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"Did you explain to the Fitzgeralds that this child, as a perfectly genetically programmed match, would have to be available for all these treatments for Kate throughout her life?"
"We were talking about a single cord blood treatment at the time," Dr. Chance says. "Subsequent donations came about because Kate didn't respond to the first one. And because they offered more promising results."
"So if tomorrow scientists were to come up with a procedure that would cure Kate's cancer if A
"Obviously not. I would never recommend a treatment that risked another child's life."
"Isn't that what you've done for the past thirteen years?"
His face tightens. "None of the treatments have caused significant long-term harm to A
I take a piece of paper out of my briefcase and hand it to the judge, and then to Dr. Chance. "Can you read the part that's marked?"
He puts on a pair of glasses and clears his throat. "I understand that anesthesia involves potential risks. These risks may include, but are not limited to: adverse drug reactions, sore throat, injury to teeth and dental work, damage to vocal cords, respiratory problems, minor pain and discomfort, loss of sensation, headaches, infection, allergic reaction, awareness during general anesthesia, jaundice, bleeding, nerve injury, blood clot, heart attack, brain damage, and even loss of bodily function or of life."
"Are you familiar with this form, Doctor?"
"Yes. It's a standard consent form for a surgical procedure."
"Can you tell us who the patient receiving it was?"
"A
"And who signed the consent form?"
"Sara Fitzgerald."
I rock back on my heels. "Dr. Chance, anesthesia carries a risk of life impairment or death. Those are pretty strong long-term effects."
"That's exactly why we have a consent form. It's to protect us from people like you," he says. "But realistically, the risk is extremely small. And the procedure of donating marrow is fairly simple."
"Why was A
"It's less traumatic for a child, and they're less likely to squirm around."
"And after the procedure, did A
"Maybe a little," Dr. Chance says.
"You don't remember?"
"It's been a long time. I'm sure even A
"You think?" I turn to A
Judge DeSalvo crosses his arms.
"Speaking of risk," I continue smoothly. "Can you tell us about the research that's been done on the long-term effects of the growth factor shots she's taken twice now, prior to harvest for transplant?"
"Theoretically, there shouldn't be any long-term sequelae."
"Theoretically," I repeat. "Why theoretically?"
"Because the research has been done on lab animals," Dr. Chance admits. "Effects on humans are still being tracked."
"How comforting."
He shrugs. "Physicians don't tend to prescribe drugs that have the potential to wreak havoc."
"Have you ever heard of thalidomide, Doctor?" I ask.
"Of course. In fact, recently, it's been resurrected for cancer research."
"And it was a milestone drug once before," I point out. "With catastrophic effects. Speaking of which . . . this kidney donation—are there risks associated with the procedure?"
"No more than for most surgeries," Dr. Chance says.
"Could A
"It's highly unlikely, Mr. Alexander."
"Well, then, let's assume A
"It won't, really," the doctor says. "That's the beauty of it."
I hand him a flyer that has come from the nephrology department of his own hospital. "Can you read the highlighted section?"
He slips on his glasses again. "Increased chance of hypertension. Possible complications during pregnancy." Dr. Chance glances up. "Donors are advised to refrain from contact sports to eliminate the risk of harming their remaining kidney."
I clasp my hands behind my back. "Did you know that A
He turns toward her. "No. I didn't."
"She's a goalie. Has been for years now." I let this sink in. "But since this donation is hypothetical, let's concentrate on the ones that have already happened. The growth factor shots, the DLI, the stem cells, the lymphocyte donations, the bone marrow—all of these myriad treatments A
"Significant?" He hesitates. "No, she has not."
"Has she received any significant benefit from them?" Dr. Chance looks at me for a long moment. "Sure," he says. "She's saving her sister."
A
A
"Okay," A
Julia opens up a packet of salad dressing and pours it over the lunch she's brought. "It will be, before you know it."
She looks at me when she says this, briefly.
That's all it takes for me to remember the smell of her skin, and the spot below her breast where she has a beauty mark in the shape of a crescent moon.
Suddenly A
"Like hell you are. There are reporters out there, still."
"I'll walk him in the hallway, then."
"You can't. He has to be walked by me; it's part of his training."
"Then I'm going to pee," A
She walks out of the conference room, leaving Julia and me and everything that shouldn't have happened but did.
"She left us alone on purpose," I realize.
Julia nods. "She's a smart kid. She can read people very well." Then she sets down her plastic fork. "Your car is full of dog hair."
"I know. I keep asking Judge to pull it back in a ponytail but he never listens."
"Why didn't you just get me up?"
I grin. "Because we were anchored in a no-wake zone."
Julia, however, doesn't even crack a smile. "Was last night a joke to you, Campbell?"
That old adage pops into my head: If you want to see God laugh, make apian. And because I am a coward, I grab the dog by his collar. "I need to walk him before we're called back into court."
Julia's voice follows me to the door. "You didn't answer me."
"You don't want me to," I say. I don't turn around. That way I don't have to see her face.
When Judge DeSalvo adjourns us for the day at three because of a weekly chiropractic appointment, I walk A
But I put my hand on A
In the car, she is quiet. I pull into the station parking lot and leave the engine ru
"Whatever."
She gets out of my car without another word and Judge hops up into the vacated front seat. A
She stands like a statue, her face turned up to the sky. What am I supposed to do, say? I have never been a parent; I can barely take care of myself.
As it turns out, A