THE GIFT

Sharon was forty-six

but looked older -

damaged goods, tough life.

Lisa, her mother, was sixty-nine

and apart from mild obesity

was in good trim.

Shaz’s kidneys had packed up

and daily dialysis for years using a machine

with blood-filled serpentine tubes

and wheels that turned for hours

in silent relentless accusation

had become more than she could bear.

Her mother, it turned out, was compatible

and the discussion settled on a transplant.

The two theatres were readied for the event.

The donor kidney was removed, packed in ice

and Jason the surgeon was feeling good

when the anaesthetist announced

“Houston, we have a problem!”

“What do you mean, Gaspo?” Jason asked.

“She’s gone into asystole,” Gaspo replied.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Jason asked.

“Look for yourself: line as flat as the Nullarbor,” Gaspo said,

pointing to the screen where the cardiograph

normally squiggled messages of life.

“Christ Almighty, then bloody-well zap her!” Jason shouted.

“No use,” Gaspo replied, “she’s not fibrillating.”

“I don’t give a shit!” Jason bellowed, so Gaspo zapped her

but nothing happened.

Thinking a hundred thoughts at once Jason said,

“OK – we’ll open her up and collect the other kidney as well.

No use to her where she’s gone.”

Jason took the scalpel, thrust, and bright blood

flowed from the new incision.

“Gaspo!”  he shouted again. “What the fuck is going on now?

Where’s this blood coming from?”

Gaspo turned, more ashen than previously

“Holy Mary, Mother of God!” he said.

“The fucking ECG lead came out of the machine.

She’s actually fine!”

Jason regained his strength,

sewed up the new incision but he was boiling.

“Gaspo, when you’ve got her back to the ward

just piss off fast because I’ll be chasing you

with an ECG lead and I’ll fucking strangle you

if I catch you. Got it?”

Back in the ward, side by side, mother

and daughter were in pain but bright and well.
“How did you go with Mum? Shaz asked Jason

“Fine” he said, taking her hand

“We just had to check her right kidney

to make sure it was OK so we could take

the left one for you

so she has a cut on that side too.”

“And was it OK?” asked Shaz.

“Perfect,” Jason smiled. “Just perfect.”