The nurse was opening an intravenous catheter needle to connect an IV, and held Arums arm.
Please do it without causing any pain.
Arum closed her eyes, and then Suhyuks voice ca into her ears.
Let do it.
He held her hand gently. Her blood vessels were subtle, typical of children, but it was not a problem to him.
Making a frown, Arum, who was very much scared, let out a moaning sound even before he injected the needle.
With a smile, Suhyuk said, You can draw pictures very well, right?
At that mont she cast her eyes in the back, where there was a sketchbook on the bed.
Yes, can I show you? When he nodded, she reached for the sketchbook in a cheerful mood.
At the mont, she cried, Ouch!
At the sharp p.r.i.c.king on her hand, she turned back her head instantly.
Already the needle was put in her hand before she knew it.
With a sulky look, she looked at him and said, I dropped my guard
At her cute reply, he smiled before he knew it.
Now, let look at your sketchbook.
Stamping her feet, she opened the sketchbook.
There was a square-shaped house, with flowers in the garden, plus a pretty puppy.
Good drawing. Whose house is it? If I make a lot of money soday, Im going to live with my mom here.
Suhyuk stroked her hair gently, and observed her look.
If she had a brain tumor, she would feel headaches and pain, but she looked normal to him.
Let go to the restroom, said Suhyuk.
There was no smile on his face when he was going out of the room.
Then a woman doctor greeted him, What brought you here?
She was Dr. Oh Jinhee, who was in charge of him when he was doing his interns.h.i. p at the pediatrics departnt.
h.e.l.lo, do you happen to know patient Han Arum?
With a bitter smile, she looked at Arums naplate placed next to her door.
Yes, I know her.
Then, do you know why they are injecting tonic only? Oh knitted her brows at that because she felt his way of speaking was kind of reproaching.
Hey, your way of speaking
Please show patient Hans dical record, CT and MRI.
Oh took off her horn-rimd gla.s.ses hysterically and said,
Hey, do you think I dont want to treat her?
Scrutinizing him up and down, she opened up her mouth again,
Dont be arrogant like that when you dont know the reasons!
She stared at him as if she was going to get at him, and so did he.
Then, what is the reason that I dont know?
Then a nurse rushed to her, saying, Dr. Oh, patient Migyungs guardian is making a big fuss again
Oh, staring at him, let out a sigh and said, You, see later!
When she disappeared, he went to the desk of the pediatrics departnt.
Id like to check patient Han Arums dical record.
The nurse working on sothing, with her head lowered, recognized him and said,
Oh, I saw you on TV. By the way, what did you say a mont ago?
Well, I said I wanted to check patient Han Arums dical record.
She wore an embarra.s.sed look.
Only the primary physician or the professor in charge has access to that
Suhyuk said with a gentle smile, Please
A flush mounted her face. Stroking her face, she soon opened her mouth,
This way
She thought to herself she would not be in trouble because she showed it to him for a mont.
Guided by the nurse, Suhyuk moved.
He was looking at the monitor quietly.
In the image shots of the CT and MRI, there was a small tumor in her brain.
Its not malignant.
Malignant tumors are complex junctions within the brain, which gradually divide the normal brain cells and spread malignant cells. This makes it difficult to remove through drugs, radiation therapy, or surgery. However, benign tumors are different. Tumors that are isolated by themselves can be separated anatomically and cured if removed completely. However, if it can not be removed by surgery, it can not be cured, just like a malignant tumor.
Suhyuk checked Arums dical record, filled with dical terms.
However, there was no ntion of treatnt of the brain tumor, just as he expected.
Left untreated, she would lose the chance for treatnt at the right ti.
n.o.body could expect what would happen later.
Sir.
The nursed whispered to him, looking around cautiously, for fear of being caught.
Rising from the seat, he opened his mouth, What about her family? Looks like she has a mother only.
Her treatnt was stopped for reasons of money, I think, said Suhyuk.
Wearing a regrettable look, she nodded.
