Variable (3)
“Sorry, I’m already thinking about majoring in cardiothoracic surgery.”
“I already know that. Dr. Song brought you here. But people’s hearts tend to change.”
Smith rested his chin on the back of his hand.
“General surgery is a field with many charms. If you combine the fields of gastrointestinal tract, colon, hepatobiliary tract, and pancreas, the field covered is wide. Do you know my specialty?”
“I believe we have gained fellows in all branches of general surgery.”
“That’s right. There are less than ten general surgeons in the United States with triple board certification. If you choose to specialize in general surgery, I will personally help you with your training.”
Choi Ki-seok remained silent in response to Smith’s suggestion.
It is true that the offer is attractive.
If Song Myeong-jin is the pinnacle of thoracic surgery, Smith is the pinnacle of general surgery. Additionally, according to information, Smith has never taught anyone before.
Would you say he is a so-called nomadic teacher?
It was very meaningful for him to personally help me with my training.
“Are you going to reject my proposal like this?”
“…I’m sorry. Thank you for your words, but I can’t change my major.”
“The reason is?”
Smith’s brow twitched.
“I was given a new life through heart transplant surgery. I can never forget my first feeling of wanting to help patients who were suffering like me get better.”
“Hmm… it’s something that doesn’t change… so there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Smith took a gulp of coffee.
“I have one last question. How is Jace, who is in the hospital with cirrhosis?”
“As a result of the biopsy and ultrasound, it was concluded that a liver transplant should be performed as soon as possible. However, due to the lack of consent from the family, a living liver transplant could not be performed. Currently, the brain-dead patient is on the waiting list for liver transplantation.”
“The waiting period will be quite long… I’m worried.”
“Yes. But I’m embarrassed because I can’t get involved in family matters.”
“Okay. Go.”
Choi Ki-seok greeted Smith and left the office.
“Phew…”
I sighed naturally.
The sense of intimidation that Smith implicitly exuded still remained.
Surely you won’t be kicked out of the higher education system just because you rejected the offer to specialize in general surgery?
Choi Ki-seok walked down the hallway with those thoughts in mind.
Jiyiing.
My cell phone, which I had placed in my gown, trembled.
I moved to a place with few people and answered the phone.
“I missed you, baby.”
[no. Did you miss me more?]
Jeong Seol-hwa continued in a playful voice.
[Is it off today?]
“That’s right.”
[But Ki-seok, I don’t think you’re resting. I think they are either seeing patients in the ward or practicing suturing?]
“Can we spread out our snowflake mats?”
[of course. At least if it’s about you.]
Choi Ki-seok had a normal conversation with Jeong Seol-hwa.
Since coming to the US, we have been talking on the phone at least once every four days.
Before the phone call, I didn’t think there would be much to talk about, but when we actually talked, the conversation became longer with various topics covered.
[I’ll be there within a month.]
“You’re coming to Minnesota?”
[huh. I am steadily accumulating it. Also, if I tell the professor well, I can extend it for up to four days?]
“Is that possible?”
[If it doesn’t work, you have to make it happen. For the two of us to meet.]
“I’m really grateful… but it still takes a while.”
[What?]
“Because I came to America, we couldn’t meet. I thought it was too much to make you come here again under those circumstances.”
[Next time, Kiseok, you can come to Korea. Don’t worry too much about this.]
“….”
Choi Ki-seok was instantly moved by Jeong Seol-hwa’s kind words.
I am just thankful that she takes care of my ugly lover.
[Kiseok? Why aren’t you saying anything?]
“Oh… no, something caught my eye for a moment. If it’s okay, would you like to have a video call?”
[G… now? Suddenly?]
Jeong Seol-hwa suddenly stuttered.
“Why? Are you having a hard time now?”
[fool. That’s not it, I just took off all my makeup after my duty was over. Especially at a time like this…]
“I know that you’re pretty even without makeup. I even saw you snoring while you slept on a trip last time.”
[Well… I did it because I was so tired! I don’t usually snore.]
“That’s right. That’s right. I was definitely tired that day.”
When Choi Ki-seok teased Jeong Seol-hwa, she couldn’t say anything. Your cheeks are probably red by now.
“uh?”
Choi Ki-seok shook his head in surprise.
The call was suddenly disconnected.
Just as I was thinking, ‘I made fun of him so much that I got upset,’ a video call came in.
[ruler. Are you okay?] Jeong
Seol-hwa’s pouting expression was captured on the phone screen.
Although she was embarrassed to have her makeup off, she was just pretty and lovely.
“You’re so pretty, why are you so worried?”
[I don’t know.]
“I’m in the dormitory. Should I take a shower and sleep now?”
[huh. I’m so tired. There were a lot of patients in the emergency room last night. So I thought you came to Korea to see me.]
Choi Ki-seok chuckled at Jeong Seol-hwa’s joke.
During a brief pause in conversation, he used the Eye of Hippocrates on Jeong Seol-hwa.
As a result of using patient mode, there were no other problems other than a decrease in physical strength.
‘As expected, the tale is not ordinary either.’
Choi Ki-seok nodded slightly.
As a result of using medical mode, her medical treatment level is level 5.
I have already reached a level where I could be in my 3rd or 4th year of residency.
“Sulwha. When we get married later, shall we open a clinic?”
[Are you… getting married? [A congressman?]
Jeong Seol-hwa twisted her body in shame.
“It would be nice for Seolhwa to see internal medicine patients on the first floor and me to see surgical patients on the second floor.”
