CHAPTER 5: HOME

As soon as the plane landed, Cara sighed out, releasing the breath she never knew she held. She rubbed her palm over her son's face, his angelic face soothed her. His soft breath calmed her, for a fact she knew he was still alive and well.

Mason was wheeled out of the plane into a taxi leading to the hospital.

"Welcome Mrs Pierce, please this way," the nurses who escorted her from Bana helped her wheeled Mason in, arranging him gently in a new bed.

"Please follow me to the doctor's office," the nurse said.

"Thank you," she followed closely behind her.

"Doctor, she's here," the nurses excused them.

"Mrs Pierce, I've been briefed about your son's condition before you got here. 

He cleared his throat, "but there's another problem. We are currently out of any O- blood type and Mason is running out of time already. He's still too young, hence why we need to hurry."

She bent her head to the table and sobbed quietly.

"Please doctor," she sniffed. "I can't lose my child. He's the only one I have, please help me find something to do."

"I'll try my best to make some connections on how I can help you get them. This midnight might be the only time we have to save him, anything after that. I'm sorry madam, there's nothing I can do."

She went to his room, sitting beside him. She held his hands together, stroking it.

"My strong baby," she wiped her face. "Please don't leave mummy. You know mummy loves you so much so I want you to be a strong boy and stand up for mummy."

She felt her bladder swell, she had been so occupied with her problem forgetting about her basic needs.

"Mummy is not leaving you baby, she needs to do some things," she kissed his forehead and stood up to visit the restroom.

Just in time, Jason was strolled into the hospital premises.

He groaned, "how many times have I told you that I'm fine. You don't need to keep pushing me around like a child, dad."

"It's for your own good, you need to get yourself checked up. It's been a few days since you woke up. We need to be sure that you are hale and hearty"

"Whatever dad," he rolled his eyes and relaxed in his seat.

The doctor was busy in his office with other patients so Jason requested to be wheeled around. People flocked around him and he said his greetings.

An attention caught his sight. "Dad, please wheel me to that window."

He stopped and rose carefully on his feet, looking at little Mason on his bed, tubes connected to his body.

"He looks so much like you when you were younger, especially that hair," Jackson said.

Jason wouldn't take his eyes off Mason. "That's a weird thing for you to say dad, let's go," he said after a while. "I'm sure the doctor will be free now," he settled in his seat and waited for Jackson to push him away.

Cara returned from the restroom and sat back with her son.

"Mr Jackson, there's no cause for any alarm. Mr Jason is good to go," the doctor confirmed Jason's health.

"See dad, I told you. I'm a strong man," he boasted.

"For a moment Mr Jason, can I have your blood sample?"

"What for? Is there any problem at all?" Jackson asked.

"Not at all, sire. The thing is, there's a critical moment with one of our patients. He's a year old boy who needs a blood transfusion. So we've been asking most of our patients who came for checkups for their blood samples."

Jason went silent for a moment. "Is it the boy whose room is almost to the right corridor?".

"Exactly Mr Jason. The mum came all the way from Bana because they couldn't get the blood type over there so she was advised to come here and it's still the same thing."

"It's no problem, what blood group are we talking about here?"

"O-," the doctor said.

Jason rushed from his seat.

"Well it's your lucky day, I'm O-. Where can I donate?"

"Are you sure sire?"

"I'm definitely sure. I'll be ready to help in any way I can."

"Follow me, please."

*****

Cara had dozed off beside her son's bed, holding his hands. A nurse entered and tapped her gently.

"Yes?"

"The doctor would like to see you in his office immediately."

"Thank you, I'll be on my way."

She used her eyes to monitor his gentle breathing. "Mummy is going to come back soon, don't worry."

Immediately she stepped into the doctor's office, she was met with a smiling face.

"Good news madam, we've gotten a donor.

Out of joy, she ran and drew the doctor into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. That was inappropriate of me, I shouldn't have done that," she composed herself.

He gave out a gentle laugh. "It's alright madam. I'm accustomed to things like this. We would begin the process now. I just thought of telling you."

"Thank you so much," she shook hands with him. "What about the person who donated for him? Can I at least see him to thank him?"

"Oh sure, if you are not too late. You should see him just outside the building. They left not too long ago."

"How would I recognise them?"

"I doubt if you will know him since you are not really based in New York. He's been wheeled out by an elderly man on a white t-shirt and black jeans."

"I really appreciate your help doctor."

She raced outside just to be able to meet up with them. Sighting them from afar, she increased her pace, trying to not slip on the hospital tiles.

"Wait, please wait," she shouted but they couldn't hear her. The noise from the street and the talk they were engrossed in caused a blockage.

Jackson helped Jason to the passenger's side of the car and entered through the other side.

They drove away before she could meet up with them.

"Oh shit," she cursed. "That was my only chance of saying thank you."

Joyfully, she entered the hospital and sat outside the emergency room. At least, another ray of hope has been restored.

"Dear stranger, whoever you are, thank you so much for helping me." She clamped her hands together, closing her eyes briefly. "God bless you. I hope we meet again so I'll have a proper way of saying thank you."