A Child's Choice

They told me my sister had six hours to live unless I gave her my kidney. I was twelve.

The doctors pulled me into a cold room, my parents crying outside, and asked if I understood

what donation meant. I nodded but I didn't. Not really. The anesthesiologist prepped my arm while

nurses whispered about ethics and age and consent. My sister was seventeen, dying from kidney

failure, and I was her only match. They said I could say no.

But how do you say no when your parents look at you like you're the only hope left?

I woke up with a scar and she woke up with a future. Sometimes I wonder if they should have

even asked a child to decide. Would you have said yes?