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The Patient
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The Patient |
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Sharon Member
since 2001-06-04
Posts 53Within a whisper 
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Sunday, May 10, 2002 The surgery was a success according to the doctor. The ruptured uterus was removed and the patient would recover nicely. But there would be no children in this lady's future. As he stood outside Marla Spencer's hospital room, the doctor mentally prepared his speech. This patient was admitted from the emergency room with massive hemorrhaging and not knowing anything about her, Dr. Wethersfield had no option but to remove the source of the bleeding. He saw now that her chart said "Ms. Spencer, unmarried, no children." It was odd he thought, as her uterus had shown signs of previous pregnancy stress. He opened the door and stepped inside. "Ms. Spencer," he began. "I'm Dr. Wethersfield, the surgeon who operated on you. How are you doing?" Marla looked up at him wondering if it was a usual rhetoric question or if she should now tell him of her aches and pains. She opted for a middle ground. "I'm doing ok, thank you, though I feel a bit weak." "You lost a lot of blood. You do know that you signed a release form for this surgery, don't you?" A moment's hesitation in the doctor's speech gave away the fact that he knew very little about this woman before him except for what he saw as she lay cut open on the operating table. "Yes," she smiled slightly. "I understood completely." "I'm so sorry." The words spoken even in this room of healing sounded false. She wondered why he was sorry. What was he sorry about? "I understand," she said. "Well, you know of course you won't be able to have children. But there are many wonderful agencies around that would be willing to work with you to help you adopt.." Marla held up her hand as a signal for the doctor to stop talking. He looked at her shocked at that she would shush him. "Please, " she began, "spare me the rhetoric. I know you don't really care what happens to me. You have no idea who I am or what I'm like, so let's just stop right here with the compassionate song and dance." The doctor looked at Marla and nodded curtly. He proceeded to check her bandage and made a couple of notes on her chart. "It would be wise if you'd rest now." He said. "Thank you. I intend to. And doctor?" The man turned around to look at her as he headed out the door. "I don't care if I never have a child. I don't need to have anymore." "Then you have had a child. By the appearance of your uterus I thought as much, though your chart said otherwise. Being a mother is important to most women." "I have had children," she explained, "but I am not a mother." "I don't understand." "Doctor, I'm 42 years old. I had my first child when I was 18. And for every year after that time, I've had a child a year. I have given birth 24 times." The doctor stared at her. "I'm a professional surrogate. I do it for the money. And now that my uterus is gone, I shall retire." The doctor looked at Marla and literally could not say a word. He had, of course heard of surrogate mothers, had even helped in the impregnation of a woman carrying a child for her sister. But he had never heard of making it a profession. "Why?" was all he could think to ask. "I needed the money for college. The first baby netted me $75,000. I figured since I was young and healthy, I could do it a few more times. After the fifth time, I realized I enjoyed being pregnant. What I did was a service. The parents would pay my health care, take care of me while I was pregnant and then pay the adoption fee when the child was born." Amazed at the woman's story, Dr. Wethersfield, turned and returned to the bed, he sat down, anxious to hear the rest of her tale. "Were there any complications? Any miscarriages?" he asked. "Just two, but they were cleaned up quickly so I could keep to the schedule." "And you've never married? Never wanted to have a child of your own?" "No," Marla smiled. "The only constant man in my life for the last 25 years has been my OBGYN." "But why? Twenty five years ago, surrogacy was in it's infant stages. How did you make it known you were available?" "Word of mouth worked best. Plus I knew a few attorneys that helped procure my clients. It's not a bad thing, doctor, I assure you! I've made 20 families very happy!" "Twenty?" he asked, mentally adding up and dividing families by children. "A few were repeat customers. They liked my work." "And do you know how many boys and how many girls you've had? Are you in the least bit curious about them?" "Curious?" Marla asked. "No, why should I be? If I was an architect, I'd never wonder about the house I designed last year would I?" "But? The children? Surely you're curious about them?" "Not in the least. There were about equal numbers of boys and girls. Frankly, the last few years I didn't even care to see them after the birth was complete." "How much money have you made doing this?" he asked trying not to appear crass. "Progressively more each year until about five years ago when the risk factor went up. But on an average, I'd say about $95,000.00 a year." It was more than Dr. Wethersfield made as resident surgeon at the hospital! He sat on the bed for a few minutes. There was nothing more to know nothing to ask. He frankly had never encountered anyone like Ms. Spencer. "Don't look so shocked doctor. I have a house in Aspen, an apartment in New York and a farm in Vermont. I'm quite ready to start spending some time there. And it will be nice to relax for a change." "I'm sure it will be." "Now you had better get some rest." He said as he rose and walked to the door. He paused with his hand on the doorhandle. "Ms. Spencer?" "Yes?" "Happy Mother's Day." |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
There you go..loved the twist...and I thought the line about an architect not worrying about a house that had been designed last year...was a telling and compelling nuance for me. It chillingly portrayed the character's lack of insight into the devotion of the creative process of anything. An architect WILL worry about their birthed creative "babies"! Also loved the shadow of her psychology with that..the comparison of life with an inanimate object. Excellent! Will be reading this again!  |
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Sharon Member
since 2001-06-04
Posts 53Within a whisper |
Thank you for reading this. It's actually based on a real woman I just heard about. She was a professional surrogate for 20 years and now is in her 50's and lives quite lavishly. I personally don't understand it. I don't know if this is the way she felt or not, but I cannot think anyone could create life and NOT have a desire at some point to know if that life is ok. |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Wow... this is a great piece! This is a very interesting story, and very well-written. You are a great addition to Passions. Thanks for sharing.  "Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel."-Machiavelli |
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Dusk Treader
Moderator
Senior Member
since 1999-06-18
Posts 1187St. Paul, MN |
I find this piece very frightening, just from a personal standpoint. I don't think there is anything so amazing as the birth of a child and it's connection with it's mother. Though each of these children did have a loving family. My emotions are mixed, at least families get the children they always desired, but are families becoming more divided? You portrayed the mother very well, though. Both characters came out well, enjoyed this one quite a bit. Thanks for getting me thinking "They that start by burning books will end by burning men." -- Heinrich Heine |
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