Sarah grapples with her new reality

‘What?’ she looked at the doctor with panic once more in her eyes

‘You are the first ever successful brain transplant’

You interrupted ‘We had to try it. They could only keep your brain alive for several hours. We were lucky that a donor turned up. We made a decision to save your life. The doctor thought the chance of success was less than 5% but it was 100% certainty you would die if we did nothing'

'Am I going to survive?' Sarah asked. You noticed her voice was somewhat different. Slightly deeper but still very feminine.

'All the tests so far indicate that your brain and your body are very compatible. You have been sedated for 3 days since the operation. We have been monitoring you very closely. Things are proceeding better than I could have hoped. That you have woken with your memories is a great sign’

Sarah took a moment to process what the Doctor had told her, then turned to you 'Were you hurt Jamie?’

That was typical of Sarah, always concerned about everyone else. ‘I was relatively unscathed. The truck hit your side of the vehicle. I only suffered scratches and bruises. I’m virtually fully healed already’

‘So are you saying my brain has been put in a different body? What sort of body? Am I ugly? Am I old?’

You replied 'You are different. I think you will like your new body'

‘I have a mirror’ the doctor said. ’I will release your arms. But please do not try and leave the bed. You have been bedridden for a few days. The operation involved a craniotomy. Your skull is still healing. You cannot risk falling and hitting your head’

Sarah got her first look at her new face. She took several moments before she said anything ‘I’m beautiful. I’m young”

‘Your body is 20 years old’ you told your wife

‘How did she die?’

The doctor replied. ‘Your donor’s name was Yarah Amanlah. She was a student. She died of a massive brain aneurism. She was an organ donor’

‘Isn’t a donor’s name meant to be confidential’ Sarah asked

‘Usually’ the doctor replied. He paused before continuing. Choosing his words carefully ‘There are some complications that you need to be made aware of. What I did was not authorised by the hospital. It was an experimental procedure’

‘We did it to save your life’ you added. ‘We have to keep the facts of the transplant secret or the doctor will lose his medical registration. As far as the world knows you are no longer Sarah. Yarah is going to have a remarkable recovery from her massive brain aneurism’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You are not Sarah any more. Your legal identity is now Yarah Amanlah. A 20 year old woman. Technically we are not married anymore. A funeral for Sarah Baker is scheduled for Thursday’