Last Chance (6)
[Are you worried? What are you worried about?]
Jeong Seol-hwa asked back, stuttering.
You can see at a glance that he is panicking.
There was no need to use interrogation skills against the honest Jeong Seol-hwa.
“I know there’s something you didn’t tell me.”
[There is no such thing. Really. And as people live, they all have things to worry about.]
“I know it’s not a trivial worry. I also heard something from people at the thoracic surgery department, right? So, tell me honestly.”
[How does the thoracic surgery staff know that? Oh, indeed!]
Jeong Seol-hwa hastily covered her mouth with one hand.
“It’s a snowflake.”
[okay. I’ll tell you everything.]
Jeong Seol-hwa’s explanation continued.
A few days ago, the results of her father Jeong Jin-myeong’s health checkup came out.
As a result, Jeong Jin-myeong was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer.
Stage 2 pancreatic cancer refers to a condition in which cancer tissue has invaded the pancreas and surrounding organs.
The problem is that even in stage 2 pancreatic cancer, the patient’s survival rate is extremely low.
[Actually, it hasn’t been long since the test results came out. I don’t know how to get treatment, so that’s why I haven’t told you yet. There was no intention to deceive.]
It felt like my heart was breaking at the sight of her dejected appearance.
What a painful time she must have had after hearing the news that her father had pancreatic cancer.
Choi Ki-seok listened to Jeong Seol-hwa’s story and soothed her pain.
In fact, I owe her countless things while working as a doctor.
Even though she said she was my boyfriend, she didn’t really take care of me and I always received comfort from her.
Now it is his turn to help Jeong Seol-hwa.
“Seolhwa. Listen to me carefully.”
[Yes.]
“Take a vacation as soon as possible and come to Meijo with your father.”
[At Meijo?]
“Okay. Let’s get your father treated at Meijo. New cancer treatment equipment was recently introduced. There are only five of them in the world, but now there are six.”
[Could it be that equipment? However, if you receive treatment at Meijo and use the equipment, the cost of treatment is…]
Jeong Seol-hwa’s voice became quieter.
“I’ll pay all the expenses, so don’t worry.”
[no. You can’t do that!]
“Why not? We’re going to get married anyway. Can your future son-in-law stay still when his father-in-law is sick?”
[Anyway… I don’t think that’s right.]
“It’s okay. I have a plan.”
As I was talking with Jeong Seol-hwa, I heard a familiar voice along with the sound of the door opening.
Jeong Jin-myeong appeared, saying that even tigers will come if they say so.
“Father, can you change it for me?”
[Phew… Okay.]
“Hello. I’m Ki-seok, training in the United States.”
[It’s been a long time.]
Jeong Jin-myeong answered briefly.
Perhaps because of pancreatic cancer, his face looked haggard than when I saw him before.
Her cheeks were sunken and her eyes were lifeless.
Maybe it was an illusion, but it even gave off an air of giving up on life.
“I just heard about my father through a folktale.”
[So?]
“I think it would be better for your father to be treated at the Mayjo Clinic. There is an outstanding general surgeon named Smith here. If you first receive surgery from him and receive additional treatment with a new medical device, you will definitely be cured.”
[Is it hope torture?]
Jeong Jin-myeong smiled bitterly.
“I’m not giving you hope, I’m just telling you the truth.”
[….]
“In the past, in medical malpractice cases, I trusted and followed my father. But this time, I hope that your father will trust and follow me. I will do my best to help with the treatment.”
“Phew…”
Jeong Jinmyeong let out a long sigh without answering.
[That’s a reliable answer. Then I’ll be shameless and ask you a favor.]
“Thank you.”
Afterwards, Choi Ki-seok talked some more with Jeong Seol-hwa and then changed into casual clothes. And I slung the bag containing the Powerball winning ticket on my shoulder.
The fateful day of finding the Powerball winnings arrived, but I felt at ease.
‘I guess it’s a good idea.’
In the United States, the identities of lottery winners were often made public. However, there were some differences by state as well.
In Minnesota, you can avoid disclosure of your identity by paying 20 percent of your winnings.
A special law was enacted to secure state finances.
In his case, the plan was to give him his winnings and have his identity protected. If your personal information is exposed, hospital life will become tiring.
Buuuuung.
Song Myeong-jin’s car left Meijo.
* * *
The next morning.
Choi Ki-seok attended the conjoined twin surgery conference hosted by Lucas.
The surgeon for this surgery is Lucas.
The first assistant is Cindy, a fellow who previously assisted with non-transfusion moyamoya disease.
The second assistant is Ki-Seok Choi, and the third assistant is Nicola.
While the three were talking for a while, Lucas came into the conference room.
“Hello. Manager.”
“Good morning, Chief.”
“Everyone is here early. So, shall we skip the nonsense and start by explaining Mr. Choi’s case?”
“yes.”
Choi Ki-seok stood on the podium and held a pointer in his hand.
“Patients Adam and Brian were conjoined twins, born with their heads joined at the ends. A CT scan confirmed that the two children shared a skull and some brain tissue.”
As he flipped through the screen, a CT image appeared on the screen.
Nikolai, who first checked the case, opened his mouth wide.
“Chief. If you perform separate surgery, won’t the patient actually die? I think it would be better not to do the surgery.”
“If we don’t get the surgery, the two children will have to stay bedridden for the rest of their lives. We don’t know what problems might arise while they grow up. The surgery is absolutely necessary.”
Nikolai closed his mouth in response to Lucas.
“I will continue the briefing. There are three major surgical methods for craniosynostosis twin fetuses. One is to remove the attached brain tissue horizontally, and the other two are to remove it diagonally to the left and diagonally to the right, respectively.”
“What method do you think would be better for this patient?”