[Of course I like it too. Then I don’t think I’ll have any wishes.]
“We’ll have to make a lot of money, right?”
The two people looked at each other and smiled.
“You must be tired, so go to sleep quickly.”
[huh. okay. Since he is off too, take a good rest.]
“I love you.”
[Me too.]
Jeong Seol-hwa made a sound with her mouth and hung up.
Ki-seok Choi was looking down at his phone for a long time even after the call ended. After only 10 minutes of talking, my heart felt warm and my whole body felt recharged.
‘ruler. Then shall we begin?’
Ki-Seok Choi ended up in the A Rosette observation operating room.
Today, I plan to film only two surgery videos and take a break.
While waiting for surgery, I checked off two ongoing missions.
The first mission involved the training room.
[You have obtained the long-term mission ‘Sweet Escape’. If you complete the mission, a new mode will be added to the training mode.]
[Achieved 200 training room training sessions (40/200)]
To complete the mission, the maximum number of entries allowed per day was three. If I keep up the current pace, I’ll get a new mode in two months.
‘This is the problem.’
Choi Ki-seok frowned as he looked at the missions related to the Hier system.
[You have obtained the new mission ‘Get Smith’s Recognition.’]
[Mission Completion Conditions: You must meet the necessary conditions to receive Smith’s approval. You need to obtain material items and increase some stats.]
[Dark Seal: 0/1]
[Reputation raised to level 4: Current value 5/5 complete!]
[Jonathan’s Praise: 1/1 complete!]
[Patient’s Truth Smile: 2/2]
[When you complete the mission, you can use the Hier system and receive a unique gem.]
The way to obtain the Dark Seal was still unknown.
Although they succeeded in finding the owner of the seal, they could not find anything in common between them.
“Hmm…”
Choi Ki-seok stared at the name written in the memo on his phone. It would have been nice if the Sixth Sense had activated and given a tip, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
But at that very moment.
Jiiiing.
The door opened and a person sat down a little away from him.
‘what?’
Even though Choi Ki-seok knew that it was against etiquette, he could not take his eyes off the other person.
This is my first time meeting someone in an observation operating room.
The man appeared to be in his late 20s.
His appearance was ordinary, but his long blonde hair stood out.
“Huh? Are you Kiseok Choi?”
The man recognized Choi Ki-seok and came to his side.
“Do you know me?”
“It’s not strange that you don’t know. Not long ago, you saved a patient who attempted suicide. It was even on the news, so it’s impossible not to know.”
The man smiled softly.
N.
S (NeuroSurgery Neurosurgery) Leon.
The name pinned to the gown pocket caught my eye.
“Let me formally greet you. My name is Ki Seok Choi and I am training in general surgery.”
“This is Leon, a neurosurgery resident.”
The two men shook hands lightly.
“Leon was also accepted to this new residency?”
“No. I joined last year.”
“Ah… So you’ve decided on a major.”
Choi Ki-seok nodded slightly.
Neurosurgery residents can work as neurosurgery residents immediately after completing one year of training in general surgery.
Compared to thoracic surgery, the training period in other departments is shorter.
“But it’s really surprising.”
“What?”
“Why did someone specializing in neurosurgery come to observe general surgery?”
“After hearing it, I think it’s strange.”
Leon smiled and continued.
“Because the patient is an acquaintance of mine. I came to observe it since it was off.”
While I was talking with Leon, the staff entered the rosette.
The two people stared at the monitor in silence, without worrying about who would go first.
Today’s surgery is pancreatic cancer surgery.
The patient had stage 2 pancreatic cancer and was scheduled for distal pancreatectomy.
Distal pancreatectomy is an operation performed when cancer occurs in the body or tail of the pancreas and also removes the spleen.
[You used the dragon’s eye. Video of the surgery is recorded using video mode.]
Ki-Seok Choi used the skill and focused on the monitor.
Just as pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult, pancreatic cancer surgery is also notoriously difficult.
The pancreas is surrounded by various organs such as the duodenum, bile duct, gallbladder, and spleen, making it very difficult to excise cancer cells.
That’s not all.
Even if the resection is successfully completed, the process of anastomosis and reconstruction of other organs is also difficult.
How will the surgeon overcome this difficulty?
Choi Ki-seok started filming the surgery with half concern and half anticipation.
Next pancreatic cancer surgery.
Contrary to my worries, the surgery went smoothly.
Resection of the tail of the pancreas and spleen, as well as anastomosis, were performed smoothly.
Would you say it is a textbook on distal pancreatectomy?
Choi Ki-seok felt satisfied throughout the filming.
After a 6-hour journey, the surgery was completed successfully.
‘what? ‘Why do you do that?’
Choi Ki-seok frowned as he finished filming the video.
I could feel the staff being agitated.
I thought it was strange, so I examined the patient with the eyes of Hippocrates, but there was no problem.
The patient’s condition is non-emergency and the course is normal.
Looking back on the surgical process, there were no particular problems…
“It’s a good thing I came and had a look, just in case.”
Leon suddenly stood up.
“Do you know what’s wrong?”
“yes. There’s a piece of gauze left inside the organ.”
At Leon’s words, Choi Ki-seok turned to ice.
How many treatment materials were used over a long period of 6 hours? But Leon was speaking as if he remembered it all.
“You were surprised, right? “I have some special abilities.”
Leon called Rosette with a shy expression.
“I’m Leon, a neurosurgeon in training who is observing the surgery. I’m not counting the treatment materials right now, right?”
