Chapter 7

“Okay you two, its time,” Doctor Burnett smiled as Karen returned. Brad took off his necklace and kissed it. Abby also kissed it, and Brad put it around his mom’s neck. Brad gave Abby a final kiss and hug and was escorted out by his transplant nurses. The others accompanied Abby and Doctor Burnett to the operating room wing, and then the nurses wheeled Abby into the operating preparation room.

“I’ll catch up to you guys in a moment,” Dan said, letting the others go ahead.

“Doctor Burnett, can I speak to you for a quick moment? Is there any possible way you can operate without having to cut them open so far? Abby is such a vibrant, active young woman and would have such an ugly scar. And Brad requires strong stomach and abdomen muscles and upper body strength to compete in any level of hockey, especially the NHL.”

“I understand your concerns. I hate having to do more than is necessary for an operation, but a transplant is different. Tell you what I can do. I’ll do very quick research on the stomach and abdomen and see if I can move the surgical area closer to the ribs for Brad and Abby. The ribs would support the abdominal muscles better for recuperation. It would be up to the hockey doctor to decide if Brad could ever play again.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Dan said, offering his hand.

“You should be very proud of your son. He didn’t hesitate one second, choosing to help his girlfriend over a possible pro hockey career.”

“I am very proud of Brad; he and Abby are a very special couple,” Dan replied.

Doctor Burnett shook Dan’s hand and left, going through the double doors to prepare for the surgery. “Now all we can do is wait and pray,” Karen said, leading Vicky back to the quiet room. Dan and Scott followed behind a few minutes later, bringing them both a hot cup of coffee. They sat in sullen quietness, with the others being able to do nothing but wait and hope.

Doctor Burnett sanitized his arms and hands for the operation as he scanned a medical book. He went over in his mind how he could do the incisions differently. He looked over the anatomy of the stomach and abdomen muscles and decided that he could alter the incisions on Brad and Abby without risking either one. He instructed the surgeon doing Brad’s operation on what he wanted and the reasons why.

“Hello there, Mr. and Mrs. Kendall?” They all looked up to see a grey-haired, thin-looking man of average height. He wore a black blazer, shirt, and pants, and a white collar with a gold cross chain around his neck.

“Yes, that’s us,” Vicky acknowledged.

“Hi, I’m Father Williams,” he said, stepping into the room. Scott and Vicky introduced themselves. “Your daughter is receiving the liver transplant?”

“Yes, she is; her name is Abby.”

“And you are?” Father Williams asked, looking at Dan and Karen, and then he recognized Dan.

“We are Dan and Karen Hayward, Brad’s parents. And this is our wife, Wendy Hayward, and Tina Hamilton-Hayward.”

He shook all their hands and noticed Wendy’s slight baby bump. “How far along are you?”

“Two and a half months. I’m due in October with twins. Dan is the father of my babies,” she said, taking his hand in hers.

“I gave birth to twins with Dan last April,” Tina added.

That bit of information went over like a lead balloon to the Father. He gave Vicky and Karen a non-committal glance at the amount of breast and leg they were showing.

“It’s been a few years, Dan. Nice to see you again,” Father Williams said.

“Father Williams and I took Taekwondo lessons together,” Dan informed them.

“A Catholic priest taking martial arts?” Vicky queried.

“It helped me recover from surgery a few years ago. I also do yoga and meditation. I’m not above learning the associations of other religions. After all, we all believe in a superior being, no matter who it is,” he explained.

“I have the nurses call me when a serious surgery is taking place and there is family present.”

“We’re not Catholic, Father; we’re Anglican,” Vicky mentioned.

“That’s okay, my child; I won’t hold it against you, even though I’m retired from regular clergy duties,” he grinned. “It’s unusual for the donor and recipient parents to have met before the operation takes place,” Father Williams observed.

“Our son and their daughter have been boyfriend and girlfriend for about two and a half years now. They plan on getting married someday,” Karen explained.

“So your son is the living liver donor to his girlfriend? That is truly remarkable and a very magnificent gesture. You must be very proud of him.”

“We’re very proud of both of our kids,” Scott said. Vicky introduced Peter and Derek, while Karen mentioned Diane and Brenda.

“My son, Jake, is expected to be drafted in the second round of this June’s NHL draft, and Brad was going to be a top-five pick before his operation. We’re both hockey families.” Wendy offered.

“You know there is a family room just down the hall with a full kitchen, TV, and several cots. Maybe you could spend your time waiting in more comfort,” he said, holding out his left hand to show the way.

“That would be very appreciated, Father,” Karen agreed. Father Williams escorted them to the family room, and they gathered in the sitting area.

Father Williams had them relate to him about the history of Abby and Brad to ease the tension. He was amazed to hear how close they had become and the Liver Donor Drive they and their friends had organized for Eric Chandler. He saw Vicky and Karen holding hands and hugging, giving each other moral support. Wendy and Tina sat on either side of Dan, trying to comfort him.

“Would you like to pray for Abby and Brad?” The Father asked.

“We’re not very religious, Father. We’ve broken a number of the commandments, for sure. In fact, with both our open marriage lifestyles, we’d all likely burn in hell,” Dan confessed.

“The Lord forgives all for their sins, well, most anyway,” he offered. “Are you happy in your marriages?” He asked, looking at both couples.

“Yes, we’re very happy,” they all confirmed.

“That’s the main thing. Nowadays, there are so many couples separating and divorcing.”

Father Williams held out his hands, and everyone linked hands to each other, forming a circle. “Let us pray. Oh, Heavenly Father, we gather here before you to pray for two of your children, Abby and Brad. That you guide the surgeon’s hands with sure-footed skill and precision. Brad has offered himself freely to save the mortal life of his beloved. Abby and Brad are two of your children, whose lives are still to unfold with your grace. We pray to you for your love and to embrace these families in their hour of need.

“Amen,” they all repeated. A moving prayer like that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

“I know it may be impossible, but please try to get some rest. If there is anything I can do for you or get for you, don’t hesitate to ask,” Father Williams offered.

“Then I have a question for you, Father,” Karen began. “Is it possible for a person to have a life-like dream or an out-of-body experience when near death?”

“There have been numerous accounts of patients seeing their own bodies on the operating table from above. Some say they have seen deceased relatives.”

“That’s what Abby said to us. She said she and Brad saw her dead mom, Maryanne, and my girlfriend, Laura, Dan’s first wife.”

“Brad and Abby had the same out-of-body experience at the same time?” The Father couldn’t believe it.

“They told us virtually the same things happened to them without knowing what the other had said to us,” Vicky said.