When I Was Four, My Mother Left Me Alone in a Church—Twenty Years Later She Returned Crying, “We Need You”

“I need to know whether this is your decision or whether you feel morally trapped.”

No one had ever protected my ability to say no so aggressively.

It made saying yes feel more possible.

A week later, Rebecca called.

“You are not a perfect identical match.”

For some reason, relief and disappointment hit simultaneously.

Then she continued.

“But your HLA profile makes you a potentially useful related donor.”

“What does that mean?”