Life in a hospital: chapters 7-9

I have always tried to live life by telling myself not to sweat the small stuff. This book made me realize that most of my concerns are small in comparison to the value of my life. In chapter seven, Peg reads letters and cards from her classmates and realizes that the concerns and important things to her classmates, what used to be of concern to her, did not matter any more. She had faced death. She suddenly realized that she was changed forever. Her new world was the hospital.

When Peg wakes up to find that she could move her hands and arms, she is beyond ecstatic! She could now read and hold her books again, and begins to read aloud to her roomate Tommy until her voice gives out. Her progress continues, and this brings her bitter sweet news that she will be transferred yet again. Although this means that she is getting better, it also means that she will no longer have Dr. Bevis as her doctor.

After she accepts her departure and says her goodbyes, she is transferred. She enters her new room and is greeted by her four new roomates: Dorothy, Shirley, Renee, and Alice. They are all similar in age. Soon Peg is introduced to her new physical therapist, Mrs Ballard. To her astonishment, her new therapist is encouraging and does not ever want her "to feel real pain." She is relieved and learns to cooperate and trust her. She even learns to look forward to daily physical therapy sessions. Peg soon begins to use a wheelchair and her progress continues to show.

Sundays become her favorite days because visitors are allowed, and she gets to see her parents. Her parents are a delight and bring news of the outside world and goodies to Peg, as well as for her roomates. None of her roomates receive visitors because their parents live too far away. And one's parents abandoned her.

This book not only makes me be grateful for my parents and loved ones, but also for life. I get to experience favorite foods, music, shows, movies, and being a woman. I never before realized or began to phathom what life might be like living in a hospital, nearly my whole life, as did Alice, Peg's roomate.