Alright. Hello, Kelsey!" said Dr Gangee. I was glad she was not like the secretary. "Who's your loyal friend here?"
"This is Elise."
"Well, you're very lucky to have such a friend as Elise who would accompany you. I just finished with a girl much younger than you who came with no one."
"Yeah, I met her…" I said.
She smiled sympathetically at me. "Now, contrary to what people must have told you, this is not the end of your life. Yes, it is the end of your life as you know it, but not the end. Alright, for today I'm just going to do a complete physical examination and then I'll send you off to do an ultra-sound," she said and led me to the little table with white paper on it. "Do you have an idea of how far along you are?"
"Yeah, about twenty-one weeks."
"Alright. By now all its organs are developed excluding the lungs. It can even recognise your voice," she smiled and continued to give me the check up. "There is no major damage to any of your vital organs. I think there's a big chance you're carrying a healthy baby. Now, I'm going to prescribe you some multivitamins. I want you to take one every morning, without fail. The baby needs lots of extra vitamins, especially since it hasn't had them in its first months in the womb. From now on, I'm sorry to say, no more junk food or anything unhealthy until it's born. As much as possible, no strenuous activity but I would recommend some gentle exercising such as yoga, walking, or swimming. Don't just sit around at home. Take absolutely no other medicine besides the vitamins, unless it's approved by me. That means no pain killers, or even cold or flu medicine. Don't start up the habit of smoking, drinking, or drugs again during your pregnancy and if your going to breast feed also. Understood?"
"What do I do for the pain and stuff?" I asked.
"Well, pregnancy is no picnic but I would recommend lots of crackers, chicken noodle soup, water, and warm baths. Anything else?" She said in the way only doctors can.
"I'm alright for now," I said confidently and looked over at Elise who was writing everything down.
She gave me a slip of paper and sent me down the hall to the ultrasound room. In a few minutes I was looking at my child's hands and feet. "Would you like to know if it's a boy or girl?"
"Yes," I replied and looked at Elise in anticipation.
"It's a boy."
I looked at his ten tiny finger and ten tiny toes, his two feet and arms and fell completely in love. "I'm going to keep him," I told Elise as I left the office.
"Are you sure, Kelsey? I mean, this isn't just a doll or a pet or something, he's a human being."
"I know that!" I took a deep breath. "I know… Just because I got pregnant that doesn't mean I'm completely brainless."
"I didn't mean it like that."
I sighed. "Yeah... The thing is; I got myself into this. I'm not just going to back down and give him up and go on with my life."
"Kels, you heard what the doctor said. It'll be the end of your life as you know it. You'll never be able to be a teenager again. If you give him away to a family that really wants him, you can go on with your life and so can he. Can you really provide a good home life for him? You can barely afford to take care of yourself."
I pushed out another frustrated sigh and tried to defend my cause. "I'm working! I've been saving up and if I quit school I'll be able to save on books and stuff. Plus I'll be able to work more. My mom did it!"
"With a husband who didn't even love her! They were working on two salaries just to support you and look how you turned out, making the same mistake! Do you want your son to make the same?" she told me.
I stared at her. "No! Just… No, okay? What mother wants their child to have to go through this? I'm not planning on helping him get someone pregnant!"
"Well, I don't think your mom planned you out either!"
"Elise! I don't even know why were discussing this! It's not your decision. Stop trying to control my life!" she looked down and sighed. I calmed myself and then said, "You really think I should give it up for adoption, don't you?"
"Yes. You're only seventeen. You are my best friend; I don't want this to ruin your life. You're not even an adult yet. You don't have your driver's license. You don't have a credit card," her voice cracked. "You're not even married, yet. You just got your own life back on track, Kels. How do you expect to make sure your child doesn't make the same mistakes you did?"
"I don't know." I was quiet for a few minutes and then asked. "Do you think God still loves me?"
"Yes, He still loves you…" she said quietly.
"Good, because I would never be able to get through this if He didn't."