Mygrandson,Daniel,andIhavealwaysbeenveryclose.WhenDaniel’sfatherremarriedafteradivorce,Daniel,whowaseleven,andhislittlesister,Kristie,cametolivewithus.MyhusbandandIweremorethanhappytohavekidsinthehou

　　Mygrandson,Daniel,andIhavealwaysbeenveryclose.WhenDaniel’sfatherremarriedafteradivorce,Daniel,whowaseleven,andhislittlesister,Kristie,cametolivewithus.MyhusbandandIweremorethanhappytohavekidsinthehouseagain.

　　Thingsweregoingalongjustfineuntilthediabetes(糖尿病)I’velivedwithmostofmyadultlifestartedaffectingmyeyes,andthenmoreseriously,mykidneys(肾).Theneverythingseemedtofallapart.

　　Threetimesaweek,Ihadtogotothehospitaltobehookeduptoadialysismachine(透析机).Iwasliving,butIcouldn’treallycallitalife—itwasanexistence.Ihadnoenergy.IdraggedmyselfthroughdailychoresandsleptasmuchasIcould.Mysenseofhumorseemedtodisappear.

　　Daniel,seventeenbythen,wasreallyaffectedbythechangeinme.Hetriedashardashecouldtomakemelaugh,tobringbackthegrandmawholovedtoclownaround(开玩笑)withhim.Eveninmysorrystate,Danielcouldstillbringasmiletomyface.

　　Butthingswerenotimproving.Afterayearondialysis,myconditionwasdeteriorating(恶化)andthedoctorsfeltthatifIdidn’treceiveakidneytransplantwithinsixmonths,Iwouldsurelydie.NoonetoldDanielthis,butheknew—hesaidallhehadtodowaslookafterme.Totopitoff,asmyconditionworsened,therewasachancethatIwouldbecometooweaktohavethetransplantsurgeryatall,andthentherewouldbenothingtheycoulddoforme.Sowestartedthetenseanddesperatewaitforakidney.

　　Iwasadamant(坚决的)thatIdidn’twantakidneyfromanyoneIknew.Iwouldwaituntilanappropriatekidneybecameavailable,orIwouldliterallydiewaiting.ButDanielhadotherplans.Thetimethathetookmetomydialysisappointments,hedidalittlesecretresearchonhisown.Thenheannouncedhisintentiontome.

　　“Grandma,I’mgivingyouoneofmykidneys.I’myoungandI’mhealthy…”Hepaused.HecouldseeIwasn’tatallhappywithhisoffer.Hecontinued,almostinwhisper,“Andmostofall,Icouldn’tstanditifyouweren’taround.”Hisfaceworeanexpressionofappealmixedwithdetermination.Hecanbeasstubbornasamule(驴)oncehedecidesonsomething—butI’vebeentoldmanytimesthatIcanout-stubbornanymule!

　　Weargued.Icouldn’tlethimdoit.Webothknewthatifhegaveuphiskidney,hewouldalsogiveuphislife’sdream;toplayfoot