Rachel was a 35 year old single mother of a 12 year old daughter Clair, who had been conceived by way of artificial insemination by anonymous donor. Her husband had left the marriage, not being able to deal with the circumstances of their child's conception.
Rachel's daughter had been diagnosed with a severe blood disorder which could only be cured long term by a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the child's blood group was rare and an exact match was therefore very unlikely. As a result, Rachel had decided to seek a second insemination by the same donor in order to maximise her second child being a suitable donor and had undergone the requisite examinations. She was now on her way to see the specialist dealing with her case.
"Mrs. Clarke." called the Receptionist who directed Rachel to the Doctors Consulting room.
"Do take a seat" said Dr. Dyson, indicating a large chair beside his desk. He then turned to his computer screen and called up Rachel's case notes. After a moment, Dr. Dyson turned to Rachel and said, "I'm sorry, I have only bad news for you, we cannot replicate your first insemination."
"Why not, is there no more sperm?" Asked Rachel, the blood draining from her face.
"No, that's not the case at all," said Dr. Dyson. "We have the sperm, we just cannot use it."
"But you must" Cried Rachel, as the tears began to run down her cheeks .
"I'm afraid we cannot" said Dr. Dyson. "This is very difficult, but you should not have been inseminated by your donor the first time. For some reason, the DNA checks that were carried out at the time were mixed with others causing this dreadful scenario."
"Was there something wrong with the sperm?" asked Rachel.
"No, not at all." Said Dr. Dyson. "The sperm was healthy, but the DNA was too close to your own."
"I don't understand" said Rachel.
"I'm sorry" said Dr Dyson, "But the donor's DNA was close to your own, very close to your own. Please let me assure you of the full support of the clinic in whatever your future intentions may be."
"You mean like a.. member of my family?" Cried Rachel.
"I'm sorry" said Dr Dyson, "But the identity of the donor must remain anonymous. We would need a High Court order before we could release that information. But please, Mrs. Clarke. It's not for altruistic reasons that I urge you not to take that path. We can do a search to find another suitable donor for you."
"I don't want another donor" Rachel cried, "It has to be the same donor."
"I am so sorry" Said Dr Dyson, "We cannot use the same donor and his identity must remain anonymous."
"I need the same donor!" Rachel cried and standing, fled from the room.
Making her way home, Rachel picked up the phone and placed a call to her twin brother, Robert.
"Robert" she said. I need some personal legal advice as a matter of some urgency could you call round after work?"
"Sounds mysterious" said Robert, "I may be a little late, I'm in court most of the afternoon, five-ish ok?" Robert's face paled. "Tell me exactly what he said about the DNA again" he said.
Rachel repeated what Dr. Dyson had said about the close match. "Surely that must mean that the donor could be a member of our family?" she cried.
"Oh Christ!" Robert moaned, his head falling into his hands. "Oh please God, no."
"What's wrong?" Rachel cried. Grabbing his hands she saw him raise his head and in an instant, the truth struck home. "Oh my God Robert, you are the father of my baby!" she cried.
"Oh God Rachel, what can I say. I was a student, the money was good. These people are supposed to check these things."
The twins fell into each other's arms holding each other in despair. After a while, Robert got up and made them both two stiff drinks. Handing one to his sister he said, "I'm at a loss as to what to do. Normally we could sue the clinic but any such litigation would bring the spotlight on us both."
"Neither of us need the money Robert and we don't want to risk any kind of publicity." Pausing, Rachel took on a thoughtful look. "I've just thought, Robert it's your sperm, you can get the clinic to release it."
Shaking his head, Robert said, "There are so many things wrong with that. Firstly, I no longer own it, secondly, there is no way the clinic could carry out an insemination knowing the full facts, any such act would be criminal."
"Robert, I need the sperm, Clair needs the sperm. She will die without the exact match bone marrow. You have to find a way to get it."
"I'm sorry Rachel" said Robert. "There isn't a law in the land that could force the clinic to release the sample and even if there was, you would not find a clinic to carry out the procedure."
"But what about Clair? is she condemned to an early death?"
"We can get the clinic to search for another close sample, it's the least they can do." Said Robert.
"That's no good" cried Rachel. "You are the father of Clair and you have to be the father of the baby. It needs to be an exact match."
Robert shook his head. "It's not going to happen Rachel, don't you understand? There is no way you will be able to get that sample."
Rachel sagged, then sat bolt upright. "You Robert, you can give me the sample I need!" She cried.
"What?" he gasped. "No. and anyway, no clinic would carry out the procedure after they checked the DNA."
"We can do it. Self insemination. You give me your sperm and I will use a syringe."
"No Rachel, you are suggesting we create an incestuous child again, I couldn't be a willing partner to that."
"You must Robert. I'm serious, if there is no hope for Clair then we will die together. I cannot let her live a life of pain no matter how short."
Robert could see that Rachel meant what she was saying and also knew she was more than capable of carrying it out. "Christ Rachel, think about what you are asking me to do, please."
"I know exactly what I am asking you Robert, I am asking you to help me save our daughter's life."
Robert's shoulders slumped in resignation. "Oh God help us" he said, "I'll do it. I will bring a sample around when the time is right."
"No, no" Rachel cried. "It must be fresh, you must do it here. Please come round tomorrow night, I'm ready now and it will give me a chance to get the syringes and whatever.".
The following evening Robert arrived at Rachel's home, still unhappy with the situation, but resigned to follow through.
"I've left Clair with Mum" Rachel said, so we are alone.
"What if it doesn't take, what then?" Robert said.
"Then we try again until it works" Rachel replied.
"This is going to be very difficult, it's all a bit clinical" Robert said.
"Let's have a drink first, just the one though" Rachel said handing him a drink.
The siblings sat together on the settee, not saying a word.
"Lets do this!" Robert said suddenly and rose up to make his way to the bathroom.
"Wait" Rachel cried and handed him a large syringe. "You will have to, you know, put your stuff in there."