Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 129

Vitality Five – Episode 129 (129/502)

129. Medical Volunteer Site

“Thank you for driving.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I actually love driving.”

Tae-kyung arrived at the medical volunteer site with Team Leader Choi after driving on the highway.

“By the way, the air is amazing, probably because it’s the countryside.”

“The air really is different.”

Tae-kyung savored the air as he watched Team Leader Choi take a deep breath.

Volunteers and the filming crew were gathered around them.

“Hello. We are the operators of the ‘Let’s Be Healthy’ channel.”

The two medical volunteer organizers at the front greeted them and introduced the day’s schedule.

“Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy hospital schedules today.”

“From now on, you will go to the nearby villages and start providing medical care. Today, helping the doctors will be Sister Kim Ye-beun, the team leader of the Great Hope Sharing Association, who has been with our channel for a long time, and her colleagues.”

As the organizer introduced them, the nuns on one side greeted them with bright smiles.

“We have identified the necessary medicines and injections in advance and delivered them to the villages. The clinic hours are until 5 PM, and we will not conduct separate interviews during the clinic hours. It’s better to treat one more person during that time. So, please don’t worry about filming and feel free to provide medical care.”

“Interviews will be conducted by phone later, so please share your thoughts then. And we don’t have any after-parties.”

Because it was a volunteer event hosted by YouTube, Tae-kyung thought it might be a bit of a show. But after arriving and listening to the explanation, Tae-kyung appreciated the organizer’s intention to focus solely on volunteering.

“After-parties don’t fit the purpose of volunteering. You can all go back comfortably when it’s over.”

After the organizers’ detailed explanation, the villages to volunteer in were decided with simple greetings.

“Hello, Dr. Kim Tae-kyung. I’m Lee Guk-geon, the operator of ‘Let’s Be Healthy’.”

One of the organizers approached Tae-kyung and offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Tae-kyung.”

“I was surprised that Dr. Kim Tae-kyung applied. You’re doing a great thing.”

Because Se-young’s case was such a big issue, the organizer, who was also a doctor, knew Tae-kyung.

“I saw your interview, and you speak really well.”

“You’re too kind. Thank you for seeing it that way.”

“Thanks to you, this volunteer episode will probably get a lot of views. The village you’ll be in charge of has a few more households than the others. We’ve assigned you there because you’re capable, so please understand.”

“I’m getting a little nervous.”

“Instead, Sister Kim Ye-beun, a veteran volunteer, will be going with you, so don’t worry. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. I’ll do my best today.”

With that, Tae-kyung, along with Sister Kim Ye-beun, got into Team Leader Choi’s car and headed to the village.

“We have to walk a bit from here.”

After getting out of the car, the two followed Sister Kim Ye-beun’s guidance and walked to the clinic location.

“I heard you’re a famous doctor, but I don’t watch TV, so I didn’t know.”

“No, I think this isn’t your first time here, Sister.”

“Yes, volunteering is my main job, so this is my fifth time this year.”

Sister Kim Ye-beun, who appeared to be in her late 40s, had a delicate appearance and a gentle voice.

Dressed in a neat nun’s habit, she exuded a warm atmosphere.

“It’s similar in other places, but the bus service isn’t very good here.”

“Then it must be difficult for the villagers to go out.”

“Yes, because it’s the countryside, most of the residents are elderly, and they don’t have adequate transportation. So, going to the city or even to the hospital is a big deal for them.”

Listening to Sister Kim Ye-beun’s words, Tae-kyung felt he should do his best, even if it was just for one day.

-Medical Volunteer Service in Jangsu Village, Dohyuk-ri.

Before long, they arrived at the village hall, which was the clinic location. A small banner was hung on the hall building.

“Welcome.”

The village chief greeted the three warmly.

“Sister, how have you been?”

“Yes, I’m always the same. This is Dr. Kim Tae-kyung, who will be in charge of the clinic today.”

“Oh, nice to meet you. I’m the village chief of Dohyuk-ri.”

“Hello.”

Tae-kyung greeted the village chief and immediately started the clinic.

“Are we starting the treatment now?”

“The doctor is here!”

The chairs prepared were already full of elderly people who had heard the news and came to the hall early.

“There are so many people.”

