Fan Fiction |
by Mimosa
We got to the ER 2 on the ground floor a little more than 2 minutes later. The ER doctor in charge met us at the entrance:
“7 year-old rode a bike and tumbled into a fence of some sort” He briefed us as we walked into the pre-op area “Chest wound, penetrated upward and quite deep! We suspect heart rupture, Dr. Lo”
“Have we tried everything?” Gallen frowned as he washed his hands and allowed the nurse to assist in putting on the blue surgical gown. "Infusion?"
“Done, no response!”
“How long has it been?” He bended down a little so that the nurse would secure his cap.
“12-15 minutes!”
“Who else beside you are on for this op?” Gallen inquired, having his gloves put on.
“Just two technicians as usual, why?”
“Let me see,” Gallen turned back to us, smiling lightly “I need one of you to assist me. The other two are welcomed to stay out here and look on if you like” He glanced quickly the three of us, then fixed his eyes on me “Is there a volunteer?”
“Not fair” Ada was sharp enough to catch his glance “You already picked Flora, Doctor Lo!”
“You could go if you want” I thought I flushed a little, or maybe it was just the anticipation building up before the operation.
“It’s okay” Ada laughed “We’ll go next time, right Kevin?”
“Like I have a choice!” Kevin rolled his eyes and made a face.
Gallen ignored Ada and Kevin’s little accusation. “That’s settled then,” he said with authority “Let the nurse help you get ready, I’ll wait for you inside!”
I put on everything as quick as I can, and followed him into ER 2. It was the first time in my life that I’ve been in an emergency room. We’d attended several surgical procedures as part of our basic training, but none of them was under such emergency circumstance. They were all “scheduled”, standard, academic operations. My own heart quickened as I took the first look at our little patient. He looked lifeless with the horrid bluish color on his face and arms. His chest area was covered, but the crimson color was so vivid.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my heartbeat. His life was in our hands.
“Just relax, Miss Chan” I heard Gallen whispered by my side. I looked up to catch his assuring nod. I felt better!
“It’s Flora!” I whispered back.
“Flora…” His eyes smiled at me encouragingly as he spoke from under the mask “We’ll just try our best!”
The overhead lights zoomed in, and the humming of the heart-lung machine became more audible. I took my stand across the table form Gallen, the ER doctor by my side. It was him who handed the first scalpel to Gallen. I found myself a little dizzy. The pressure of a real, life-threatening, only-5%-survival operation must have wrecked my nerves. I felt my hand shook a little when I handed Gallen the next tool.
“Flora!” He spoke softly and encouragingly “We need clamps! Not forcep, clamps!”
It was either the stress, or simply my lack of the ability to focus… But I had handed him the wrong tool. In an attempt to correct the mistake, I clumsily dropped the forcep, and my hand was shaking uncontrollably when I finally handed him the right clamp.
“Flora!” Gallen’s tone was grave yet persuasive “Look at me!” He urged “Look at me, Flora!”
I looked at him. I looked into his eyes. They were utterly confident. They were full of resolution and courage.
“You’re doing very fine!” He nodded “Now just hand me the clamps!”
...
The operation took about 45 minutes, and at the end of it I was so proud of myself. My hands weren’t shaking as bad as when we just began the session, and our little patient’s condition was looking promising. It wasn’t quite stable yet, but there was hope! At least he made it through the critical operation.
I was so proud of myself, yet so exhausted from all the stress that had built up! So exhausted that I swayed and felt the moment we entered the elevator.
A strong arm caught me in time. I didn’t know whose that was, but I heard Ada yelled my name. When I opened my eyes a little after, I found the whole gang looking down at me.
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“Are you okay, Flora?” Ada asked, removing the icepack she had held against my temple. I nodded and tried to get up, but she pushed me back down.
I couldn’t see Gallen from where I stay. I didn’t know whether he was around or not.
“How do you feel now?” Kevin asked with concern
“Aw, this is so embarrassing!” I groaned, and attempted to sit up again “I can’t believe I would faint, Ada! I guess it was the stress!”
I felt the urge to bury my face in my hands, when I realized my hands were not free. They were both held tightly in Kevin’s. “Er…” I wriggled them, trying to break free. What was Kevin thinking holding my hands like that! “Kevin, let go, and quick!” I guessed I sounded a little annoyed, and that caused Kevin to blush lightly.
“Kevin!” Ada saw what happened and grumbled teasingly“I suggest you take your dirty grip off Flora at once! It's work place, Kevin”
“I’ll do so!” Kevin threw Ada a challenging glare “But not because of you telling me to, Ada!”
“Really?” Ada moved threateningly closer, swinging the icepack on her hand. Kevin grunted and reluctantly let go.
As Kevin shifted slightly sideway, I saw Gallen. He was standing just a few steps away, witnessing the whole little episode. He smiled at me. It wasn’t his usual smile… He seemed to force it.
Or may be it was just my imagination.
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By the time we got back to the conference room, everybody else had finished their lunches.
“What took you guys so long?” Annie asked “Did my brother get lost in his own hospital or something?”
Gallen chuckled “Say whatever you want, sis. But I think I took them on the best tour ever!”
“Oh no” Annie’s eyes were very round “He took you guys to the bar or something?”
We laughed, while Gallen grunted and went to help Nick Cheung get the lunch boxes.
“No, he took us to the emergency room, Annie!” I decided to say something in his defense. After all, he was right. It was the best tour one would possibly get.
“Let’s move everyone!” Nick Cheung announced “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but you’ll have to eat on the way. We have to reach your assigned village before 1 o’clock”
All six of us got into a large van. It belonged to Ada’s advisor, I guessed. We headed to our first location. There we would erect a tent. While Annie’s group of first-year students would help with distribution flyers and other health-related educational leaflets, groups like Ada, Kevin and me would aid in offering free check-ups for infants and young children. Should we spot a case that needed further surgery, we’d schedule to bring the little patient back to Grantham later in the week.
But that wasn’t what we concerned at the moment. We were enjoyed the scenery of “Hong Kong out back” as Ada’d playfully put, and munching on our lunches.
“Water, Flora?” From his front seat, Gallen shifted to hand me a bottle of Evian, to which I more than gladly accept. Lunch was a little dry to me.
Ada cleared her throat loudly, and tapped her folk against her lunchbox to catch everyone’s attention. She extended her palm in front of Gallen, fingers twitching playfully
“Do I miss something?” Gallen asked innocently
“You know, Doctor Lo!” Ada sighed “Where’re our drinks? We’re all in one team, you have to be fair!”
“I’m fair!” He turned the table around with ease “I just about to ask you what you all would like to drink!”
“But” Ada pointed at my bottle “You could guess what she likes, but not us?”
“I didn’t guess” he shook his head “Flora let me know what she likes”
“What?” I exclaimed.
“Flora!” Annie and Ada pointed her accusing finger at me teasingly “You…”
“I did not tell him what I like” I almost placed my hands on my hips, but at a second thought refrained from doing so “Doctor Lo, when did I ever tell you anything?”
“Oh, could you two stop playing?” Ada rolled her eyes comically and signaled Kevin to reach to the back of the van, where the cooler was kept “We could get our drinks all right!”
I pouted, and threw Gallen a discreet glare under my eyelashes.
From the third row, we heard Kevin let out a faint chuckle.
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