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Mr. Bows:
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Hello Doctor. I'm Tom.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hello. We finally get a chance to meet in person.
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Mr. Bows:
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I guess it's about time.
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Dr. Balis:
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How's Sylvia?
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Mr. Bows:
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She's doing all right for the moment. Her contractions are under control, so she feels more confident about the pregnancy. But the medications she is on are wearing her down.
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Dr. Balis:
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In what way?
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Mr. Bows:
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Loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and an over all feeling of being ill.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry to hear that. But from what I've been reading about this subject, those are very common complaints. The good news is that there are only fourteen more weeks to go.
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Mr. Bows:
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Or the bad news, depending on the point of view.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see my job as making Sylvia realize that that's good news.
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Mr. Bows:
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Unfortunately I don't think you'll be able to do your job today, Doctor Balis.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why not?
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Mr. Bows:
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Sylvia finally fell asleep about half hour ago and I think that she needs to sleep even more than talk with you, Doctor. She hasn't slept for a couple of nights now.
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Dr. Balis:
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Of course. I agree with you. I can come and see her some other time. She definitely needs to get a lot of rest. And by the way, it's probably a good idea for you to get some rest too. You look like you haven't slept in a long time either.
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Mr. Bows:
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I don't require a lot of sleep, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh?
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Mr. Bows:
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I work with the East Coast a lot and they start three hours earlier.
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Dr. Balis:
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Sylvia told me that you work long hours. But she also mentioned that you've been cutting down some.
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Mr. Bows:
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As you said--fourteen weeks is not a long time and there is too much at stake.
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Dr. Balis:
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Last week Sylvia mentioned that you've been very helpful and supportive.
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Mr. Bows:
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I'm glad that she is beginning to notice.
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Dr. Balis:
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She seems to have come to rely on you quite a bit in the last couple of weeks.
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Mr. Bows:
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I don't think you really know Sylvia, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Huh?
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Mr. Bows:
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Your experience with her has been...let's just say that I don't think that you've ever met the real Sylvia.
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Dr. Balis:
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I think that I've come to know her pretty well these last six months.
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Mr. Bows:
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She came to you confused and irrational and you drugged her up before even understanding what the situation was.
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Dr. Balis:
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You sound like you have a lot of hostility against me, Tom.
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Mr. Bows:
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I'm getting over it.
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Dr. Balis:
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I sincerely believe that I've always acted in Sylvia's best interests.
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Mr. Bows:
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You should have spent the time to investigate and learn Sylvia's situation and motives.
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Dr. Balis:
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When Sylvia first came to me, she had serious physical problems that needed to be addressed right away.
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Mr. Bows:
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Don't you think I'd noticed that, Doctor? I'm her husband. I've lived with her most of my adult life. I can tell the changes in her mood just by the way she breathes. That's why I think that you jumped the gun with your dependence on chemical solutions and quick fixes. Do you know that I was the one who insisted that Sylvia should seek medical help?
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Mr. Bows:
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I watched as she seemed to melt under her clothes in just a matter of days. I knew she needed help. Maybe I was hoping for a miracle, but instead...
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry you feel this way, Tom.
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Mr. Bows:
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Look it doesn't matter now. I just want to make sure that these kids turn out to be fine. You probably won't believe this Doctor, but I think of them as mine.
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Dr. Balis:
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Sylvia mentioned that you're seeking custody.
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Mr. Bows:
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I don't think that Sylvia is in any shape to be able to provide care or be responsible for anyone right now. Including herself. I don't want to take away these children from Sylvia. I just want to insure their well-being. And I hope some day Sylvia will come to understand this.
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Dr. Balis:
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May I ask if you're still in love with Sylvia?
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Mr. Bows:
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I've always been in love with Sylvia and I always will be. But this is irrelevant right now, don't you think?
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Dr. Balis:
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No, I think it's very important. I think you should tell Sylvia you feel this way.
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Mr. Bows:
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Sylvia knows. But it no longer holds any significance to her. I'm glad that I can make this time easier for her. And I'm happy that she is letting me help her. But after this is all over...Sylvia made up her mind. Or her mind was made up for her. But whatever the case may be, she is no longer interested in how I might feel about her. She made it quite plain.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see.
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Mr. Bows:
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Look Doctor, it's getting late and I didn't mean to keep you so long. I will make sure Sylvia knows that you've been here. She'll probably call you and set something up. I hope it wasn't too inconvenient for you.
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Dr. Balis:
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It wasn't a problem. Please give my best to Sylvia.
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Mr. Bows:
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I'll do that, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Thank you. Goodbye Tom, please believe me when I tell you that it really was good to meet you in person.
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Mr. Bows:
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Likewise Doctor. Goodbye.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Conversation
Transcripts of Sylvia Bows' Therapy Sessions