Team Leader Choi looked at the gathered elderly people and realized that this was no ordinary task.

“Let’s do this. Sister, if you could take simple medical registrations, I’ll see the patients.”

“Then I’ll write down their names, ages, and where they hurt in the medical record book and give it to the elderly.”

“Yes, that would be great.”

Tae-kyung briefly divided the tasks and immediately started the clinic.

“Next, Mr. Kim Go-chang.”

“Oh, is it finally my turn? I skipped breakfast to come here today, so I’m starving.”

“I’ll see you quickly. You said your stomach isn’t feeling well, Grandpa?”

“That’s right. My stomach has been weak since I was young. It feels more like burning in the evening.”

“Grandpa, I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. Do you have any other discomfort?”

“I’ve lived to this age, and I’m healthy except for the burning in my stomach.”

“Still, if your stomach continues to burn, you should get an upper endoscopy [a procedure where a thin, flexible tube with a camera is inserted into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum]. Okay?”

“That endoscopy where they stick a tube down your throat and you gag?”

Although it was a bit harsh, the old man accurately described the upper endoscopy.

“Yes, that’s right. Have you had it before?”

“I’ve had it. Last year, I almost crossed the River Styx [a mythological river separating the living from the dead] doing that and had to make a U-turn. They told me to do it raw because I’m old, and I almost died. Don’t even talk about it.”

Tae-kyung almost burst out laughing at the old man’s cheerful words.

“Were the results okay?”

“It’s okay. I’m fine. They said I’m healthy for my age.”

“I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. I think I saw some antacids earlier… Sister, did you see any antacids?”

“Yes, it should be next to the suspension.”

“Yes, here it is.”

Tae-kyung picked up the medicine container, divided the medicine for easy consumption, and sat back down.

“Grandpa, make sure to take this medicine well.”

“Thank you. I harvested this from my garden, so share it with everyone.”

The old man placed a bundle of corn wrapped in husks under the treatment table.

“No, it’s okay.”

“It’s okay, just take it. Good work.”

“Hey, Doctor, when are you going to give me the shot? I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes.”

Before he could even say thank you, the next person in line sat down in the chair.

“You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you? You said your back hurts, Grandma?”

“It hurts everywhere as I get older. But my back hurts the most. It aches a lot when it’s cloudy or raining.”

“I’ll give you a painkiller injection for your back and prescribe some medicine.”

Tae-kyung ran around the small building. He was busy with treatment, packaging medicine, and even administering injections. He was completely out of his mind.

“Team Leader, I’m sorry, but we’re short-handed. Can you help me?”

“Of course. I’ll help you.”

“Please guide the people who come in to their seats and write down where they hurt here.”

“Okay.”

Team Leader Choi also lent a hand due to the continuous influx of people. After a storm of activity, a late lunch break arrived.

“Doctor, you must be out of your mind, right?”

“It’s crazy. I didn’t expect so many people to come for treatment.”

The three took a short break while eating simple kimbap [Korean seaweed rice rolls].

The village chief offered to treat them properly, but Tae-kyung and his party firmly declined.

“It would have been easier if just one nurse had come.”

“That’s why they usually pair a nurse and a doctor.”

“So, there wasn’t a nurse this time?”

“No. She’s right here. I’m a nurse.”

Tae-kyung realized that Sister Kim Ye-beun was a nurse only now.

“Originally, I would have helped you by your side, but I didn’t know so many elderly people would come today.”

There were more people than in the villages where she had volunteered before, so Sister Kim Ye-beun didn’t have time to help Tae-kyung.

“By the way, Team Leader Choi hasn’t said anything. Are you okay?”

“I’m still okay.”

“Still, the villagers here are healthy for their age.”

“You think so too, right? This place has the highest age range, but everyone is healthier than I thought.”

Tae-kyung was worried about what to do if there were seriously ill people when he first started the clinic.

‘Our village isn’t called Jangsu Village [Long Life Village] for nothing. The elderly are generally healthy.’

However, as the village chief said, the elderly were quite healthy.

Of course, everyone who came for treatment had the scent of the fifth vitality. But it didn’t exceed stage 2, and the scent wasn’t strong.

Not only the scent but also when examining them, there wasn’t a single seriously ill patient yet.

