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“Well,” Dr Si notes in my file “I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that your symptoms have me concerned”
I sat up straight on the exa my hands low around my stomach, I sed hard “Concerned? Why?”
“U sickness, since the way you are presenting leads to nant Beyond that though, you ht have some potentially serious complications In particular, what you revealed to me about your alcohol consumption is what has my attention”
Pregnant?
Complications?
“Uhm…” I stammered My entire body went claht
Just then, there was a knock at the door A nurse poked her head in and looking towards the doctor she said, “Excuse me, Dr Simms, I’m sorry We need you for a moment”
Looking over her shoulder, the doctor nodded in the nurse’s direction before turning back to me
“Maddie,” she began “Pardon ht back”
Chewing the inside ofas she stood in front of me A moment later, the door to the office clicked shut, and I lifted ainst an to rock back and forth
I felt hten with sorrow Liquid rushed toI had not to break down and make a complete fool out of myself in the doctor’s office But, it was no use As I shifted to and fro, the tears spilled forth Warm rivulets ran down my cheeks and then across , I stared across the roo myself in despair
That continued for several minutes until at last, the door opened I didn’t bother to look up or try to pretend suffering hadn’t consumed me I heard the door close as the doctor walked back in my direction I licked my lips to rid myself of some of the evidence of ue in bitterness as I looked up at her
Her expression held concern, e for a box of nearby tissues, she passed them to me I thanked her with a hard s and a sniffle as I pulled with a ginger tug or two on the thin papers I made a half-hearted attempt to fix my appearance, and she returned to sit in front of me
With the folder in her lap, she placed her hands over the top of it, lacing her fingers together “Maddie, I… I’m afraid there’s just no easy way to tell you any of this, dear I’m terribly sorry”
As she spoke, I fought for a breath I gulped and struggled for air, trying to remain as calm as possible My tears burned like acid as they trickled down my cheeks The moisture in my palms nearly liquefied the tissue As if I were trapped outside in a blizzard, a sudden wave of nerves caused ine what I must have looked like to her as I sat there, ainstWhat was happening to ht now? This couldn’t be real It just couldn’t be
Sue I could, I sed hard while I searched n ofand with a rasp, I sputtered, “What… is it? P-Please, I-I just want to know”
Her features turned somber The doctor’s brow creased with concern as she thinned her lips She cleared her throat and began, “Maddie, are you familiar with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?”
“No,” I muttered
Shaking, I strengthenedI just wanted to wake up, soht lanced down at h a haze-filled stare
Baby?
“Maddie,” The doctor said, in a tone that commanded attention “Honey, I need you to pay attention The child you are carrying… It’s at high risk for FAS and other birth defects should you bring it to term”
Grey’s baby?
The doctor continued, “The severity of yoursickness in combination with my exam leads e consistent with alcohol abuse”
“Alcohol?” I muttered “What?”
The doctor fell silent Overhead, the harsh glow of fluorescent lighting stabbed at , I didn’t feel like a mother should - happy or overjoyed No, instead I felt like a speci, would go wrong
“Maddie, I don’t think you understand the severity of this situation Bringing the child to terrave choice for the baby There’s a very high probability if you did, the child will never be nore to carry it to full-terhly unlikely At best, you have a fifty-fifty chance of the babyit”
As she finished speaking,the tissue in the process The backs of ainst the front of the exam table as I looked at her in disbelief A soft breath escaped from my nose as I exhaled
“What… Is there anything we can do?” I asked
“Maddie,” she said as she stood from her chair The doctor placed the folder down in her chair and then turned to faceto do I hope you understand why This kind of thing happens”