Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Chimera


My 2 grown daughters as unicorns and my son-in-law as the Knight in shining armor on Halloween

My offspring are garbed as mythical creatures. Impossible animals that could never and will never exist.

And yet that is exactly what I am reaching for, having felt the breath of a mythical beast in my blood, having sensed the sway and swagger of a new consciousness finding its way through my tissues, and then felt it slipped away, and with it my chance at an early cure.

I miss being that chimera, that magical and doable mix of two life forms or two lives in one, me and my donor. I know it can be done. I have been there.

I will be that chimera again.

No, I will not become a fire breathing monster, equal parts lion. snake and goat. I will become double formed, from two sources flowing in one stream, not in any allegorical sense, but in the flesh. Like Shylock, prick me and I bleed, but you better check my/his DNA. I will be a changed man, a double agent.

The second time it will stick. It will be no myth, but it could be mythic.

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3 Comments:

Blogger pkenn said...

Regarding your/his DNA - I just read a funny comment from a transplant patient who found out this week that his donor is a woman. He wondered if that would rule out an Olympic Gold Medal when they ran labs, assuming he could ever get to the Olympics in the first place. It's good to see him doing well and able to find humor in things.

November 4, 2009 at 12:08 AM  
Blogger Natalie said...

Brian,
I loved seeing Rachael and Heather. They remain as beautiful as the memories I have of them as children.I read your blog daily and send my best thoughts and prayers to you always. Natalie B.

November 4, 2009 at 8:50 AM  
Blogger Brian Koffman said...

Pat,
Good story ! I always though it would make a good murder who dunnit. Have a post transplant chimera commit a crime, but the DNA found at the scene point to his donor to be the suspect.

Natalie,
Thanks for the memories indeed. Those were special and cherished times, but there is still a clear imprint of them in our day to day endeavors.

Be well
Brian

November 4, 2009 at 9:44 AM  

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