Her Call Was Tougher Than Mine
Julie Miley Schlegel
July 19, 2024
12 Comments
“Is he in pain?” Joshua’s mother asked, after I told her who I was. She had finally answered the phone after fifteen days of letting my calls go to voicemail.
“I don’t think so,” I answered. The truth was, at that point in my early career as a pediatric resident, I didn’t know whether he was in pain. “We’re giving him medicines to keep him comfortable.”
“Okay,” she said. I could hear young children laughing in the background. I knew from her obstetric records that she had five besides this newborn.
“Any questions?” I asked.