Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 136

Fifth Vital Sign – Episode 136 (136/502)

136. Will This Really Help?

After thoroughly examining various parts of Do Seung-won’s abdomen, Tae-kyung announced the results.

“The ultrasound shows nothing abnormal in the abdomen, so we can clean him up.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“If his blood pressure stabilizes with Plasma Solution alone, we’ll proceed directly to a CT scan and administer antibiotics.”

“Understood.”

Fortunately, the ultrasound hadn’t revealed anything requiring immediate surgery. Also, Do Seung-won’s vitals were stabilizing, and considering his current state of consciousness, he seemed to be improving.

‘It’s a relief there are no external injuries to the abdomen.’

Tae-kyung finally began to relax the tense muscles in his face.

“Are there any family members outside?”

“His family is in Jeju Island, but his girlfriend has arrived.”

The team members who came with him had returned to the site after Lee Seung-hee arrived.

“I need to speak with her.”

“Excuse me…”

As Tae-kyung was leaving the treatment room, someone grabbed the back of his coat.

“Doctor?”

Do Seung-won, who hadn’t shown any reaction until now, had grabbed Tae-kyung. It was as if he had been deliberately keeping his mouth shut, and now he finally spoke.

“Yes, Mr. Do, what is it?”

Tae-kyung was relieved to hear Do Seung-won’s voice.

“Please don’t tell anyone about my condition. I haven’t even told my family. So, just say I’m okay… that it’s nothing serious. Please.”

“I understand how you feel, but your colleagues probably already know.”

Tae-kyung fully understood Do Seung-won’s earnest plea. He had overheard Nurse Lim Jeong-sook saying that the girlfriend outside was his fiancée.

Do Seung-won probably couldn’t accept the sudden loss of his right calf. He hadn’t even recovered from the shock, and now he had to show this side of himself to his girlfriend. He couldn’t possibly be feeling okay.

“I can keep your secret, but as a medical professional, I can’t lie.”

“Then, please, just tell her it’s positive and that everything will be alright. Just that much, please.”

Listening to Do Seung-won, Tae-kyung could tell that he was a very responsible person. But he couldn’t lie.

“I’ll do my best for you, and I’ll help you get to a positive state. But as I said before, I can’t give you false or distorted information. I’ll try to deliver the news in a way that minimizes the shock.”

Tae-kyung answered gently, trying not to hurt Do Seung-won’s feelings.

“……”

However, Do Seung-won didn’t seem to accept the words. He turned his head with an expression as if he had given up on everything, and let go of the clothes he was holding.

Seeing Do Seung-won’s expression, Tae-kyung looked worried and left the treatment room.

“Are you Mr. Do Seung-won’s guardian?”

“Yes, I’m his guardian. Oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or boyfriend used by women]…”

Lee Seung-hee, who had lost strength in her legs after seeing Do Seung-won being carried away, had barely regained her senses and rushed to the hospital.

“How is my oppa? Is he okay?”

“Let’s go over there, and I’ll tell you about him.”

Tae-kyung led Lee Seung-hee to a place a little away from the treatment room.

“First of all, his life is not in danger. His blood pressure and heart rate are stable, and we need to take a CT scan to be sure, but based on the current symptoms, there doesn’t seem to be any factor that would cause excessive bleeding in the head or abdomen.”

“Ah? Really? Thank you. Ha! That’s a relief.”

Lee Seung-hee, who had been listening intently to Tae-kyung’s words, breathed a sigh of relief.

“But there’s a problem in another area.”

“Another area?”

“Yes. Have you heard anything?”

“No. His colleague said he was in an explosion and had some injuries. I was so out of it that I came straight to the hospital.”

Lee Seung-hee looked like she really didn’t know anything. Even so, Tae-kyung couldn’t grant Do Seung-won’s request.

“His right leg was severely damaged in the explosion. And to prevent infection or bleeding, surgical treatment of the damaged leg should be prioritized unless damage is confirmed elsewhere.”

“……!”

Lee Seung-hee couldn’t speak for a moment after hearing about Do Seung-won’s condition.

“Doctor, did you say leg?”

“Yes.”

“How… how serious is the leg?”

“The condition of his right calf is severe. It will be difficult to recover.”

“When you say difficult to recover, does that mean…”

Lee Seung-hee trembled as she continued.

“Does that mean he won’t be able to use his leg?”

“Rather than not being able to use his leg, the damaged area will have to be amputated.”

“……!”

Upon hearing those words, Lee Seung-hee was so shocked that she was momentarily speechless, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Oh, my poor oppa. Oh no! Oppa…”

“You must be very surprised.”

Tae-kyung comforted Lee Seung-hee and moved the location, worried that the crying might be heard inside the treatment room.

“Are you feeling a little better now?”

“……Yes.”

Lee Seung-hee, who had been shedding thick tears, barely regained her composure and answered.

The one who was having the hardest time right now was her boyfriend, so she had to pull herself together. Right now, she only wanted to help Do Seung-won.

“You must be having a hard time right now, but the most important thing is to save him and ensure he receives surgery and recovers. So, I’d like to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“I have some assumptions based on observing him. Is he usually responsible and considerate of you?”

