Eventually, Dad managed to track down a doctor through his connections. After reviewing the test results, the doctor said the situation wasn't critical. With proper treatment, there was still a good chance of recovery. But the most urgent priority was finding a bone marrow match.
Hope. They finally had a sliver of it. Dad grabbed his phone and fired off a message in the family group chat:
Laurel is sick. She needs a bone marrow donor. Anyone willing to go in for HLA typing gets $5,000. If you're a match and agree to donate, $50,000.
The relatives went wild.
This was easy money. All you had to do was show up and get tested, and you walked away five grand richer.
Someone asked: Do we get paid just for going?
Dad didn't hesitate. Yes. Just show up, and the money's yours.
Monday morning, Mom and Dad marched into the hospital with a parade of relatives in tow. Every time someone had their blood drawn, Dad transferred five thousand dollars on the spot.
By the end of the day, twenty people had been tested.
Dad had spent a hundred thousand dollars. Just like that.
Three days later, the results came back. Not a single match. Not one. Not even Mom or Dad themselves.