For those who were curious like me, a OBGYN is two things: OB is short for obstetrician, a physician who delivers babies. GYN is shortened for gynecologist, a physician who specializes in treating diseases of the female reproductive organs.
In this story, readers can infer that the mother in this story is extremely sarcastic and hurt by physicians and how they don’t provide enough care to babies who are either premature or have a disability. Beginning in each stanza, Foust repeatedly says “Sorry” followed by a common human reaction or situation that is either out of hands or would be an expected emotion from a mother (line 1). Especially a mother who has given birth prematurely.
Beginning with the first stanza, the author states that it is the “duty” of her unborn son to be delivered on time. We know as humans, that that sentence is not true or humanly possible for a baby to decide that. As Fourst continues, she talks about her son’s weight, and how that fact made it hard for the doctors to take care of the other babies in the nursery. Seemed to Foust, that the doctors chose to take care of the majority rather than caring individually for the babies. As her rant continues, Foust states that she is again, “Sorry” for calling to check in on her son (line 7). And, for her son doing what he wasn’t supposed to do as a baby. Again giving a responsibility to a baby to act on a physical disability isn’t likely, obviously (line 13). This stanza gives us an insight on what happened to her son during testing. Which is understandably frustrating as a mother. I would be sassy and unapologetic too!
The baby was experiencing some serious changes in weight, and by Foust’s explanation of “doing everything backwards”, provides a possibility as to what the doctor might have told the mother at that time (line 9). Maybe, even to excuse why the baby wasn’t getting the treatment it deserves. The term, “doing everything backwards”, seems original and unique in that sense, and could be used as backfire words in Foust’s “apology letter.”
I feel like this poem especially has been very different from our other readings. This one is extremely dramatic in tone, and heart-felt because of the amount of lack her family received because her baby was disabled. Which is not the son’s fault, and shouldn’t be acted on differently than a baby without a disability. It hit home in a lot of ways personally, because this happens everyday even outside the hospitals. For example, teachers will get frustrated with those who have learning disabilities because they believe it takes up time with questions and failed tests. Personally, I have been told to not enroll into certain (high school) classes, mainly AP classes, due to the course being “fast-paced” and at a “college-level”. When my advisor told me this, I was confused why those two phrases were emphasized in our meetings. I would respond with, “okay, and?” Educators sometimes feel as if students should all demonstrate the same style and not allow for grades to be nothing other than a test. No projects, presentations, or visual representations. Learning is easier, for the teacher, by teaching everyone the same way.
Relating my personal story to Foust’s Poem, I felt connected to the mother on how the doctor didn’t make sure her son got more care that he needed than the rest. Just like I wanted more help from a teacher, the doctor wanted to focus on the majority of the babies (or in my case, classmates), in particular the ‘healthier babies’ rather than taking the time to help the disabled baby. It’s unfortunate how this world can look down on others with disability, because they might seem hopeless or “too much to handle.” Readers can take away from this poem by relating to an experience where they had with a professional and didn’t receive what was expected. But, got something where it wasn’t quite enough.
I pledge.
Word Count: 667
