The Heart They Gave Away

The annual gala at General Hospital was in full swing. Director Hammond took the podium, the spotlight landing squarely on my mother, Dr. Paige Henson.

"Dr. Henson is truly a paragon of selflessness," Hammond announced, his voice booming. "She allowed a matching heart—one intended for her own daughter—to be given to an impoverished student instead. She is an example to us all."

I was naïve then. I stood up immediately, my instinct to defend her kicking in before my brain caught up.