Summary

The third essay in Polley's collection opens in crisis mode. Polley is pregnant but now bleeding profusely. One of her neighbors, a "soap-opera-hot doctor" who also happens to be an OB-GYN, is asking her questions. She answers in a defeated tone, for she is so concerned that she will lose this baby. Polley is admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in downtown Toronto for the remainder of her pregnancy. She has a placenta previa, a placenta that has implanted itself incorrectly and poses a great threat to the mother. The chance of hemorrhage is high. Polley is also discouraged by the fact that she has developed gestational diabetes and will have to strictly limit her diet. She does love her favorite doctor, Dr. Bernstein, and feels hopeful when he is in charge. He is both calm and supremely competent, and he places...