My Husband Became an Organ Donor – His Doctor Stopped Me in the Hospital Hallway and Said, ‘There’s Something He Made Me Promise Not to Give You Until Now’

He was quiet for a moment.

“I’m scared too, Sal.”

“Then you’ll make it up as you go.”

I looked away.

“That’s a terrible plan.”

“It’s the only honest one I’ve got.”

I hated that answer.

“Then you’ll make it up as you go.”

***

By my eighth month, Mark had gotten weaker much faster than we’d expected.

One morning, I found him standing in front of the bedroom mirror, fighting with the buttons on his shirt.

“Give me that.”

“I’ve got it, Sally.”

“You’ve put the third button into the fourth hole.”

He looked down.

“Give me that.”

“Fashion.”

“You look like a confused accordion.”

That pulled a tired laugh out of him.

I stepped closer and fixed the buttons.

His hands had started shaking more often.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said.

“You look like a confused accordion.”