Chapter 7 In Search of a Donor

Kate sat there, in the busy waiting room, hysterically crying. Everything was bustling around her, yet her world stood still. Jake's kidney from Sarah had been rejected; they needed another one. But how would she break it to her children? How would she tell Sarah everything she'd gone through didn't work out in the end? How could she do that to her daughter? Kate didn't know, but she had to. She stood up and walked over to Jake's room, she put her hand on the window and blew him a kiss. Then she went over to Sarah. "My brave little girl" she whispered. Kate looked up at the ceiling, "Oh please, let her be okay." She looked back at the window. "My baby." Kate sighed and walked out of the hospital.

Back at the Baker house, Kate pulled into the driveway and trudged into the house. She opened the door slowly, as not to call attention to herself. She was hoping for a rest, only five minutes to think of a way to ask her kids for another donor. But living with a husband, a dog, and twelve kids, not a chance.

"MOMMMMMMMMM!" mike screamed bounding down the steps, "How's Jake! How's Jake!" he was jumping

"Sorry mom!" Lorraine yelled running down the steps after Mike. She caught up to him and held him around his chest, "I found him passed out on his bed with like a thousand pixy stix wrappers scattered all over his floor… guess he woke up"

"Yeah" Kate sighed, "Guess so"

"Mom" Lorraine sounded worried, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" she answered

"Mom" Charlie said coming into the foyer. He knew she was hiding something, and he planned to get it out of her

"Mikey, go run upstairs and tell your brothers and sisters to come down here. But give me a few minutes first. Charlie and Lorraine, you stay with me"

What is it mom?" asked Lorraine, she was worried, but tried to hide it. Charlie put his arm around her and held her. Kate motioned for them to sit down next to her, and they did as they were told.

"Guys," she started hesitantly, "the kidney Sarah gave Jake failed… he need's a new one or else he won't make it" Tears started to well up in her eyes. Lorraine bit her lip and Charlie put his head in his hands. He rubbed them down his face and put them over his mouth.

"So what now? Can he get another kidney?" he asked

"Yeah" Kate answered, "But the closest match would be from a sibling… preferably a younger one" Kate finished, as Charlie started to volunteer.

"So just ask them" Lorraine said

"It's not that simple honey" Kate retorted shaking her head, "I wish it was though, I wish it was" she sighed, burying her head in her hands.

The kids filed downstairs, gathering in the living room around Kate who was softly sobbing on the couch. The younger kids didn't know anything was wrong, but the older ones knew better.

"Okay guys" Henry directed, "Let's wait a little while"

"But mom called us down here" Nigel protested

"Well forget about it right now" Lorraine answered gruffly. Mark sensed the hostility and fear in her voice and shot Charlie a look. Charlie shot one back saying 'don't worry about it' but that didn't comfort Mark, not one bit.

"it's okay guys" Charlie said, "follow me" as he began herding his younger siblings up the stairs. Kate collected herself. She took one long, deep breath, smoothed her hair, and itched her nose.

"It's okay Charlie" she said. "Kids," she started slowly. Mark got a worried look on his face. He wanted to ask what was wrong with all his heart, but he knew better. He kept his mouth shut, but still the thoughts of everything that could have possibly happened to Jake or Sarah haunted his young mind.

Mark stood patiently waiting for Kate to speak, but as he watched her smooth her hair and take deep breaths, he couldn't take it anymore,

"Okay!" Mark snapped, "What's wrong, Mom… what's – wrong?" he was exasperated. "Sorry Charlie" he whispered, Charlie nodded in acceptance.

Kate looked up, "Kids" she started, "We had a little problem down at the hospital" All of the kids' mouths dropped open, "Its nothing too serious" Kate said, lying through her teeth. "Listen kids, Sarah's kidney didn't work in Jake's body. We need another donor" she looked at her children pleadingly, but no one stepped forward. Nigel shot a glance at Charlie.

"Sorry Nigel," Charlie said, "We need a younger sibling… me, Lorraine, Nora, and Henry are out. Same with Sarah now I guess"

The younger kids looked around nervously. "Okay kids" Kate said, "Its been a long day, you guys just go upstairs and sleep on it. I need one of you to be brave… Jake needs someone to be brave"

The kids filed upstairs, scattering into their rooms, though no one went alone. Mike and Mark went into Mike's room, Jessica and Kim went into theirs, Nigel and Kyle ran into Kate and Tom's room, while Lorraine and Henry followed Charlie into his room.

IN CHARLIE'S ROOM

"What if no one volunteers?" Lorraine asked nervously, sitting down on Charlie's bed. Henry turned a chair around and sat down backwards.

"Don't go there right now Lorraine" Charlie sighed.

"Yeah" Henry agreed, "We don't know for sure that no one will step up"

"Right" Lorraine sighed, but the tension in the room told no lies.

All three of them were worried, what if no one volunteered? What would happen to Jake? Those thoughts haunted their minds, as they sat there anxiously, ready to put on happy faces for the younger kids.

IN MIKE'S ROOM

"Wow," Mark sighed, his eyes wide open, "That was a wake up call" Mike just sat there, shaking on his bed. "Mike, you okay?" Mark asked, looking at his ghostly white brother, "Mike!" Mark was alarmed.

"Jake's gonna die!" Mike shouted. As soon as he said this, his eyes opened wide and he cuffed his hand over his mouth. Mark just stood there, staring at Mike. "If no one steps up," Mike cried, "Jake's gone" Mark went over and sat next to Mike, but Mike got up to pace.

"Don't talk like that" Mark tried to comfort Mike.

Mike grabbed his brother's shoulders and looked him in the eye, "Listen to me Mark" Mike whispered trembling, "If nobody donates that kidney, Jake's gonna die" Mike looked up at the ceiling as tears rolled down his face.

"So, why don't you do it?" Mark asked quietly. Mike looked at him as more tears fell down his cheeks

"Because I'm scared!" he yelled. Mike sat back down and buried his head in his hands, "because I'm scared", he sobbed shaking his head.

"What are you scared about?" Mark tried to comfort his brother

For a few minutes, Mike didn't answer. Mark started to get up to head for the door. "Look at Sarah, Mark" Mike wiped his tears and sniffed, "Didn't you see her at the hospital?" Mike was clearly having a break down, "She's a mess Mark! She's a mess!" he wailed.

Mark ran over to Mike and gave him a huge hug, "But she's okay now Mikey" he said softly

"I know that" Mike sighed, "But she was in so much pain… Sarah, of all people, if she can't handle that operation, I don't know who can"

"Mike" Mark whispered as he held Mike. The two of them sat there, comforting each other for about ten minutes. Then Mark spoke up, "Would it make you feel better if you could talk to Sarah about what donating a kidney takes?"

Mike looked up at Mark, his face was tearstained, his eyes bloodshot, "Uh huh" he said, between sobs.

"If you did that, would you go through and give Jake your kidney?" Mark asked, Mike nodded, "Come on" Mark said, leading Mike into the hallway, "Let's go talk to Mom"