My Sister’s Keeper
TUESDAY SARA
by Picoult, JodieThe chapter opens with Sara’s reflection on the unexpected sense of belonging she feels at the hospital’s oncology wing, where families share a common struggle. She, her husband Brian, and their daughter Kate meet Dr. Harrison Chance, whose initially cold demeanor worries them. However, his playful gesture of drawing a face on Kate’s rubber glove balloon reveals a kinder side, offering a glimmer of hope in their daunting medical journey. The scene captures the tension and fleeting moments of relief that define their experience.
Sara then shifts to recounting her strained relationship with her sister Suzanne, a successful and commanding figure who once served as her role model. Despite their close bond in childhood, their lives diverged due to Sara’s choices—marrying a man without a college degree and prioritizing motherhood over a career. The emotional distance between them is palpable, underscored by Sara’s hesitation to reach out after years of silence. Their brief phone call hints at unresolved tensions and the complexity of sibling dynamics.
The narrative returns to Kate’s diagnosis of APL, a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. Sara and Brian meet with a medical team who explain the grim prognosis and rigorous treatment plan, including chemotherapy’s harsh side effects. The nurses’ compassion contrasts with the doctors’ clinical detachment, emphasizing the emotional toll on the parents. Sara’s grief over Kate’s impending hair loss symbolizes the visible markers of illness, while Brian’s desperate questions reflect their fear and helplessness.
Dr. Chance outlines potential future treatments, including bone marrow transplants, and asks about Kate’s sibling, Jesse. Sara’s sudden worry about Jesse’s health adds another layer of anxiety. The chapter ends on an unresolved note, leaving the family—and readers—grappling with the uncertainty of Kate’s survival. The blend of medical detail and raw emotion paints a poignant picture of a family confronting a life-altering crisis.
FAQs
1. How does Sara describe her initial impression of Dr. Chance, and how does this change during their interaction?
Answer:
Sara initially has reservations about Dr. Chance due to his delayed arrival and his surname, which she finds off-putting. She describes him as “coldhearted” when he frowns at Kate’s makeshift balloon, questioning whether he is the right person to guide them through Kate’s treatment. However, her perception shifts when Dr. Chance uses a Sharpie to draw a face on the balloon, mirroring his own glasses, and hands it back to Kate with a smile. This small act of kindness transforms Sara’s view of him, suggesting that beneath his professional demeanor lies a compassionate individual who connects with his young patients.2. Analyze the relationship between Sara and her sister Suzanne. What factors contribute to their strained connection?
Answer:
Sara and Suzanne have a complex relationship marked by admiration, rivalry, and distance. Suzanne, ten years older, took on a maternal role after their father’s death, pushing Sara toward academic and professional success. However, Sara’s life choices—marrying a man without a college degree and prioritizing motherhood over a high-powered career—clashed with Suzanne’s values, leading Suzanne to view Sara as a “failure.” Despite their shared history and Suzanne’s occasional gifts to Sara’s children, their philosophical differences and unspoken resentments have created emotional distance. Sara’s hesitation to call Suzanne highlights the weight of their unresolved tensions and the difficulty of reconnecting after prolonged silence.3. What are the key challenges and uncertainties Sara and Brian face regarding Kate’s diagnosis of APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia)?
Answer:
The diagnosis of APL presents several daunting challenges for Sara and Brian. The nurses explain that APL is “chemoresistant,” meaning treatments that work initially may not be effective in future relapses, limiting long-term options. Kate will endure chemotherapy side effects like hair loss, nausea, developmental delays, and heightened infection risks. The lack of guarantees about her survival leaves the parents emotionally shattered, as seen when Brian asks, “Are you saying she’s going to die?” The medical team outlines a rigorous treatment plan involving multiple chemotherapy phases and potential bone marrow transplants, but the unpredictable nature of APL forces Sara and Brian to confront agonizing uncertainty about their daughter’s future.4. How does the author use contrasting imagery to convey the atmosphere of the oncology wing?
Answer:
The oncology wing is depicted with paradoxical imagery that blends comfort and dread. Sara notes the “unexpected comfort” of shared experience among patients and staff, symbolized by the parking attendant’s kindness and children carrying pink emesis basins “like teddy bears.” Yet, this sense of solidarity is undercut by stark details like the “brown, languishing spider plant” in Dr. Chance’s office, reflecting the fragility of life in the ward. The juxtaposition of playful moments (e.g., the glove balloon) against clinical discussions of mortality highlights the emotional duality of the space—where hope and despair coexist.5. Reflect on the significance of Sara’s phone call to Suzanne. What does this moment reveal about her emotional state and needs?
Answer:
Sara’s decision to call Suzanne after a prolonged silence reveals her vulnerability and need for familial support during Kate’s crisis. Despite their estrangement, Suzanne represents a pillar of strength in Sara’s life—the person she turned to during past hardships. By reaching out, Sara implicitly acknowledges that no matter their differences, Suzanne’s presence could provide solace. The call also underscores Sara’s desperation; she bypasses small talk, directly invoking their sisterhood (“tell her it’s her sister calling”). This moment captures Sara’s longing for connection and her willingness to set aside pride in the face of overwhelming fear about Kate’s illness.
Quotes
1. “THERE IS AN UNEXPECTED COMFORT to being at the oncology wing of the hospital, a sense that I am a member of the club. From the kindhearted parking attendant who asks us if it’s our first time, to the legions of children with pink emesis basins tucked beneath their arms like teddy bears—these people have all been here before us, and there’s safety in numbers.”
This opening passage powerfully captures the paradoxical sense of belonging that comes with shared trauma. It introduces the chapter’s central theme of navigating childhood illness while highlighting the narrator’s raw, observational voice.
2. “She was smart and beautiful and always knew what to say at any given moment. She could take any catastrophe and find the logical antidote to cure it, which is what made her such a success at her job… Who wouldn’t want a role model like that?”
This reflection on the narrator’s sister Suzanne reveals the complex dynamics of sibling comparison and perceived failure. It establishes the backstory that informs their strained relationship while showing how personal choices can diverge from family expectations.
3. “The thing about leukemia,” one nurse explains, “is that we haven’t even inserted a needle for the first treatment when we’re already thinking three treatments down the line… This particular illness carries a pretty poor prognosis, so we need to be thinking ahead to what happens next.”
This medical explanation serves as a crucial turning point, delivering the harsh reality of Kate’s diagnosis. The nurse’s candid words contrast with the doctors’ detachment, highlighting how healthcare providers communicate difficult prognoses differently.
4. “She may develop diarrhea. There’s a very good chance that, with her own immune system laid low, she will get an infection that will require hospitalization. Chemo may cause developmental delays, as well.”
This litany of potential side effects represents the devastating practical consequences of treatment. The clinical description becomes particularly poignant when juxtaposed with earlier memories of Kate’s first haircut, showing how illness transforms childhood.
5. “She is the person I ran to when I got my period; the one who helped me knit back together my first broken heart; the hand I would reach for in the middle of the night… No matter what she is now, before all that, she was my built-in best friend.”
This emotional recollection of sisterhood contrasts with their current estrangement, revealing why Sara ultimately reaches out despite their differences. It underscores how crisis can reconnect us to fundamental relationships and shared history.