Once again, spoilers lurk beyond this point, especially in the story-specific sections. You've been warned.
On 'Old Scars'
- imouto-chan: 'dear little sister'
- Even with an HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) mismatch of 0, which means
the best tissue compatibility that can be hoped for, Kana's immune system
could still try to attack the transplanted kidney. So, for as long as she
has it, she has to take immunosuppressant medication to limit the chances
of this happening.
- While researching the effects of kidney transplants for this story, I came across the distressing fact that kidney transplants don't last forever. For some reason, I thought they did. But current medical research shows that a kidney transplant generally lasts for 15 to 20 years, on average.
Ah, irony. With Taka finally out of the hospital, I found myself free to let Kana and Taka think about their future together, shimmering right there on the horizon. I couldn't do that before. I couldn't let them plan for a 'happily ever after'.
And so, naturally, the first chance I got for them to think about their future, a spanner threw itself into the works. Kana has two decades, more or less, before her life will be in danger again. I only found that out myself while doing research for this story! So naturally it started colouring my perspective, as well as Taka's.