They Wanted to Pull My Plug, Now I'm a Millionaire

I collapsed in the kitchen and was rushed to the hospital. That very day, I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

The nurse found my son's and daughter's numbers in my phone's emergency contacts.

But when she urged them to pay the admission deposit, not a single one of them stepped forward. “You collapsed in the kitchen yourself.

Why on earth should we be the ones paying for this?” “We might be your kids, but we have our own families to feed. Aren't you just making things difficult for us?” “Whatever.

She is our biological mother, after all. How about we just split the medical bill?” I froze.

My children looked so serious that for a moment, I couldn't tell if they were joking or not. “Split... split the bill?” Before my voice could even fade, my youngest daughter, Chloe, started whining with a look of pure disgust. “I am not splitting anything!

I’m the youngest! You guys spent way more years living with Mom than I did.

The most I can chip in is five hundred bucks, and not a penny more!” Hearing this, my eldest son, Ethan, immediately got defensive. “Sure, I’m the oldest, but I moved out to work ages ago!

If you’re only giving five hundred, then five hundred is my limit too!” My second son, Tyler, jumped up in a panic, terrified of losing out. “I'm the middle child, the most invisible one!

I'll give two hundred! Take it or leave it!” Watching them bicker and push the responsibility onto each other, my heart turned to ice.

I had spent thirty backbreaking years raising them. Not only did I end up with terminal lung cancer, but I didn't even have a single cent left to my name.

And now, in return, they wanted to split my lifesaving medical bills like a casual dinner check.

Seeing them still making excuses and dodging the bill, the nurse’s face darkened instantly. She said angrily, “Sarah’s cancer is already terminal!

It has almost spread throughout her entire body!” “We cannot delay this any longer.

You need to pay the deposit immediately so we can start managing her pain and stopping the spread!” Hearing the nurse’s words, I was completely stunned.

All these years, I had been busy taking care of my children.

After finally raising them, I had to take on odd jobs to help support their households while simultaneously babysitting my grandkids.

I hadn't even noticed I was this sick. “Sweetheart... how much time do I have left?” The nurse adjusted my IV drip, trying her best to soothe me. “Sarah, if you actively receive treatment, living for another thirty years won't be a problem.” Then, she glared fiercely at my three children standing aside. “But if you delay treatment, your body might not even make it past next spring.” Hearing this, the three siblings put on a show of utter ignorance, playing on their phones as if they hadn't heard a single word.

Seeing that still no one had paid, the doctor walked into the ward with a stern expression. “What is going on here?

Why hasn't anyone paid the deposit yet?” “Every minute you waste reduces the patient's chances of recovery. What are you children doing!” Ethan’s expression turned awkward.

He asked tentatively, “Doctor, how much... are we talking about for the treatment?” The doctor handed over the billing sheet.

The moment Ethan saw the total, he gasped and started shouting. “Fifty thousand dollars for the initial treatment?

Is this hospital trying to rob us?” “I don't have that kind of cash! I already said my limit is five hundred.

I don't have a single penny more!” Ethan’s words made my eyes widen in shock.

Just last month, Ethan begged me for two hundred thousand dollars, claiming he couldn't pay his mortgage.

That two hundred thousand was my entire life savings, meant for my retirement and burial.

But the moment I heard my son was in trouble, I gave it all to him without holding back a single cent.

I never expected to receive such a cold, heartless 'I don't have money' in return.

Before I could speak, Tyler immediately chimed in to support Ethan. “If Ethan doesn't have money, I have even less!

I only have around two hundred dollars left in my Snapchat wallet.

I can transfer all of it to you guys, but after this, any future treatment costs have absolutely nothing to do with me.” When Tyler got married at the beginning of the year, he said he wanted to upgrade to a larger house and asked if I could help.

I had no choice but to sell the cozy home I was living in just to scrape up enough cash for his down payment.

Because of that, I had to move into my current damp, rundown rental apartment. At that memory, a sharp, suffocating pain suddenly squeezed my chest.

The next second, I coughed up a massive mouthful of black blood, staining the entire white bedsheet a horrifying crimson.

The nurse rushed over to wipe me clean, but Chloe just stood there, watching coldly. “I’m just a daughter, and I’ll marry out eventually,” Chloe said indifferently. “If my fiancé's family finds out I have a deadweight mother to take care of, they will definitely mind.” “So, thinking about it, I shouldn't pay this money.

I’m taking back the five hundred I just promised.

Just pretend I never said it.” To pay for Chloe's lavish dream wedding so she wouldn't feel looked down upon by her inlaws, I had borrowed two hundred and eighty thousand dollars from my relatives and friends.

I honestly believed my unconditional love would be met with the same affection from my children. Who would have thought I would end up with this?

Before I could open my mouth, the nurse beside me completely lost her temper. “I’ve worked in this hospital for years, and you are the most shameless children I have ever seen!”

