Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

Initial days at Magee were challenging for Cathy. She had trouble navigating Alan's wheelchair. Cathy was alarmed at all the patients' horrible injuries. Also, the realization hit Cathy that Alan was not just temporarily injured but permanently disabled. Kelly, meanwhile, adjusted better, marveling at the wheelchairs and other hospital contraptions. Alan was transferred to a Vail bed, which has a tent-like mesh around it to prevent the patient from falling out of bed.

Around this time, Cathy also struggled with alienation from her daughter. Kelly refused to sleep at Cathy's house; in her trauma, Kelly was afraid that something bad would happen to Cathy before her eyes, as with Alan, and so Kelly decided it was best not to be able to see Cathy. Cathy had a very difficult night when she forced Kelly to stay home and Kelly would not...