know the details； Patsy。 Maybe there are no government facilities nearby。 Maybe they
thought a private facility was a better place for him
to be。”
“Still；” my dad says； “there are government facilities available； and if they don't want to go
that route； that's their choice。 It's not our fault their
family had some sort of chromosomal abnormality； and I refuse to feel guilty for wanting — ”
My grandfather slams his hand on the table and half…stands as he says； “It had nothing to do
with chromosomes； Rick！ It was caused by a lack of
oxygen at birth。” He brings his voice down； but it makes his words seem even more forceful。
“Juli's uncle had the umbilical cord wrapped around his
neck。 Twice。 One minute he was a perfect little baby； just like your son； Bryce； and the next
he was irreversibly damaged。”
My mother was suddenly hysterical。 In seconds she was bawling her eyes out； wailing； and
my father was all over her； trying to calm her down。 It
was no use。 She