Disclaimer: I don't own Third Watch, or the characters thereof. This is just for fun.
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Chapter Seven
The following afternoon, after having discussed his plan with Lieutenant Swersky, Manny stood before the officers of the third watch (he would try to other watches later) as roll call began. After thanking Swersky for allowing him to speak, Manny started talking, "As some of you may be aware, Sergeant Cruz has been unwell for some time now. She has leukaemia, and the treatments she's had so far aren't working. Her doctor is recommending that she has a bone marrow transplant, but there aren't any matches on the donor registry-"
"What do we have to do?" Bosco interrupted. He wanted to help.
Several other officers chimed in their support as well, and soon the majority of people in the room had volunteered to be tested as potential matches for Maritza.
As he explained the donation assessment and procedure process, Manny felt as though he could have fallen to his knees in relief. Now someone just needed to be a match. The odds weren't in their favour, but Manny prayed that this would work.
Manny didn't know what he would do if it didn't work out.
A week later the results from the many officers and sergeants were in. Five people had been a four point HLA match, which was close, but not enough. Two more had been a five point HLA match, but only one potential donor was the six point HLA match that they were looking for.
Dr Martinelli wasted no time in calling the potential donor to his office.
Sasha Monroe greeted the doctor politely as she entered his office, and took the offered seat.
"Thank you for coming in, Officer Monroe. I appreciate you taking the time for this."
"It's okay, Doctor. With all fairness, I owe Cruz at least this much."
"How so?" The doctor asked curiously.
"I screwed up a case, and she spent two nights in jail. Like I said, she deserves this much."
"Jail? ...Actually, I think the less I know about that story, the better. Now, as you know, I called you here today because your bloodwork has shown to be a very good match for Sergeant Cruz. But before we can proceed, we need to go over a few things."
"Like what?"
"Well, a transplant procedure of any kind carries risks, to Maritza, but also to you. The most common side effects for the donor are bleeding, bruising and infection."
"Okay."
"The procedure can be done in our day surgery centre, but you will need to take it easy for a week or so after the procedure. It's quite a straightforward procedure. For one week prior to the procedure, you will need to have G-CSF injections to boost the number of cells in your bone marrow. On the day of the procedure, we will put a cannula in your arm to give you a general anaesthetic, before we drill into your iliac crest, a part of your pelvis, and using a syringe we collect the bone marrow. Recovery from the procedure is relatively straightforward, but you will likely experience some pain afterwards, and you'll need to take a few days off work to recuperate. Any questions so far?"
Sasha shook her head, no.
"It is also very important that you understand that Maritza may not respond to the bone marrow transplant; she may die despite your donation, and that is something that you need to think carefully about. That said, if you consent to being a bone marrow donor for Maritza, you will give her the best possible chance to achieve remission of her leukaemia."
"I'll do it," Sasha said without hesitation. "I can't just leave Cruz to die when I can do something that might help her."
Back in Maritza's hospital room, Maritza was resting as she waited for yet another platelet transfusion to finish. She must have dozed off, because the next thing she knew, Sasha was standing at the end of her bed."
"Hey, Cruz. How're you doing? I'm sorry I haven't stopped by sooner."
"Why are you here now? It's not like we're friends."
"Well, you know how Manny organised for anyone at the precinct to be tested as a match?"
"Yes, and?"
"And I just had an appointment with your specialist. I'm going to donate bone marrow for you."
For a while Maritza was stunned into silence. Sure, they had been friends a couple of years ago, but since Sasha's IAB cover was blown, there were few people's in the precinct who were angrier than Maritza. But if they could go ahead with a bone marrow transplant, then just maybe Maritza thought she might survive this disease.
"...Thank you. I appreciate what you're doing, but you know that it doesn't change things between us?"
"I never thought that it would. I still want to help you though."
It was quickly decided that because of Maritza's precarious health, the sooner that they could begin the bone marrow transplantation process, the better.
And as Monroe was started on G-CSF injections to prepare her for her part in the procedure, Maritza was moved into an isolation room to begin the conditioning regimen.
Although Maritza had thought she had felt ill during her previous rounds of chemotherapy, the conditioning regimen made her feel so much worse.
In order to prepare Maritza for the bone marrow transplant, the medical team were giving her the highest possible doses of chemotherapy, with the aim of completely destroying her own diseased immune system.
The isolation room was a necessity for this reason. And no one was allowed access to the room unless the wore a gown, mask, and gloves. This was in order to protect Maritza from any potential infections, which in her present condition could easily prove fatal.
TBC...
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