don’t need that after what’s been happening lately.
“Sure thing. I can pop round about six, is that okay?”
I smile. “Perfect.”
18
It is a Sunday morning when I wake up to an email I never thought I would ever get. An email that completely shocks me to my core.
Dear Ana,
I received your email together with your documentation, saying that you are looking for details about your mother.
I’m Doctor Chanwani, your mother’s physician at the time of her trying to become pregnant and all throughout her pregnancy. I am retired now, but I do remember all those years ago—especially as your parents were very much in love and desperate to have you. Your mother and father tried everything they could to get pregnant. This was where I stepped in.
In your email, you revealed that you were brought up by Stella as your father died when you were a toddler. I was deeply saddened to hear that and want to express my condolences. Under normal circumstances, I would direct you to the HFEA website, but as I already have the information you seek, I will do my best to answer the questions you’re burning to ask. It is within your legal right being over the age of 18 to do so anyway.
Your mother unfortunately not only had endometriosis, but also poor egg quality. They had been trying to get pregnant for over a year, so were naturally extremely keen to find a way to overcome this obstacle. Because such odds were against them, I suggested egg donation. This is where Stella stepped in and donated a few of her own eggs. Luckily, she was only too pleased to help, and after the second IVF, treatment they became pregnant.
Your parents were naturally over the moon, but the pregnancy didn’t run without its complications. Because of her endometriosis, she had to be admitted to hospital at thirty-seven weeks to be induced. The delivery had complications too. She had Placenta Previa, which is when the placenta attaches itself to the bottom part of the uterus instead of the top. It ruptured during labor, so an emergency Caesarean was carried out. Unfortunately, however, your mother lost too much blood, and despite all efforts, we couldn’t save her. She is the only patient I lost during childbirth. That alone is why I will never forget your parents.
I will also never forget the look on your father’s face when we told him the news. I remember seeing your father the next day and wanted to go to him, but I had an emergency to attend to. I never saw him again after that, and to this day I wish I could have expressed my condolences.
I’m happy to hear that you are healthy and living in the States, no less. I hope that Stella is doing well too. Please send her my regards when you see her.
I hope I have answered everything you need to know, but if you have any further questions, please reply to my email. I will do my best to answer any other queries you may have.
Best regards,
Deli Chanwani
I did my very best to read the whole thing, but the only words that popped out and stayed with me were, I suggested egg donation. This is where Stella stepped in and donated a few of her own eggs. Luckily, she was only too pleased to help, and after the second IVF treatment, they became pregnant.
Stella donated her eggs, so that means only one thing. My mother may have carried me, but she wasn’t my biological mother after all.
Stella is.
My head hurts with the knowledge of this. Why did she leave this vital piece of information out? Why does she continuously lie to me?
The answers come, but I don’t like the prospect of those answers.
I’m angry. So angry that I leap out of my seat, grabbing my car keys along the way, and head over to Jake’s house. The pain at having to go back there knowing she’s still there is crippling, but this is too huge of news to ignore.
The only thing I’m running on right now is pure adrenaline as I bang my fist on Jake’s door. Within a few seconds she answers instead of Jake, that same smirk rising on her lips when she sees it’s me.
“Ana, what a pleasure. Would you like to come in? Jake’s popped out to get me some pancakes, so he won’t be long. I can ask him to add some for you, too, if you’d like to stay for