A few days ago, Raymond had mentioned he would discreetly investigate the other two Chase brothers in Sydville to see if they were connected to Vivica's car accident. Joseph figured this call meant he had found something.
“Mr. Baird, how is Vivica recovering? Are her injuries any better?”
Raymond began the call by asking after Vivica's health. Hillary was constantly worried but couldn't visit, so she had her nephew call for updates.
Joseph replied calmly, “She’s much better. Chaim is still in the hospital, so she’s staying a bit longer. They should both be discharged in a couple of days.”
Chaim’s second round of chemotherapy had gone relatively well. According to Dr. Warren’s latest assessment, the boy would be ready to go home in two days, just in time for the holidays. The thought of having the whole family together for a festive celebration was something to look forward to.
Raymond sounded relieved. “That’s good to hear. And is the child’s condition stable?”
“It’s about the same.”
After a brief pause, Raymond continued, “Mr. Baird, whenever you have a moment, could you send me the boy’s medical records? We can get tested for a match here in Sydville. I know the chances of success are low, but the more people we have, the better the odds.”
Raymond had thought of this during his last visit, but with Vivica refusing to see them and the tense atmosphere, he never had the chance to bring it up. Now, however, he sensed that Joseph and his wife were not as resistant as before, so he decided to make his move. No matter what, their shared goal was to save the child.
Donating hematopoietic stem cells was not like donating an organ. The physical toll was temporary and could be managed with proper care. If it meant saving a child’s life, whoever was lucky enough to be a match would do it without hesitation.
Joseph was taken aback by the offer. He was surprised that they would volunteer to get tested for Chaim before Vivica had even agreed to meet them or confirm their biological relationship with a DNA test.
After a moment of stunned silence, Joseph didn't hesitate. “Of course. Thank you. I’ll send you his records in the next few days.”
He would be indebted to them, but for his son’s sake, he couldn’t afford to be proud.
“Was that the only reason for your call?” Joseph asked, curious, as he had assumed Raymond was calling about the accident.

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