I am standing at the foot of my father's hospital bed. I am dressed in a hospital gown. I can't set down because of it, and I shouldn't be pacing either. It could work up a sweat. I wish I had someplace to put my hands, but I am not supposed to be touching anything. My father's immune system is still in a state of uncertainty. I look up towards his face. The cancer, the chemo, and the recent infections have hit him hard. The little bit of hair he has left is grey and short, as if it was trying to grow back. The beard is gone, but it is hard to tell because of the oxygen mask. At least he doesn't need to be on a respirator. The mask is more so that he doesn't get another infection, more than to help him breathe. The lines on his face make him look even older than he should be. But his eyes are open, still strong and hazel brown. Like mine. Like Sam.
He wants to talk, but he knows he can't remove the mask, not yet. He couldn't even if he tries. His arms are too weak, and they are tied to the bed. I wish I could get closer, to touch him, but he is still too sick.
His nurse walks into the room. Lucy? Lacey? No, Lani. I'm positive.
"Mr. Burton. Uh, Chris," Lani looks at me. "You really need to return to your room soon, so we can finish prepping you for the procedure."
"I know. Just give me five. No, ten minutes tops. I'll be back before you know it. I just have a little more I have to say."
"Please hurry, Chris. Even though this is out-patient, we do need to start soon. Five minutes, and no more than one minute more." Lani answers before smiling at my father. "You have a great son Mr. Burton. I'll be back for you too." She leaves with another gentle smile and a short wave.
I hope I haven't lost my place.
"While you may have fooled some of the social workers here, the judge back in Lexington wasn't going to have any of it. See, I worked with some of them. Well, one of my friends helped me get to know a few of them, but that's beside the point. What matters is that the judge had tests performed to make sure that I was the right person that was being looked for. He didn't want a total stranger who wasn't related to a teenage boy look after one. Not after the lackadaisical nature of that guy from New York.
"The tests were expedited, which is really saying something for a holiday weekend. The results were sent to this hospital, per the investigator's orders. He hadn't been told to disregard those orders in time to have them stopped. Less than an hour after I first came to see you, still sleeping, I had proof that I am you son. And that I am a perfect blood marrow donor match."
I had to wait a whole day before we could get the operation set up. Dad was asleep most of the time, recovering from the twin shocks of the infection and losing his wife and daughter. The other two times I visited, I mostly told him who I was and how Sam was doing. I was advised not to tell him about the procedure until now. While he had agreed to it previously, some hospital official were afraid he might change his mind. Fortunately, his doctors and lawyers made sure he would go along with everything. As is, I have one of the attorneys watching over Sam in the waiting room. I wasn't going to have him not seeing his dad again, or face the fear of losing another.
Lani barges in, a little louder this time. "Chris, we need to start now. I'll take you back to your room." At least her face show how sorry she is that I have to leave my father.
"Alright." I turn to go, but I have one last thing to add. "The tests proved one more thing. Sam is your son. The doubts your wife planted were just that. I don't know why she did that, but you still have Sam. And me. See you soon, dad. I love you."
I think I see him start to cry, as I walk out the door.
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