“Ms. Munroe, I’m Dr. Zuma, the attending on call tonight, and I evaluated your mother when she came in. We noticed some signs that presented alarming to us, so we went ahead and ran a few tests… how long has your mother struggled with alcoholism?”
“For at least fifteen years or so,” Kamilla cut in and answered.
“And you are?”
“Her sister, Kamilla Munroe.”
“Okay, well, it looks like Ms. Munroe has severely damaged her liver, and she is now in end-stage liver disease and has been for some time now.”
“So what does that mean?”
“It means she’ll need a new liver immediately.”
“And if she doesn’t get one?” Troi inquired.
“If she doesn’t, I’m afraid she won’t live very long.”
“O-okay so then what are we waiting for? Put her on the—the list or whatever — so she can get a transplant.” Yanna urged.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to put your mother on the transplant list. In the state of Virginia, UNOS requires a patient to be cured of alcoholism for at least six months before they’re eligible to go on the transplant list. Your mother, I fear, does not have that kind of time.”
“What are her options?”
“Well, we can try liver dialysis, but that’s extremely temporary and doesn’t fix the problem. Your mother’s illness would still be terminal.”
“There’s gotta be something else,” Onyx interjected.
“There is. Ms. Munroe isn’t eligible to go on UNOS’ list, but she is eligible for a directed donation. As her daughter, we can test you to see if you're a match.”
“Okay, where do I go… I’ll do it now.”
“No, Yanna, you can’t,” Troi blurted.
“What? What do you mean? I’m her child, I should be a match, and if I am, I’m donating tonight if I can.”
“You’re not because you’re pregnant. If she needed a kidney or something, then maybe, but a liver is different. You can’t donate liver while you’re pregnant, Pooh.”
“You’re pregnant?” Kamilla asked.
“Yea.”
“Aww, congratulations, boo boo. We’ll talk later, okay?”
“Okay. So what now? How can I help her?”
“You can test me,” Troi offered.
“Yea, and me too. One of us has to be a match,” Kamilla followed up.
“Very well. If you ladies would follow me, I’ll get you up to the lab and tested. If either of you are a match, we’ll be able to coordinate the donation within a few days.”
The ladies dispersed, leaving Onyx and Yanna alone in the waiting room. Onyx did his best to try and calm her down, but it was a job easier said than done. What seemed like several hours but was only one passed before Troi and Kamilla returned to the waiting room. By the looks on their faces, it was clear to see neither of them were matches.
“Oh, my God. You weren’t matches?”
“No, Pooh, neither of us were,” Troi replied solemnly.
“She’s--- she’s going to die. I spent so much time avoiding her, and now she’s… she’s going… she’s… oh my goodness…”
