Chapter 8

The day had finally come. Irene was getting her transplant. Spinner was so relieved that they had been able to find a perfect match after the benefit. In fact, it was one of the English teachers from Degrassi.

"Spinner, have they started the transplant?" Spike asked her son-in-law as she entered the hospital waiting room.

"Yes, they just now starting the IV drip. They said they will call us in once the isolation wall is sealed off."

"How long will it take?"

"About 4 hours."

"Yeah, that is what I figured. I met many people who had transplants when I was getting my chemotherapy," Snake added.

"You can go in now and sit with her," the nurse said as she exited the room.

Emma noticed the nurse sitting on the opposite side of Irene's bed. She was wearing a mask, gloves, and floor length scrubs. Her job was to monitor Irene's vitals during the transplant and to make sure the IV drip was constant. A plastic isolation "wall" was on the other side of Irene's bed. This plastic partition was keeping Irene's surroundings safe for her weak immune system. Emma knew that this was necessary, but she wished they could have closer contact with her through this whole ordeal. She wanted Spinner to be able to comfort his mother with a hug and whisper in her ear to stay strong for her granddaughter. She longed for Irene to be able to feel the baby kick against her stomach to remind her to keep fighting for life.

The hospital had equipped the isolation room with 2-way conversation intercoms. The patients and family members could talk freely through the entire procedure which made time go by so much faster.

"So have you two started discussing baby names?" Irene asked once everyone was seated.

"Yes. We started making a list several weeks ago," Spinner answered.

"So?" Spike said with great anticipation.

"We are going to narrow it down to the five names we like the best. Put them in a hat and let Irene pick it out," Emma explained.

"Do we at least get to hear some of the contenders?"

"Actually, we finished picking out the five last night."

"Ava, Charlotte, Sophia, Chloe, and Hannah"

"I love all of those."

"What about the middle name?"

"We were thinking about Ruth."

"That would be a tremendous gesture," Spike said

"Well, right now we owe her my mom's life"