Chapter 49

The next day

I arrive at the hospital at the appointed time and am greeted by Dr. Donavan. “ Mr. Ripley if you will follow me we will prepped.” he said. I nod and follow him down the hall to the elevator. We get off on the second floor and I follow him to a small operating room. Donavan points to a small room off to the side. “ You can get changed into a gown there. There is a bag for your clothes. You can leave your underwear on. We will just need to move it down past your hips.” I turn to the room and shut the door. After changing into the gown and bagged my clothes up I walk out. Donavan walks me over to a metal table and asks me to take a seat. I do and Donavan stands in front of me. “ Mr. Ripley as we discussed there are two ways to do this. We can do a spinal block or we can put you to sleep. Which did you decide?” I wasn’t going to take the easy way out. Ailee was going through so much more than me.

“ Give me the spinal block.” I told him. I had been told I would feel pressure and discomfort doing it this way. I don’t care. This is nothing. “ Ok. Let’s get you ready.” The nurses hook me up to IV’s and heart monitors, then the anesthesiologist comes in to do my spinal block. The nurse helped me lay down on the table on my stomach while Donavan got ready. “ Mr. Ripley, I’m going to test to make sure you are good and numb. If you feel anything besides pressure make sure to let me know.” Donavan said. I could feel the pressure of him poking around but nothing more.

“ We are going to start, Mr. Ripley.” Donavan said. I could feel several things but none of it bother me as much as the sound of grinding of bone. My bone. They were drilling holes in my hips to extract the marrow. “ Mr. Ripley we are done with the first spot. How are you holding up?” Donavan asks. “ I’m fine. Are you getting enough?” I asked. “ After we finish all the spots I believe we will have plenty to do the transplant.” Donavan said. “ Good. Have you seen Ailee today?” I asked. I wanted to hear about her while they worked on me. “ I checked on her before they took her down to radiation. She was resting comfortably with Mr. Lug next to her.” Knowing Lug was with Ailee makes me smile.

I feel the pressure and hear the grinding again. “ Can I see Ailee when we are done here?” “ Once Ailee is done with radiation she will be moved to a clean room.” Donavan said. He told me everything I would have to do just to get in the room. “ For today I think you should just stay outside the room and use the speaker. All that moving will be painful for you. I know Ailee wouldn’t want that. I will wheel you down to check on her if you feel like it.” he said. I like that idea. I also note the tone of his voice when he talks about Ailee. It changes from an authoritative doctor to caring friend. “ You have known Ailee for some time, haven’t you?” I inquired.

There is movement and I feel him at a different spot before he answers. “ I was with Ailee during her first battle with cancer. Cormac found me when she was first diagnosed. He wanted the absolute best for Ailee. And at the time I was the best in my field. I took Ailee’s case and have been working for Ailee and Cormac ever since. I go where they go. I make sure to open an office wherever they are. I take other patients but my sole attention is on Ailee when she needs me. I have watched her graduate high school and college. My own kids have met Ailee and see her as a cousin. My wife adores her. We were all at Mara’s funeral to support Ailee. So if you are wondering if I have a soft spot for Ailee. Yes, I do.”

It seems like Ailee just can’t help but bring people around her. She doesn’t even try. They just want to be close to her. “ Mr. Ripley. We are almost done. I understand things are a bit rocky with Ailee and you. If you don’t mind a bit of advice. Just let her know you are there for her. In time she will let you in.” Donavan said. As someone who is close to her I take his advice and I will be there from now on. Nothing is going to stop me.

Lug Nut

After three agonizing days Ailee is finally getting her transplant. Turns out it is very similar to a blood transfusion. I have watched Ailee be put on morphine when her pain was so bad all she could do was silently cry because she was too tired to scream. I have watched them put in a feeding tube when eating wasn’t an option. I have watched her sleep for hours on end. I have watched her dry heave when she had nothing left in her stomach to throw-up. I have been by her side through all of it. I can handle a simple transfusion. The nurses hooked Ailee up about fifteen minutes ago now it is time to just wait and see what happens. Will Ailee’s body reject it or accept it? I hope like hell her body accepts it. I can lose her. Ailee is my whole world and I’m not ready for her to leave me. I need Ailee more than I need air.

I was holding her hand watching her rest when she turned her head to look at me. She smiled and asked “ Is granada still out there?” I nod and she asks me to hit the intercom button. Ailee pulls her mask to the side so she can talk clearly. “ Grandda, do you remember your promise?” I hear Cormac’s voice crackle over the speaker “ Aye, love I remember.” Ailee closes her eyes for a second then says “ Good.” I look up at Cormac for an explanation as to what she is talking about when I see Finn on the phone and Cormac looking distraught. Before I can ask, Ailee squeezes my hand. I turn my attention back to her. “ Lug, you have to promise me something.” she said. “ Anything, honey. You know I would do anything for you.” I told her.