You know, it still sticks with me. About fifteen years ago, late at night, a nurse from the reception area burst into the oncall ward. Weve got a critical patient in the second operating theatre! she shouted. I was already heading there; the team was gathering, and on the table lay a little girl, about six. While I was pulling on my scrubs and getting the instruments sterilised, I heard the details.
A car crash had smashed a family of four mum, dad and their twins, a boy and a girl. The girl took the worst hit; the impact landed right on the backright door of the car, where she was sitting. The parents and their son escaped with only scratches and bruises and were treated right there.
The little girl, Emily, had multiple fractures, bluntforce injuries, torn wounds and a massive blood loss. Within minutes the lab sent back a blood report and a grim note: we didnt have a thirdpositive unit on hand. Time was ticking Emily was critical, every second counted. We rushed to type the parents blood. Dads came back as secondpositive, Mums as fourthpositive. Then we remembered the twin boy, Jack his blood was the missing thirdpositive.
They were sitting on a bench in the waiting area. Mum was sobbing, Dad looked pale, and Jacks eyes were full of desperation. His clothes were splattered with his sisters blood. I knelt down so we were eyetoeye.
Jack, your sisters in serious trouble, I said gently. I know, he sniffed, rubbing his eyes with his fist. When the crash happened she hit hard. I held her on my knees, she was crying, then she went quiet and fell asleep.
Do you want to save her? I asked. Then we need to take some of your blood for her. He stopped crying, looked around, took a deep breath and nodded.
I waved over a nurse. This is Aunt Sophie. Shell take you to the procedure room and draw the blood. Sophies really good at it, it wont hurt much.
Okay, Jack said, breathing in deeply, then turning to his mum. I love you, Mum, youre the best. He turned to his dad next. And you, Dad, love you. Thanks for the bike.
Sophie led him away, and I sprinted to the second operating theatre. After Emilys surgery, once shed been moved to intensive care, I drifted back to the ward. I saw our little hero lying on a cot in the procedure room, tucked under a blanket Sophie had let him rest after the draw.
I sat down beside him.
Wheres Lily? he asked.
Shes sleeping. Shell be fine. You saved her.
And when will I die? he asked, a hint of fear in his voice.
Well not anytime soon. Youll have plenty of years left, mate, even when youre old enough to need a walking stick.
At first I didnt get what he meant, but then it clicked. Hed thought that giving his blood would be the end of him, that hed die the moment the needle went in, so hed already said goodbye to his parents. He was sure hed sacrifice his life for his sister. He really did that was bravery proper, the kind you read about in the papers.
Years have rolled on, and every time I think back on that night, I still get goosebumps. Its one of those stories that stays with you, you know?
