Chapter 94: Chapter 94: What Should Poor People Do When They Get a Terminal Illness?
In any case, after the townspeople learned that Su ixi and Gu Wei had reconciled, many of them offered their blessings.
After all, the town was too small, and the shopkeepers all knew each other; if there were competitors, they would engage in cutthroat competition, but for soldiers and doctors, the people of the border town were still grateful.
…
Dr. Ma took Aunt Ma to the county hospital for a check-up the next day.
That day, Dr. Ma returned very late; it was already dark when he arrived at the health clinic.
Su ixi was cooking porridge in the backyard when she saw them return. She hurried out to ask about the situation.
...
But she noticed sothing was off with the expressions of Dr. Ma and Aunt Ma, one looked worried and distressed, the other sat on the bench sighing.
Su ixi didn’t dare to ask too much, only saying, “Dr. Ma, Aunt Ma, you’ve just co back. Are you hungry? I’ve cooked so porridge. Would you like so?”
If she ate too much at noon, she would cook herself so porridge in the evening, otherwise, eating at the small restaurants could be too greasy.
Aunt Ma glanced at Su ixi and couldn’t help but burst into tears.
“Aunt Ma, don’t worry. We can solve any difficulty together.”
Dr. Ma said, “We had the tests done in the county; the doctor suspects… it is liver cancer. The results will be out in a week; we’ll know then.”
Normally, such serious illnesses should not be disclosed to the patient, only to the family. But how many family mbers can act?
Once a patient sees the expression on their family mbers’ faces, they know what’s going on, so there was no need for Dr. Ma to hide it.
Su ixi said, “The results aren’t out yet, right? Let’s find a solution once they are.”
Uncle Ma and Aunt Ma didn’t listen to Su ixi; they had already prepared for the worst.
Aunt Ma said, “I won’t tell my two sons about it. They’re both working elsewhere, earning money to support their families. I’ll call them back when I’m almost gone. There’s no need to treat my illness; it’s just a waste of money.”
Dr. Ma said, “You should get treatnt. You gave birth to them, raised them. If they don’t treat you, they’ll never be able to live with themselves.”
Aunt Ma firmly responded, “I’ve said no treatnt, and I an it. Don’t trouble the kids. Besides, I’ve lived more than fifty years already; that’s enough. If you make them bankrupt because of , I won’t be able to rest in peace even when I’m gone!”
Dr. Ma sighed.
The locals actually weren’t clingy about life and death; they neglected minor illnesses and were unwilling to treat serious ones, especially the elderly who would even hesitate to spend money on dicine, let alone cancer treatnt.
For a mont, Su ixi didn’t know what to say. Cancer treatnt cost a lot of money, and even if she spent all her savings, she likely couldn’t help them much.
Dr. Ma returned to grab so things and then left with Aunt Ma.
In the following days, she noticed that Dr. Ma occasionally seed distracted, presumably anxious while waiting for the results.
Finally, the day the results were due, Dr. Ma took Aunt Ma back to the county.
As it was just to collect the results, they returned early.
Su ixi heard them arguing outside.
“I said no treatnt, and I an it. Don’t talk about it anymore. I’m not giving up everything here to go to the provincial city with you. If I go to the provincial city, who will take care of my eldest grandson? Who will cook for you?”
“They’ll be distressed if you leave.”
“If I let this family get into debt because of my treatnt, they’ll be the ones who suffer. Do you want to be the sinner?”
“…”
After arguing for a while, both of their tones were sowhat harsh, and people from the surrounding shops ca out to watch the commotion.
Bad news travels fast in small places.
The news of Aunt Ma’s terminal illness spread quickly. The locals didn’t understand what cancer was; any serious illness was considered terminal.
That evening when Su ixi went out for dinner, she overheard the proprietress and several patrons discussing.
“Dr. Ma has been treating people in town since he graduated from dical school; you’d think this is a deed that accumulates virtue. How co his wife ended up with a terminal illness?”
“That’s life for you; good people don’t live long, while the wicked often seem to live forever.”
“But Dr. Ma is still young; he could remarry eventually.”
“…”
That night, when Gu Wei called Su ixi, she told him about this matter.
She had no other intention but to sigh about the helplessness of ordinary people.
“I feel that Dr. Ma really wants to treat Aunt Ma, but his abilities are limited.”
Gu Wei said, “Any man would not give up on his wife.”
“Today, they were arguing in the street; many people found out about it. Aunt Ma refused to seek treatnt, saying it wasn’t necessary.”
“Can liver cancer be cured?”
“Liver cancer is one of the mildest cancers. While it’s not guaranteed to be completely curable, with active cooperation, it’s possible to prolong life for several years.”
Gu Wei said, “Then she should be treated.”
“If the patient doesn’t cooperate, there’s nothing that can be done,” Su ixi said.
…
A few days passed.
Dr. Ma continued to work as usual, showing no changes in his deanor.
At one point, Su ixi couldn’t help but ask him, “How is Aunt Ma?”
Dr. Ma shook his head, “Stubborn as the rocks in a toilet; she won’t go to the provincial city.”
“And… do the children know?”
“One child gave twenty thousand yuan, probably all their savings, insisting that the treatnt must proceed no matter what, and that they would figure out the finances.”
“The children are truly filial,” Su ixi said.
If Aunt Ma agreed to receive treatnt, she also wanted to contribute thirty thousand yuan.
They had just finished talking when the clinic’s phone rang again.
Thinking it was another ergency, Su ixi answered the phone.
However, the caller asked for Dr. Ma and ntioned they were from a hospital in Hu City.
Dr. Ma took the call, going through a series of “Yes, uh-huh, really? Okay,” and then a look of joy appeared on his face.
After hanging up, he excitedly told Su ixi and Nurse Sarah, “The hospital in Hu City called, saying Aunt Ma’s case data fits a study they are conducting, so they want us to go there. They’ll cover the costs; we just need to pay for our als.”
“Really?”
Su ixi and Sarah were very happy for him.
Dr. Ma said, “This should convince my old lady not to oppose anymore.”
“You should go talk to her quickly; persuade her sooner rather than later,” Su ixi said.
Dr. Ma happily reached for his coat but paused as he was leaving, “If I go to Hu City, what about this clinic?”
Su ixi said, “Aren’t I still here? Your matter is urgent!”
“I’ll inform my superiors now and ask them to send soone else over.”
“Dr. Ma, don’t think too much, just go ho,” Su ixi urged him.
…
After Dr. Ma left, Su ixi felt a bit puzzled.
As a doctor, she knew that major hospitals and so specialists would take in typical patients for trials, charging little or no dical fee. However, it was rare for soone like Aunt Ma who had just been diagnosed to be taken in so quickly.
Could it be that soone was helping behind the scenes?
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