“Yes, he’s exactly as you described.”

“This may be a rude question, but are you planning to get married?”

“Yes, we’re planning to get married.”

Lee Seung-hee answered without hesitation to Tae-kyung’s question.

“He has severely injured his leg. How do you feel about that? The reason I’m asking this question is that he is a little different from others.”

“Different?”

There was a reason why Tae-kyung asked such a somewhat puzzling question.

“Most patients despair when they hear they have to have a leg amputated. But they don’t despair beyond their own pain or health concerns. In other words, it’s rare for someone to look like they’ve lost everything and not react at all during the treatment process.”

In fact, Tae-kyung had been bothered by Do Seung-won’s expression since he came into the emergency room. Despite the considerable pain, he seemed to have given up and showed no reaction.

“In my experience, people who show this kind of reaction sometimes refuse treatment or act out.”

“Act out? What do you mean?”

“It’s about the goals they think they have, the things they need to achieve, or the things they need to protect. But if they feel that they can’t reach these goals because of their condition, they despair about everything and even try to give up on life itself. His reaction during the treatment process is very similar to these people.”

“I’m not sure what you’re saying. But honestly, we’re planning to get married, and my parents are strongly opposed to it.”

“I see…”

“I think it’s related to that. Oppa is always worried about it.”

“In situations like this, the most important thing for treatment and for the patient and guardian is the role of the guardian.”

“Me? My role?”

“A characteristic of people like Mr. Do Seung-won is that they endure for the sake of their goals, no matter how broken they are. From what I see, his goal is you.”

“Ah! Doctor, what can I do?”

Lee Seung-hee finally understood what Tae-kyung had been explaining. And she was willing to do anything for her beloved boyfriend.

“I’ll do it. If he needs blood, I’ll donate mine. We have the same blood type. I can do anything.”

Just as Lee Seung-hee was Do Seung-won’s whole world and reason for living, Do Seung-won was also a precious person to Lee Seung-hee.

When she heard that he had to have his leg amputated, she didn’t think of anything else. She was only concerned about her boyfriend’s wounded heart.

“If he needs your cooperation during future treatments, just encourage him and persuade him that he’s doing well.”

“Of course. I can do that much.”

“And although it will be difficult, please pretend to be cheerful and act like it’s nothing in front of him. That will be a huge help.”

“Ah… but will this really help?”

Lee Seung-hee was a little doubtful at the obvious words.

“Yes, it will definitely help.”

“Okay. Doctor, please take good care of my oppa.”

Lee Seung-hee answered with a skeptical look. But Tae-kyung knew how to deal with patients like Do Seung-won based on his past experiences.

Soon after, Do Seung-won was being brought up after his examination.

“His CT scan is finished.”

The nurse said as she pulled the bed with Do Seung-won on it.

“I’ll check it right away.”

At that, Tae-kyung sat in front of the monitor and slowly and carefully checked Do Seung-won’s abdominal and head CT scans.

‘Everything else is okay.’

Fortunately, there were no other lesions besides the leg. With an explosion that damaged the leg to that extent, he could have had other injuries, so it was truly a great relief.

After checking all the CT results, Tae-kyung approached Do Seung-won. He still had the expression of someone who had lost the world and showed no reaction.

“Mr. Do?”

The eyes of someone who had given up on everything were so dry and empty that there was almost no will to live in them.

“Mr. Do Seung-won, you must be very upset because of your injury.”

“Doctor…”

“Yes, Mr. Do.”

“I have something to tell you.”

“Please feel free to say anything.”

Tae-kyung responded actively to Do Seung-won’s words. He wanted to give him strength in any way he could. But the thing he had been worried about came out of Do Seung-won’s mouth.

“Please just let me die. I beg you.”

It wasn’t the kind of tone that was filled with resentment from a sudden accident, lamenting his situation and shouting that he wanted to die. It was a very calm tone.

“I can’t do that.”

Tae-kyung firmly retorted to Do Seung-won, who was calmly talking about his end.

He could fully understand Do Seung-won’s feelings. People’s minds are sensitive even to small wounds. But to suddenly become unable to walk properly, his feelings must be devastating. But he couldn’t just stand by and watch a patient who wanted to die.

“You need to shake it off and get up.”

“No. Doctor, Seung-hee’s parents already oppose me, and if my leg is like this, they’ll probably oppose me even more. I don’t know what to do in the future, and most of all, I hate that Seung-hee is having a hard time because of me. I just want to give up on everything.”

“You’re in a lot of pain because of your leg, but there’s almost no damage to other parts of your body.”

“I know. I know it well…”

Do Seung-won also knew.

As a firefighter who had been to countless sites, he knew better than anyone how fortunate it was that he hadn’t injured his head or other parts of his body in the explosion, and that only one leg was ruined. But right now, surgery and everything else were useless and meaningless.

“I can’t do it. I don’t think I can do anything.”

As a firefighter and as a human being, Do Seung-won, who was always full of motivation, passion, and hope, had not even a speck of that left in his heart.