Triggered by the nurse's words, Tyler exploded on the spot, pointing right at her nose and screaming. “Who do you think you're talking to!

Watch your mouth, or I’ll file a complaint against you!” Instead of backing down, the nurse snapped back even harder. “Sarah collapsed in her kitchen, and it was her neighbor who called 911 to get her to the ER!

She was unconscious for twenty hours! Did any of you even notice?” “If we had been just two hours later, she would have been dead!” Tyler’s face flushed with embarrassment.

He feigned ignorance, muttering, “Well, I was busy at work.

How could I have the time to watch her twentyfourseven?” Ethan immediately backed him up. “Yeah, exactly.” “Tyler and I are both swamped with work. You can't blame us for this.

If we don't work, we starve. You should understand that, nurse.” The nurse let out a cold laugh as she hung a new IV bag. “Starve?

You can fool Sarah with that crap, but you can't fool me!” “When the EMTs went to Sarah’s apartment, the place was so tiny and dilapidated that we could barely fit the stretcher inside!” “Look at the three of you—you’re all dripping in designer brands!

Girl, that handbag of yours costs at least thirty thousand, doesn't it?” “And you two brothers, the cars you parked outside are worth nearly a hundred grand each.

Yet you can’t even scrape together fifty thousand to save your own mother’s life?” Watching the young nurse stand up for me, a wave of bitter sorrow washed over me.

The children I had raised for thirty years had to be lectured by a complete stranger. In their hearts, was I worth even less than a stranger?

Before I could speak, Ethan snapped angrily. “Since when is our family business any of your concern?” “If you're so damn heroic, why don't you pay her medical bills yourself?

Easy for you to talk. I say this hospital is just a corrupt scam!

You’re deliberately guilttripping us to overcharge us!” “Let me tell you, I'm not playing your games!” With that, he slammed the door and stormed out of the ward.

Seeing him leave, Tyler and Chloe quickly followed him out. Watching their retreating backs, my heart felt like it was being shredded by a dull knife.

The metallic taste rose in my throat again, and another massive spray of black blood erupted from my mouth.

A violent spasm of pain in my lungs forced me to curl up on the hospital bed.

This pain had happened often in recent years, but I always brushed it off, telling myself it was just a minor issue. After all, if I went down, who would take care of my children?

So day after day, I dragged my breaking body forward until I couldn't drag it anymore. But compared to the physical agony, the pain in my heart was ten thousand times worse.

Staring at the blood covering the bed, tears of laughter streamed down my face. “Sweetheart... am I going to die?” The nurse opened her mouth to comfort me, but the next second, the medical monitors emitted a sharp, piercing alarm.

She glanced at the EKG and immediately hit the emergency button on the wall. “Code blue! Patient’s blood pressure is crashing to 30!

Prepare for emergency resuscitation immediately!” Before I could even gasp, a wave of intense vertigo washed over me. Everything went pitch black, and I passed out.

In my semiconscious state, I saw the medical staff wheeling me into the ICU. Doctors swarmed around my bed, grabbing the defibrillator paddles to shock my heart.

First shock—failed. Second shock—failed.

Before the third shock, the nurse suddenly grabbed my hand tightly, her eyes filled with desperation and sincerity. “Sarah, please don't give up!

You have to fight!” “Think about your future! Think about your children! And your grandkids—don't you want to watch them grow up?” Suddenly, something in my heart was struck.

When my children were still very small, my husband, Richard, fell in love with another woman. He abandoned the four of us in a rural town and left forever.

The burden of raising three children fell entirely on my shoulders. I had no choice but to work three jobs a day just to feed them.

I woke up at 4 AM every morning to deliver newspapers. At noon, I did heavy manual labor on local farms. At night, I cleaned septic tanks.

My body broke down under the years of endless toil.

Back then, Ethan, who was only in elementary school, held my hand tightly and promised, “Mom, when I grow up, I will never let anyone hurt you again!” “I'm going to make sure you live a good life!” Tyler and Chloe, who were still in preschool, didn't really understand what was happening, but they clung to my legs and cried, “I’ll protect Mom when I grow up too!” “I love Mom the most!” It was the existence of my children that kept me going all these years.

Yes, I still had so many dreams unfulfilled. I wanted to see my children grow old with their own families. I wanted to see my grandkids go to college.

I couldn't bear to die like this. Third shock. The flatline on the EKG monitor finally began to fluctuate. “We have a pulse! The patient’s heart is reacting!

Charge again!” the doctor shouted in excitement. In an instant, the medical team surged forward, fighting with everything they had to save me.

After half an hour of intense resuscitation, my body gradually regained sensation, until I forced my eyes open. The entire ICU erupted into cheers. “She’s back!

Oh my god, she made it!” As the nurse wheeled me back to the ward, she said gently, “Sarah, you are so incredibly strong.” “I know you can fight through the chemotherapy too!” Hearing her hopeful words, my heart went cold.

