Pneumonia
and
Other
InjuriesMy baby Gemmita coughed for three days and I thought it was only a cold. Nick said so too until her eyes grew hot and Marisa said “she’s sick.” Doctora Campos said we should have brought her earlier. Her ribs, Gemma’s ribs poked against her skin and my hand went to my mouth, I couldn’t say anything. Black spots swam in my eyes, but I could not keep from watching the doctor, and Gemma lying on the white-papered table. Nick held his hands to his head, his head between his knees.
The day Gemma started coughing, the rains began again. She became sick in September, the time of year when the rains should end. But she got sicker and the rains came harder. We drove through flooded streets to take her to the clinic, and from the clinic to the hospital next door. Thir
