July, Chapter 7: Patrick Summary and Analysis

Belkin begins by describing the origins of Patrick's medical chart and how it tracks his life by medical event. She notes that waste stays in Patrick's intestines for this reason and begins to kill his intestinal tissue. Patrick's nutrition therefore has to be fed to him through an IV, a measure that was at the start considered temporary. Belkin describes Patrick's two worlds - the hospital and his grandmother's small, dark home in one of the poorest spots in Houston. Patrick is emotionally addicted to Hermann and is dependent on powerful medications. He clearly prefers the time he spends at the hospital and prefers the company of hospital staff to his own family.Patrick eventually admits that he pollutes his nutrition line with 'feces and dirt' so he can return to Hermann. Patrick's line is becoming increasingly...