Warning: the end of this chapter is sad! Also some of you have picked up on this already. General Michael, Claudia, and Emily Holton are based off of Michael, Claudia Joy, and Emmalin Holden from Army Wives; Frank, Denise, and Jeremy Woodsen are based off of Frank, Denise, and Jeremy Sherwood, also from Army Wives. Lastly, Christine Buckman is based off of Kristina Braverman from Parenthood. So I just changed their names and don't really own them. As always please read and review.
"Mrs. Holton, are you ready?" asked Will the morning of her transplant.
"A little nervous," she chuckled restlessly.
"Well that's normal. In fact, if you weren't nervous, we would be," admitted Emily, "It's time to go."
"We love you," said General Holton and Emily kissing her goodbye.
"Don't worry everything will be okay," said Claudia.
"Okay, Mrs. Woodsen is in recovery and we have our new kidney," stated Dr. Bandari placing it and souchering it "New kidney is in. Let's close up."
"Looks good," said Emily and Dr. Bandari nodded. Suddenly an alarm sounded.
"Her BP is falling and she's flat line," shouted Will.
"Dr. Owens start compressions! Paddles!" ordered Dr. Bandari, "Amp of epi is in! Everybody off! Clear!"
"Come on Claudia," whispered Emily as a steady beep started.
"We got a pulse," said Will happily.
"Thank God," Dr. Bandari sighed.
Emily found General Holton and his daughter in the waiting room. They stood when they saw her, "Your wife's surgery went well. The new kidney is functioning. She'll be off dialysis tonight. But we did have a complication."
"What?" asked General Holton.
"Her heart stopped briefly. It could have been a drop in blood pressure as rushes to the new kidney. It could've been a reaction to the anesthesia. We just don't know," said Emily.
"Can we see her?"
Emily nodded, "Follow me."
General Holton and Emily walked into Claudia's hospital room. They couldn't help but listen to the steady and thankfully strong heartbeat. Claudia stirred a few moemtns later.
"Hey how are you feeling?" asked General Holton.
"Like I got run over by a truck. Do I have a new kidney?" she asked.
"You do," he affirmed.
"See nothing to worry about. Everything is okay," she said only to receive worried looks, "Michael?"
"We almost lost you," he said and took her right hand and Emily took her left.
"I'm guessing I'll get to meet the donor family soon?" asked Claudia.
"Mom we already know them," said Emily, "It's Mrs. Woodsen. She gave you your life back."
Emily heard a knock at her door. She went to see who was outside and happily answered it, "Hey my little Micah Mouse!"
"I thought only Mom could use that name," sighed Micah more to himself than to her.
"Nope! I'm your fiancée so I can use it now too," Emily chuckled.
"Yeah about that. I decided to take the job in Baltimore," said Micah slowly waiting for her reaction.
"Then I'm going to do my residency there," said Emily, "We're in this together. Whatever life throws at us." Just then Micah's phone beeped.
"Huh, a text from Dr. Bandari," he observed. He read the message and much to Emily's surprise, pounded the coffee table and started to cry uncontrollably.
"Micah honey what's wrong?" asked Emily in concern at his grief.
"She's gone," he sobbed.
"Who's gone?" she asked.
"Mom! She's gone! Mom's gone!"
Oh no! Not Joyce Barnes. Told you it was sad. I'll try to update as soon as possible.
