidential to both parties.” The staff member rejected her request coldly.
their lives.”
“We have the duty to keep it confidential for the recipient.” The staff member remained fair
and formal.
Esther had looked up information about leukemia when she discovered that Tinkerbell had it. One of the aspects was organ donation, so she knew that donations like the kidney or heart were kept undisclosed.
Despite not knowing whose chest would house Tinkerbell’s heart, Esther weakly urged them to proceed with the surgery.
“Alright.”
The medical personnel took Tinkerbell’s heart and cornea away for the organ donation.
Esther couldn’t sign the donation agreement yet as the maternity test result was pending. Instead, Camila took care of it.
Camila looked at Esther, seated on the bench outside the operating ward.
“She doesn’t look okay. Mr. Searle, you should seek a psychologist to help her,” Camila asked in worry.
