Because Deren's blood as well as his marrow were compatible, Danielle was able to receive an extra boost from her brother. It was something that left him depleted, but according to their mother, given the benefit to Danielle, it was worth it. To prepare Danielle for the transplant, all of her bone marrow cells had to be killed off. During the first six weeks following a transplant, the mortality rate is 15 percent. It's a horror beyond anything imaginable.
Every day is worse than the day before.
Death seems one minute away every minute. For weeks, Danielle was in constant, acute pain. She lost all the hair on her body and sloughed off skin, including that in her mouth. Danielle remembers the top of her tongue coming off. She was too weak to get out of bed, even with assistance.