Chapter 3 Desperate Pleas and Cruel Rejections

"Hello, are you there? I asked if Victoria Baristan is your mum,'' the female caller repeated.

Already, Nelson could hear his heart beating wildly. He desperately hoped for the best before he answered.

"Ye- Yes, she is. Is there anything wrong with her?" Even as he asked , he had a feeling his world was about to collapse more than he thought possible.

"Okay, I'll need you to get here as fast possible. Your mum was involved in a hit and run situation but you'll get more details when you get to the hospital."

Nelson couldn't believe his ears and could no longer hold in his tears. The caller from the hospital heard his sobs and sought to comfort him.

"Mr Baristan, your mother is currently in the emergency room and the doctors are doing all they can to keep her stabled. You'll just have to hope for the best. However, they would need your presence before being able to go further with her treatments. Your mother needs you to be strong right now and the first way is by being present at the hospital. Can you do that for her?"

Nelson knew she was right. He needed to be strong for his mother. "Alright. I'll be there soon," he said and the caller on the other end hung up.

Nelson started sprinting immediately the call ended, to the nearest bus stop to take a bus that would take him to the hospital. He normally didn't board vehicles unless he absolutely needed to as he saved money that way but this time, he didn't think about the costs. He just wanted to get to his mother.

On getting to the hospital, he went to the receptionist desk and introduced himself.

"Good morning, I'm Nelson Baristan and I got a call about Victoria Baristan from here. I'm here to see her."

"Mr Baristan, right this way, please." A friendly looking nurse replied and took him through a corridor to an elevator. "The emergency room is on the second floor, by your left".

Nelson thanked her, and then she left. Stepping into the elevator, he pushed the button to take him to the second floor. The few seconds of waiting felt like an eternity to him and when the steel doors of the elevation finally opened, he ran out in the direction the kind nurse had pointed.

On getting there, he saw a police officer outside the doors to the room who immediately stood from his seat upon noticing his arrival.

"Mr Nelson Baristan, he asked?"

"Yes, officer," he replied. "How's my mum doing?"

"We're still waiting for the doctors to come out and tell us," he answered.

"What happened to her?" Nelson asked.

"Mr Baristan, your mum was involved in a hit-and-run situation. A vehicle missed a red light and hit her as she was crossing the street."

Upon hearing the officer's information, Nelson slid down the white walls of the hospital and sobbed.

"Don't worry, kid, I assure you that we're on the case to apprehend this culprit and bring justice to your mother.

The doors of the room opened and out walked a doctor with a nose mask. Immediately, Nelson ran up to him.

"Doctor, how is my mum doing? Please, tell me she's okay," he pleaded.

The doctor took off his mask and offered Nelson a sad smile. "For now, she is but her condition is not a very stable one. She needs urgent surgery as her vital organs have been greatly injured. She'll need a kidney as well as a lung transplant, including a open heart surgery as soon as possible, if she's to recover."

"Alright doctor, do it " he said.

"We would have," the doctor continued "but, these surgeries costs over a million dollars and her medical insurance doesn't cover even but a quater of it."

Nelson looked dejected. "Does this means there nothing you can do?"

"For now, no. We can only try our best to stabilize her for as long as we can." The doctor replied.

"I'll bring the money. Just start the surgery, please." Nelson begged.

"I can't do that, son. The hospital's policy forbids treatment without a deposit of at least, half the required amount."

"How long do I have then?" Nelson asked.

"Well, I can't say exactly. Just know that the longer the delay in surgery, the more serious her condition gets," the doctor replied.

"I understand," Nelson resigned. "Can I see her?"

"Of course," the doctor said. "Goodluck kid," he added, before giving him a sad smile with a pat on his back and leaving with the police officer.

Nelson wanted to be strong for his mother but seeing her in her state with all the tubes and wires connected to her now frail form, he broke down.

"Mum, please. Hold on for me, for us." He held her hand. "I promise to get you out of yourself in no time."

While he spoke, he wondered how he was going to get the money in such little amount of time. He had no-one he could meet, and then a thought crossed his mind. After a moment, he left the room.