patients are smoke free for at least six months before they can be placed on a transplant waiting list.”
“What if she quits now?”
“Based on what I see here,” he tapped gently on the file folder containing the medical records, “I’m afraid she doesn’t have six months left to live.”
“But there must be something we can do,” she pleaded, almost whimpering. The more she entered into her character, the more she felt sympathy for Robert Wilton and what he must have been through. “You can’t tell me there’s nothing that can be done.” She sniffled, then continued. “We have money. We can raise significant amounts. There’s nothing we won’t do for my mother.”
Dr. Kanellis quietly rejected her argument, raising his hand with his palm facing outwards, as if to push her away.
“I’m afraid that money won’t make a difference here, Miss Parker. This selection process and the transplant committee were created specifically to prevent the allocation of organs to be dictated by personal wealth, as opposed to medical reasons and individual merit. The heart should go to the patient who has the best chance of survival, the most life span ahead of them, the cleanest and healthiest of lifestyle. Money doesn’t come into play at any point in this process.”
She let him finish, watching him with pleading eyes.
“The only way money makes a difference,” Kanellis said, “is if you try medical tourism. There are agencies out there that can send you and your mother abroad, to China most likely, where you can get a heart for a very large sum of money, a couple hundred thousand at least. You also have to not mind where the heart comes from. I personally struggle even mentioning this alternative to you.”
“What do you mean?“
“Well, where do you think these organs come from, in such places? Executed prisoners, most likely. You would buy somebody else’s life.”
She shuddered hearing him explain. Good thing I don’t really have this dilemma. It’s a fucked up one to have, she thought.
“Do you think she can make the trip, though? She’s very weak.”
“Most likely, no. Looking at her file, I wouldn’t advise her to be out of bed more than fifteen minutes per day. A flight to China is twenty hours long. It would completely exhaust her and risk her life. Even if she makes it, she’d be entering the procedure weakened and exhausted, diminishing her chances to survive and accept the organ.”
“Then what other options do I have? How about the black market for organs, here in the US?”
“We’re not having this conversation, Miss Parker,” Kanellis said firmly. “Organ trafficking is illegal, plus it’s almost exclusively about kidneys, not hearts.”
“So there’s nothing I can do? There’s no hope? I can raise a lot of cash that no one has to know about,” she pleaded.
“Because you’re under a lot of personal hardship I will forget you mentioned that, but I’m afraid our conversation is over, Miss Parker.” He stood up frowning, visibly offended by her blatant bribe offer.
She left quietly, thinking he was a little too offended by an offer he must receive every now and then, considering what he did for a living.
Damn. Back to square one.
In her car, she grabbed her encrypted cell and speed-dialed a number.
“Hey, Lou, how’s it going?”
“Hey, partner, we were just talking about you. How are things?”
“Not impressive, I’m afraid. Need your help.”
“Shoot.”
“See if you can’t snoop around in their systems a little. I couldn’t get anything from this Kanellis guy; he just wouldn’t budge. But I’m sure there’s something to be found. Use Melanie’s admission date to help you find the info.”
“All right, I’ll get to it. What are you up to while I work?”
“I’m gonna cruise the local watering holes, see where these surgeons like to have their dinners and drinks. Might be useful for later.”
“Sounds like a plan. Please be careful,” Louie said, all serious.
“I will,” she replied.
I most surely will, Alex thought, starting her engine and checking her surroundings for the tenth time. No one was following her; she hadn’t noticed any familiar cars, faces, or anything. Yet her gut was telling her to be on full alert.
...43
...Wednesday, February 10, 10:12AM EST (UTC-5:00 hours)
...New Horizons Cardiology & Transplant Center, Office of Dr. Kanellis
...Burlington, Vermont
Dr. Kanellis resumed his morning activities after the frustrating Miss Parker had just left. It wasn’t her fault. He softened a little. It’s hard for people to walk the line when their loved ones are dying.
His cell rang, disrupting his thoughts. One look at the cell’s display,