At the sa ti a sigh ca out of his mouth.
What the heck is this money, money, money
Any insurance?
No
Suhyuk montarily thought of the pediatrician doctor.
Then he moved instantly.
***
Sir, Dr. Lee Suhyuk wants to see you.
Putting down the phone, a secretary smiled at him.
You can just go in.
He went into the office right away.
Co on in. Can you have a seat and wait for a minute?
Suhyuk waited for him for about 10 minutes.
So, why do you want to see out of the blue?
One patient is hospitalized at the pediatrics departnt now. Though she has a brain tumor, she was getting only tonic injections.
The director nodded his head.
Because of money?
Yes, I ca here to ask if there is anything we could do for her.
The director made a bitter smile.
Im afraid we cant, regrettably.
Do you rember that we went to the shanty town to give free treatnt? I think the image of our hospital could be improved if we treat her for free
You know one thing, but not two.
With a little sigh, he opened his mouth again,
How many such patients do you think we have here? Very, very many. They are all paying for their bills by borrowing money. If we treat her for free, then other patients will ask for the sa thing
In short, the point was that it was against the principle of equal treatnt, and he said Daehan Hospital was not a charity hospital.
Listening to him quietly, he rose up and said, Got it, sir. Goodbye.
When he opened the door to leave, the directors voice stopped him,
Dont be too disappointed. Hope you can think of those who are working here for a living
He was referring to the dical staff.
Suhyuk went out of the office, and went to see Prof. Han Myungjin to seek his advice.
What should I do, sir?
You should just go ahead and treat her. Why are you asking ?
Because I belong to the cardiothoracic surgery departnt, while the patient is hospitalized at the pediatrics departnt
Thats what I an. Why are you asking about it? If you have a will, you can treat her.
Suhyuk let out a long sigh at his answer. Han was just making a smile that was generous and warm. Though he did not say anything, it looked like he was giving so kind of reply.
Then, Han said, Go away, now!
Rising from the seat, Suhyuk said with a smile, Okay, then.
Hey! Leave your phone and pager here.
Why
Dont you know that there are many staff here looking for you. Just leave them here until you treat the patient. Let take care of other things.
Suhyuk put down his cell phone and pager on the table, and looked at Han.
Thanks, professor.
Let co back later then.
Dont be too late.
***
Walking on the bridge leading to the pediatrics departnt, Suhyuk stopped.
Lots of people could be seen pa.s.sing outside the hospital, chatting and smiling, showing bright looks.
Not a single person among them was aware of Han Arums pain.
How can I be of any help to her? Paying out of my own pocket?
Even though he wants to do it, he cannot because he already gave his bank deposit to his parents, and the money was not enough, either.
Huuuuuuuh.
Looking down from the bridge quietly, Suhyuk moved again, and soon arrived at the pediatrics departnt. When he was about to enter Hans room, he ran into a woman.
He stopped her who was about to enter her daughters room.
Are you her guardian?
She turned back. She was in her late 30s.
Given her carelessly tied hair, it seed she just got back from work.
He could feel so sort of fatigue from her look.
Did you ask a question?
h.e.l.lo, Im Lee Suhyuk, a surgeon here.
Oh, h.e.l.lo, Doctor.
Can I talk with you a little bit?
She nodded after looking at him for a mont.
He took her to a break area at the end of the hallway.
Taking out a canned coffee from a vending machine, he handed it to her.
Suhyuk opened his mouth then,
Arum needs an imdiate surgery.
Grabbing her coffee cup, she nodded and said,
Actually I am going around here and there. Looks like I need three million won for the surgery Can you go ahead and perform surgery first? Ill pay as soon as I get the money. Please
Putting down the canned coffee, Suhyuk held her hands.
She had tears welled in her eyes, but she still did not shed those tears.
She should not cry, because she was a mother.
Suhyuk nodded, holding her hands.
He now clearly knew her situation.
He opened his mouth, Dont worry.
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