Longterm chemotherapy would cost a fortune, and right now, I couldn't even scrape together a hundred dollars. Even paying for today's emergency resuscitation was a massive hurdle.

I didn't dare think about the future. By the time the nurse brought me back to my room, today's bill had already been placed on the bedside table. I picked it up.

The emergency resuscitation plus the ambulance ride came out to nearly eight thousand dollars. My newly stabilized heart began to thud violently again.

Noticing the panic on my face, the nurse quickly helped me sit up. “Sarah, please don't stress yourself!” “I’ll cover this bill for you first.

You can just pay me back whenever you have the money. Right now, your recovery is the only thing that matters!” “You absolutely cannot take any more shocks to your system.

Your body is at its absolute limit.

Any more stress, and even a miracle won't save you!” I forced myself out of bed and bowed deeply to her. “Thank you, sweetheart.” “I will find a way to pay you back as soon as possible.” According to the doctors, I was supposed to stay in the hospital for two more days of observation to map out a chemo plan.

But I knew that every day in a hospital bed cost hundreds of dollars. I simply couldn't afford it. So that very night, I quietly slipped out of the hospital.

I walked for what felt like an eternity before I finally reached Ethan’s mansion. The house was grand, luxurious, and imposing.

I wanted to borrow eight thousand dollars from him just to pay back the kind nurse. I was even willing to sign a promissory note.

I couldn't let a stranger suffer financially because of my failing health.

I climbed the steps, but just as I was about to knock, the scene inside through the window almost made me faint.

The mansion was brightly lit and buzzing with life. It looked like they were hosting a massive party. Not only were Ethan and his wife there, but Tyler and Chloe were there too.

They were clinking glasses in the living room, their laughter echoing painfully in my ears. “Ethan, you landed another massive contract!

That's insane!” Tyler said, throwing an arm around Ethan’s shoulder. Chloe smirked beside them, playfully whining, “Ethan!

The commission on this must be close to seven figures, right?

You have to buy me that Chanel jacket I've been drooling over for months!” Ethan, sitting at the head of the table, beamed with pride. “Sure, sure, I’ll buy it for you.” “Honestly, you two aren't exactly short on cash either.

One just bought a limitededition sports car, and the other got a rare designer bag!” “But hey, since I'm the oldest, I guess I have to spoil you guys.” The siblings burst into laughter, their warm, joyous family scene making it seem as if my emergency hospitalization earlier that day had never even happened.

Their words felt like poisoned needles stabbing deep into my chest, making it hard to breathe. My entire body trembled uncontrollably.

I had to lean against the cold exterior wall just to keep from collapsing.

During my hardest years, when I worked three jobs and slept only two hours a day, I hadn't shed a single tear.

But at this very moment, my tears cascaded down my cheeks, completely out of control. Why did my children treat me like this? Did they really want to watch me die?

Before I could push the door open to confront them, Chloe’s voice floated out again. “By the way, what are we going to do about Mom’s medical bills?

If we just ignore her, will she make a scene at our workplaces?” Hearing this, Tyler actually burst out laughing. “Oh, please. Mom is such a pushover.

At worst, she’ll just hide in her room and cry. Make a scene at our offices? Does she even have the guts?” “Even if she did, she wouldn't have the heart to do it.

We are the children she raised with her own hands!” As soon as he finished, Ethan cleared his throat and said coldly, “If you ask me, she’s faking it!

She just wants to scam us out of our money.” “We’ve never heard her complain about her health, and suddenly she has terminal cancer?

I don't buy it for a second.” The other two immediately agreed. “Exactly! Ethan always sees right through things. It has to be fake!” I don't remember how I left that place.

I only remember collapsing right in the middle of a crosswalk after coughing up another massive mouthful of blood. A kind passerby rushed me to the hospital.

The moment the nurse saw me, she sounded the alarm immediately. “Oh my god! This patient has collapsed for the second time in a short period!

Her chances of survival are practically zero!” “We need to resuscitate her immediately!” The medical team rushed me back into the ICU.

They hooked me up to the machines and began CPR again. First attempt—failed. Second attempt—failed. Third attempt—still failed.

No matter how many words of encouragement the nurse whispered, and no matter how many doses of epinephrine the doctor injected, my heart rate remained a flat, unwavering zero.

After thirty minutes, the doctor finally stopped. “Call it. Let's not waste any more time.” “The patient has lost all will to live.

Any further resuscitation is futile.” The hospital immediately called the emergency contact list.

Before the staff could even speak, an annoyed, angry voice barked from the other end of the line. “How many times do I have to tell you! I am not paying those bills!

If you want money, go ask my mother!

Stop harassing me!” Suppressing her rage, the medical staff member said slowly and clearly, “Your mother... failed to respond to emergency treatment. She has passed away.”