People of old age were likely to have underlying diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes, so that level of scent was good.

“Okay! Doctor, Team Leader Choi. Shall we start the treatment again if you’re done eating?”

“Let’s do that.”

The short break was over, and the three immersed themselves in treatment again.

“Isn’t this shingles?”

“No, it’s not shingles, it’s an allergy. It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“It doesn’t hurt or itch.”

“It’s a mild allergy, so you don’t have to worry too much. I’ll give you some medicine.”

After a few hours of treating the elderly who were rushing in again without a break, it finally came to an end.

He was so busy that he didn’t even know when the YouTube filming crew came and went.

“Our doctors, you’ve worked really hard.”

“It’s finally over. You both worked hard.”

Tae-kyung, who had been treating patients, and Team Leader Choi, who had been driving, were both exhausted.

“Were you tired?”

“I’m so hungry that I’m dizzy.”

Team Leader Choi, who was sitting down, pointed to his empty stomach.

“I ordered delivery in advance because I thought you’d be hungry. Is everyone okay with Chinese food?”

“I’m good with it.”

“But do they deliver here?”

Korea’s delivery culture was so outstanding, but on the way here, he didn’t see a single restaurant, let alone a small supermarket, so he said that.

“Of course, Doctor. They deliver by car from the city. The Chinese restaurant here is really delicious.”

“Sister, weren’t you tired today?”

Tae-kyung was amazed that Kim Ye-beun still had energy left.

“What’s there for me to be tired about? You did everything. I actually like meeting and talking to the elderly. It’s not tiring at all. And the conditions are good compared to foreign countries.”

“Foreign countries?”

“Yes. I was in Southeast Asia for 8 years for medical missions. I entered the country at the beginning of this year.”

“Where were you?”

“Indonesia. The place I was in was a small island, and the conditions were really bad. Nothing was easy, from washing to eating.”

“It must have been really hard.”

“Yes. The toilet was especially difficult, and I had a hard time adjusting because they didn’t use toilet paper there.”

“Then how do you clean up after defecating?”

Team Leader Choi, who had been listening quietly, asked curiously.

“With your hand. You clean up with your left hand and eat with your right hand.”

“The hygiene is too bad.”

“I was shocked at first. But after a year, I completely adapted.”

“You’re really amazing. You did that for 8 years?”

“Doctors rarely stay for long periods. So, nurses like me stay longer and act as a bridge to maintain the volunteer work. It’s hard, but I was really happy.”

Tae-kyung’s heart for the patient was no less. But it was impossible to endure such hardship for 8 years without any benefit. It was a sacrifice on a completely different level.

“Listening to Sister, I can’t help but feel respect.”

“No. Don’t you get tired when you see patients?”

“It’s hard, but the feeling of happiness and fulfillment is great.”

“I feel the same way. It’s not because I’m religious. I did it because I was happy. The 8 years were good and passed in an instant. It’s not great or admirable at all.”

“I guess so.”

“Delivery!”

Just as the story was coming to an end, the deliveryman’s welcome voice was heard. The three had a delicious meal on the porch in front of the village hall.

“Eating on the porch with the amazing air, the sound of the stream, and the view of the magnificent mountains. This is paradise.”

Team Leader Choi regained his energy while eating delicious food.

“But is anyone else coming?”

“No. It’s just us.”

Jajangmyeon [black bean noodles], Jjamppong [spicy seafood noodle soup], sweet and sour pork, as well as fried dumplings, Nanjawanse [a type of fried meatball], and Rajogi [stir-fried vegetables and meat in a thick sauce]. This was enough for a few more people to come and eat together.

“Sister, isn’t there a bit too much?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll eat it all.”

“What? You’re going to eat all this? You’re skinny, but you’re a big eater.”

“Are you surprised? I actually don’t have much energy and lose weight if I eat too little. So, I started eating a lot. Doctor, the noodles will get soggy. Eat quickly.”

“Yes, please enjoy your meal too, Sister.”

The three finished their meal as deliciously as they were hungry.

Kim Ye-beun, who I thought wouldn’t really eat it all, ate all the food.

And just as Tae-kyung put down his chopsticks, a rather strong ammonia smell began to emanate from Kim Ye-beun, who had finished her meal.

“……!”