Two hours later, Grayson was in a nearby recovery room, resting after the collection. He had refused to leave until he knew Oliver's procedure had begun without complications.

Dr. Ortega, the physician in charge of the transplant, explained what would happen next: Oliver would be moved to a sterilized room. There, he would receive the stem cells through an IV line. It was a relatively simple process with no direct pain… but the real challenge came afterward. The waiting.

"It's like planting a seed," the doctor said. "The marrow needs time to 'take root.' If everything goes well, in a few weeks his blood will be produced by your healthy cells."

Grayson held on to every word, as if his own breathing depended on them.

From the observation room, through the glass pane, Grayson saw his small being hooked to IV lines. Surrounded by flickering monitors. And when the nurse began infusing the marrow through the central catheter, Grayson's heart hammered in his chest.

It wasn't blood o