Mike Cohen, a bicyclist, was just 18 when he'd been once diagnosed with a cancer. Years later doctors discovered his heart function was severely weakened during the treatment. He would need a new one. Heart transplant priority lists are tricky. Mike fit all the parameters and was at the top of the list. Now he just had to hope he survived whiting for a new heart.
On February 24, a nurse walked in. “I have good news and bad news,” she said. Mike asked for the bad news first. “You're not going home today,” she said. The good news? They'd found him a heart. The next morning, Mike woke up in a hospital bed with a new heart beating in his chest. His energy seemed to improve immediately.
Two months after his surgery, Mike got a letter for him. He unfolded the typewritten pages and took a breath. It was Christine Cheers, the donor's mother. Her son, 32-year-old Navy flight surgeon James Mazzuchelli, had been injured in a training mission. As he read Christine's letter, Mike began to understand just how special his new heart was. Eager to know more about James, Mikegoogled him-they had a lot in common. They were both athletic and practically the same age. James was 32 when he died, while Mike, coincidentally, had turned 33 on the very day of James's accident which made his very best day some stranger's worst one.
Another thing he learned about James: He was buried in Jacksonville. He wanted to pay his respects in person. It seemed fitting to make the journey by bike to show just how big the transformative heart was. When Mike announced on social media that he was riding to his donor's grave site, Christine decided they would meet him there.
As he got closer to the cemetery, Mike grew nervous. That moment finally came. At a loss for words, he managed a quiet “Hi.” In that moment, Christine felt a deep sense of calm, as if she'd known Mike her entire life. They folded into a deep hug. Then came the tears. They weren't the deep weeping tears of grief. They were the tears of relief from a mother who knew she'd done right by someone she loved and from a grateful man who'd been accepted, or at least forgiven, by the family whose worst day was his best.
4. What is the best treatment to Mike?
A.Staying in the hospital. | B.Having a heart transplant. |
C.Keeping himself energetic. | D.Strengthening his heart function. |
5. What is the correct order of the following events?
a. Mike got a letter for him.
b. Mike was transplanted a new heart.
c. Mike met Christine Cheers at cemetery.
d. Mike Cohen was diagnosed with a cancer.
e. The donor, James was buried in Jacksonville.
A.dbeac | B.dcbae | C.bcade | D.baced |
6. Why did Mike weep at the grave site?
A.He felt deeply sorry for James’ death. | B.Christine reminded him of his mother. |
C.Christine made her worst day his best. | D.He was finally relieved from his guilty. |
7. Which can be the most suitable title for the text?
A.A moving story. | B.The mother with tears. |
C.A successful surgery. | D.The biker with a big heart. |