CHAPTER THREE
In Search of hope
"A kidney transplant" Jack shouted out, not realizing how his words echoed through the hospital. Greenlee reached around and put her hand on Jackson's shoulder trying to somehow offer support but it did not seem to ease the pain he was feeling inside. "Joe what are the chances of Erica finding a match". He asked the question but he was not sure he wanted to find out the answer. "Well to be honest Jack, Erica's greatest chance right not lies in finding a match in a family member because if we don't find one soon, Erica will die". Joe could sense the anxiety they were feeling; he himself felt the pain because Erica was like a daughter to him. Her mother Mona was a close family friend and Erica grew up as part of his extended family. He placed his hand on Jack's back and spoke "We will do everything that we can to keep her alive Jack, you know that I will, but now we need to act now and find her a donor".
It did not take long before the hospital was buzzing with the news of Erica's accident and all of her friends gathered outside her room to offer prayers. It was amazing to see how Erica had touched the lives of so many people as they recanted stories of hope and kindness that Erica offered them. Thousands of people showed up to offer a part of themselves to her, but it seemed that no one was a match. Bianca and Kendall offered no hope either. It seemed that the only hope remained rested in Erica's brother Mark who was flying in today and would be there soon.
Jackson was pacing outside Erica's room when Mark arrived at the hospital and made his way to where Jackson was. "How is she Jack", Mark question. Mark and Erica had become closer over the years, but unfortunately the geographical distance between them made it impossible for they to see each other has often as either would have liked. Jackson knew that he should speak but some how the words could not form in his mind. He looked at Mark and than through the window to the ICU where they could both see Erica lying lifeless in the hospital bed. She seemed so small and helpless not like the Erica he knew. She was fighter and they both knew it, but seeing her in this state, brought with it many doubts. Mark reached up and placed his hand on the glass, as if reaching out to his sister, "can I see her Jack". When Mark entered her room, he sighed in disbelief. He moved closer to her bed and pulled the chair that Jackson was previously using and sat down next to her bed. "OH Erica, there is so much I want to say, but I have not the words. You're the only family I have and I have taken you for granted". He reached over and took her small hand in his and brought it up to his lips. "Remember when I was fighting my addiction Erica, remember what you said to me. You told me that I had to be strong. You said that you would always be here for me. You told me that we were family". He looked away for a moment to regain his composer. Her eyes fluttered and he heard her soft voice call out to him. "Mark, is that you!" "Yes Erica, I am hear". Her eyes fluttered opened and closed for several seconds until she closed them again.
When Mark came back out to the waiting room, Nick was already there. "She is resting now", he said as he reached out his hand to Nick. They both exchanged glances and hello's wishing that they could come together under different circumstances. The silence in the air was thick as everyone searched their minds to say something, but nothing seemed appropriate. Nick was the first to speak, "Erica sure does know how to get the attention of the men in her life, doesn't she", he said trying to ease the tension in the room. Jack began to laugh as he thought about how true Nick's statement really was. "Thanks my friend, that was just what I needed", Jack said as he placed his hand on Nick's shoulder.
For hours they remained outside of Erica's room waiting for some information on her condition. The more they waited for a donor to appear, the more they lost hope. "Uncle Jack, what happens if mom doesn't get a donor", Bianca said. Jack pulled his niece into his arms and spoke gently to her hoping that he could masque his own fears, "they will find someone sweetheart, I know they will. They just have to".
Jackson began to speak again but he was interrupted by the sound of Joe's voice from behind him. "Well I have some good news, I think we found a possible match for Erica", he said. Everyone turned towards Joe as his words echoed in the back of their heads, " a donor", they all screamed in Joe's direction. "Calm down everyone, I said that we have a possible match for Erica, but we have to do more tests and.he paused and looked towards Greenlee...and they have to be willing to do this". Everyone looked surprised that Joe would turn his attention towards Greenlee, but none more surprised than her. "What, what is everyone looking at me for", she said. Jack eyes searched the room traveling from Greenlee to Joe and back towards Greenlee again. "Joe, what are you saying". Joe did not speak a word, he just stared in Greenlee's direction a little confused my the results of the test. When he finally managed to speak again, he softly whispered to her, "Greenlee, I think we need to talk".
