Trafika Europe 12 - French Bon-Bons

Marat Baskin

“I have read the diagnosis and the girl’s medical history written by their local doctor. They are right. That would be a one-of-a-kind surgery. Only three such surgeries have been done. Two in this country and one in South Africa. The Johannesburg patient didn’t make it. “ “Can you do it?” I asked. “Yes,” said Shimon. “However, the chances of a successful outcome are fifty-fifty. Yet if we don’t do the surgery, we leave them zero chance. “ “If you can, then do it!” “This will be a very expensive surgery, dad, we’ll need a lot of money. A lot.” Shimon warily looked at me and said, “We’ll also need to pay their airfares. Both ways. The girl’s parents don’t have any money. It’ll be very expensive, dad!” “No matter how expensive, son, saving a life is worth it,” I said. “In the past we were saved by others, now it’s our turn to save.” “I knew you’d say that, dad, “ Shimon smiled with his eyes only. “I knew it. The money from that loan we took to pay our mortgage with--I gave all of it to fund the surgery. We can do without a house for a while.” “We’ll get by, son,” I said, hugging my Shimon, just like when he was a little boy, and I heard the beating of his heart.

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