“Considering the adhesion area, I think it would be better to remove it horizontally.”
“Okay. Continue.”
Lucas nodded at Choi Ki-seok’s answer.
“The surgical process is as follows. First, the scalp and skull are incised, and the attached brain tissue and nerves are separated. Once the separation is completed, the skull is reconstructed and the head is sewn using tissue expansion surgery.”
“….”
“Separating brain tissue and nerves is the most important, and skull reconstruction and head stitching are expected to consume a lot of time. Considering the separation surgeries that have been performed so far, the surgery is expected to take over 20 hours. It is expected.”
Choi Ki-seok stuck out his tongue while briefing with his own mouth.
It’s a surgery that takes 20 hours…
This is my first time assisting in a surgery that takes such an enormous amount of time.
“You may have just heard the explanation, but this surgery is not easy.”
Lucas stood on the podium and opened his mouth.
“The surgery time is ridiculously long, and you can’t relax at every moment. A single mistake can cause the patient to die. ”
Yes!”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“As it is an extremely difficult surgery, we need to be careful about breathing and surgery among the staff. There is a need to develop proficiency. So, starting today, we will practice surgery every other day.”
“How will the practice be conducted?”
Choi Ki-seok raised his hand and asked.
Lucas’ intentions were good, but there was no specific way to practice surgery.
Cases of conjoined twins are so rare. Because.
While there was silence in the conference room, a sudden knock was heard.
“Excuse me. The delivery has arrived.”
“It arrived just in time. Here it is.”
Lucas placed the large box he received from the delivery man on the table.
The staff’s attention was focused on the box.
What was inside the unidentified box?
“Wow!”
“Amazing.”
When the box was opened, The staff members each exclaimed in exclamation.
What was in the box was none other than a model of Adam and Brian.
The model almost perfectly embodied the appearance of the actual patient.
Choi Ki-seok, the attending physician, knew this better than anyone else.
“This surgery There is interest not only in clinics but also in the media. So, I persuaded the vice hospital director and made a special model using 3D printing.”
“….”
“I plan to use the model to practice surgery in the future. No complaints, right?”
“Yes!”
“Good.”
“Of course. Let’s go to the operating room right away.”
The staff gathered the model and left the conference room.
The difficult journey to separate conjoined twins began. * *
*
That afternoon,
Matthew was talking with Parker in the office.
“No matter how much you think about it, you’re an idiot. It was the same thing. “You can’t believe you made a mistake at such an important time.”
Parker clicked his tongue as he stared at Matthew.
The election of the neurosurgery head chief was just around the corner. However, Matthew made the mistake of calling the surgeon who was waiting for surgery to do personal business.
Matthew was called by the vice hospital director and received a harsh reprimand.
This news spread to all the sergeants above the current manager level.
“I admit it. “I was careless,”
Matthew continued, rubbing his forehead.
“But I don’t think that’s going to turn the tables. You’re helping me, aren’t you?”
“That’s right, but… if it continues like this, I might back out too.”
“Uh-huh. It’s a sad sound…”
“It’s not a sad sound. “I took a step back for you, so you should do the same.”
Parker finished speaking and took a sip of the coffee on the table.
Originally, he had agreed to help Matthew on the condition that Matthew kick out Choi Ki-seok.
But now , I changed my mind.
Because Matthew kept getting bullied by Ki-Seok Choi.
Parker first promoted Matthew to head chief of neurosurgery, and then decided to take Ki-Seok Choi, whom Matthew had kicked out, to the emergency medicine department. If Matthew becomes
head chief, he will be even more aggressive than he is now. Because it can be strengthened.
‘He’s less trustworthy than I thought. I’m sure he won’t suffer even if he becomes Head Chief, right?’
Parker muttered to himself,
“Stay quiet and don’t cause any trouble for the time being. Then, you will definitely become Head Chief.”
“Remember.”
As Pucker left, only Matthew was left in the office.
Matthew sat on the sofa, raised his head and stared at the ceiling.
If he becomes Head Chief, he will show an example to Lucas and Choi Ki-seok. I’ll give it to you.
Jeeeeee.
Just then, my cell phone rang.
I thought it was Jacob’s call, but unexpectedly, my wife called.
[Honey! We’re in big trouble!]
“Why are you making such a fuss right after I called?”
[Well, our Drake touched someone else’s things. [He said he was being investigated at the police station. I don’t think I can just ignore it.]
“What! Did that idiot steal again?”
[What should I do? Really.]
“Are you in the office right now too?”
[Yes.]
“I’ll leave as soon as the surgery schedule is over, so just wait.”
After hanging up the phone, Matthew looked at the book on the bookshelf. I pulled it out and threw it at random.
Even so, I couldn’t relieve the anger overflowing in my body.
“Damn it! Get rid of this idiot right away…”
Matthew was left speechless by the sudden knocking sound.
“Hmm. Come in.”
“Matthew. It’s been a while.”
Jacob, who had made an appointment in advance, came into the office.
“You made a huge mess. Is something going on?”
Jacob frowned as he glanced around the office.
“Something very terrible. Sit there.”
Matthew and Jacob sat on the couch and stared at each other.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since this.”
“That’s right. It seems like just yesterday that we were living on campus together. At that time, I never dreamed that you would drop out and become a police officer.”
“It certainly wasn’t an ordinary choice.”
Jacob chuckled.
He attended medical school for two years, then dropped out and joined the police force.
“By the way, the police chief told me that he was going to be a police officer. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
“I’ll tell you straight. I have one favor to ask of you. Do you know the patient named Fried who was recently admitted to your department?”
“You don’t know. There’s a lot of fuss in the news right now. I already had a hard time because of that patient.” ”
Then the story will be quick,”
Jacob paused before continuing.
“I need that patient’s medical records.”