In Search of hope
"A kidney transplant" Jack shouted out, not realizing how his words echoed through the hospital. Greenlee reached around and put her hand on Jackson's shoulder trying to somehow offer support but it did not seem to ease the pain he was feeling inside. "Joe what are the chances of Erica finding a match". He asked the question but he was not sure he wanted to find out the answer. "Well to be honest Jack, Erica's greatest chance right not lies in finding a match in a family member because if we don't find one soon, Erica will die". Joe could sense the anxiety they were feeling; he himself felt the pain because Erica was like a daughter to him. Her mother Mona was a close family friend and Erica grew up as part of his extended family. He placed his hand on Jack's back and spoke "We will do everything that we can to keep her alive Jack, you know that I will, but now we need to act now and find her a donor".
It did not take long before the hospital was buzzing with the news of Erica's accident and all of her friends gathered outside her room to offer prayers. It was amazing to see how Erica had touched the lives of so many people as they recanted stories of hope and kindness that Erica offered them. Thousands of people showed up to offer a part of themselves to her, but it seemed that no one was a match. Bianca and Kendall offered no hope either. It seemed that the only hope remained rested in Erica's brother Mark who was flying in today and would be there soon.
Jackson was pacing outside Erica's room when Mark arrived at the hospital and made his way to where Jackson was. "How is she Jack", Mark question. Mark and Erica had become closer over the years, but unfortunately the geographical distance between them made it impossible for they to see each other has often as either would have liked. Jackson knew that he should speak but some how the words could not form in his mind. He looked at Mark and than through the window to the ICU where they could both see Erica lying lifeless in the hospital bed. She seemed so small and helpless not like the Erica he knew. She was fighter and they both knew it, but seeing her in this state, brought with it many doubts. Mark reached up and placed his hand on the glass, as if reaching out to his sister, "can I see her Jack". When Mark entered her room, he sighed in disbelief. He moved closer to her bed and pulled the chair that Jackson was previously using and sat down next to her bed. "OH Erica, there is so much I want to say, but I have not the words. You're the only family I have and I have taken you for granted". He reached over and took her small hand in his and brought it up to his lips. "Remember when I was fighting my addiction Erica, remember what you said to me. You told me that I had to be strong. You said that you would always be here for me. You told me that we were family". He looked away for a moment to regain his composer. Her eyes fluttered and he heard her soft voice call out to him. "Mark, is that you!" "Yes Erica, I am hear". Her eyes fluttered opened and closed for several seconds until she closed them again.
When Mark came back out to the waiting room, Nick was already there. "She is resting now", he said as he reached out his hand to Nick. They both exchanged glances and hello's wishing that they could come together under different circumstances. The silence in the air was thick as everyone searched their minds to say something, but nothing seemed appropriate. Nick was the first to speak, "Erica sure does know how to get the attention of the men in her life, doesn't she", he said trying to ease the tension in the room. Jack began to laugh as he thought about how true Nick's statement really was. "Thanks my friend, that was just what I needed", Jack said as he placed his hand on Nick's shoulder.
For hours they remained outside of Erica's room waiting for some information on her condition. The more they waited for a donor to appear, the more they lost hope. "Uncle Jack, what happens if mom doesn't get a donor", Bianca said. Jack pulled his niece into his arms and spoke gently to her hoping that he could masque his own fears, "they will find someone sweetheart, I know they will. They just have to".
Jackson began to speak again but he was interrupted by the sound of Joe's voice from behind him. "Well I have some good news, I think we found a possible match for Erica", he said. Everyone turned towards Joe as his words echoed in the back of their heads, " a donor", they all screamed in Joe's direction. "Calm down everyone, I said that we have a possible match for Erica, but we have to do more tests and.he paused and looked towards Greenlee...and they have to be willing to do this". Everyone looked surprised that Joe would turn his attention towards Greenlee, but none more surprised than her. "What, what is everyone looking at me for", she said. Jack eyes searched the room traveling from Greenlee to Joe and back towards Greenlee again. "Joe, what are you saying". Joe did not speak a word, he just stared in Greenlee's direction a little confused my the results of the test. When he finally managed to speak again, he softly whispered to her, "Greenlee, I think we need to talk".