Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 75

#75 Breath (6)

The guardian, who had been pressing Song-yi, shouts at me.

“Why!”

Wow, scary.

Her eyes are completely dagger-like.

I feel like if I say one wrong word, she’ll turn the entire emergency room upside down.

Still, as a doctor, I have to say what needs to be said.

“Song-yi is a patient who is currently ill.”

I said, pointing to Song-yi’s body.

The guardian huffed and then seemed to notice the tube sticking out from under the patient gown.

“What is this?”

“It’s a chest tube.”

“Oh my. Isn’t this a catheter?”

“No, it’s not a catheter, it’s a chest tube…….”

“Why did you put a catheter on such a young child? And why is the catheter so thick?”

Ugh…….

Please just listen to the doctor!

How many times do I have to say it’s a chest tube!

It seems like once she gets excited, she can’t hear what anyone else is saying.

Song-yi, unable to watch any longer, speaks up.

“Ugh, I said it’s not a catheter…… lower your voice…….”

Even while sniffling, Song-yi’s face turns as red as a tomato, and she looks around at everyone.

Because it’s so loud, people are staring from all over the emergency room.

It must be hard to endure the embarrassment with her teenage sensibilities.

“Madam, let me explain further for a moment.”

Eventually, Dr. Ma Dong-seop steps in and explains about pneumothorax [a collapsed lung].

Perhaps because a doctor who looks like a gangster is explaining in a low voice, it seems to be easier to understand than before.

“You’re saying my daughter has a hole in her lung?”

“Yes. We need to run tests to determine whether or not she needs surgery.”

Has her excitement subsided a little?

Song-yi’s mother stares at her daughter for a moment without saying anything.

Complex emotions seem to flash across her face.

I approach the guardian and say.

“Madam, Song-yi was in a lot of pain and was brought to the hospital in an ambulance and underwent a difficult procedure. She must still be in a lot of pain now.”

Only then did Song-yi’s mother seem to realize something.

“Yang Song-yi.”

“Mom…….”

What will she say to her daughter now?

Will she apologize for pushing her when she’s in pain?

But such a heartwarming scene was not produced.

Rather, it was the opposite of our expectations.

Smack!

Song-yi’s mother slaps her daughter on the back.

Song-yi, wearing a patient gown, screams.

“Aah!”

“How can you have time to be sick! Isn’t this what happened because you were screaming your head off at a concert instead of going to the academy [private tutoring school]!”

“Madam!”

We turned pale and tried to stop the guardian.

I can’t stop her.

The most difficult guardians in the world are overbearing parents…….

After that, Song-yi’s mother’s scolding continued for quite a while, and we had to work hard to stop them.

‘I’m finally experiencing something like this.’

An uncontrollable guardian.

An obstacle that doctors experience at least once.

For me, a novice doctor, it was another new experience.

* * *

.

A special class that exists only in Korea.

Hundreds of thousands of students take the path of competition every year.

A huge race running towards the national event called the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) [a standardized test for university admission in South Korea]!

The final spurt of the fierce and arduous elementary-middle-high school regular education course begins.

On that difficult road, even being sick is not allowed.

“Doctor. You know my daughter is a senior in high school, right? Please schedule the treatment as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t interfere with her studies.”

Ma Dong-seop nodded at the guardian’s words, who had finally calmed down.

“Yes. First, the professor will see her tomorrow and tell you about the future plan. We will give you a definite answer after additional tests to determine if surgery is necessary.”

“Surgery?”

“Yes, it may be necessary in the unlikely event.”

Ma Dong-seop said that and tried to end the conversation.

But the guardian’s urgent words did not stop there.

“My child has her final exam in two weeks. You must have taken the college entrance exam before, doctor. You know how important it is to manage her grades at the last minute, right?”

Grade management.

It’s a word I haven’t heard in a long time.

Listening to Song-yi’s mother, we felt like we had returned to our senior year of high school for a moment.

“I would appreciate it if you could let her leave the hospital before then. If surgery isn’t absolutely necessary right now, I wish you could postpone it until after the CSAT in five months if possible…… You know how I feel, right doctor? Yes?”

Ma Dong-seop made a troubled expression.

Of course, he understands the heart of Song-yi’s mother, who is a parent.

The nuance was that all the energy this year should be poured into the CSAT, so she can’t waste it in the hospital.

However, no matter how urgent her studies are, health is the top priority.

For us, there was no choice but to repeat the same words.

“Madam, I understand what you’re saying…… I’ll tell you the details during rounds tomorrow.”

“I understand.”

Song-yi’s mother nodded reluctantly.

And before leaving the emergency room to register at the cashier, she said to Song-yi as if to firmly remind her.

“You have to get well soon. Got it!”

Oh my, madam.

Is that something that can be done just by making up your mind?

We stared at Song-yi’s mother with absurd eyes.

“I understand…… I just have to get well soon…….”

Song-yi nods, sobbing.

She’s a senior in high school and a major sinner who secretly skipped the academy and went to a concert, so she has nothing to say even if she had ten mouths.

‘She seemed to have a lively personality just a moment ago…… Suddenly, she’s completely deflated.’

Is it because her mom is next to her?

Even though she’s a senior in high school, I felt a little sorry for her.

Song-yi went through the hospitalization procedure that night.

“Ugh, she’s so extreme. So extreme.”

On the way out of the emergency room and back to the thoracic surgery department.

Ma Dong-seop shook his head.

We couldn’t escape the strong impression that Song-yi’s mother had given us.

“Are all senior high school moms in the country the same? It’s been a while since my trauma was triggered. It was like seeing my mom from the old days.”

Dr. Ma Dong-seop says with an exhausted expression.

Well, the passion for education among Korean parents is so great that there’s no need to say it twice.

Perhaps most doctors who have gone through the college entrance exam to become medical students will have similar experiences.

“Still, it was too much to slap a pneumothorax patient on the back.”

“It was a bit much.”

Ma Dong-seop nods and adds.

“But I actually understand the guardian’s feelings. I guess it’s because I’m getting older…… I’m spending a lot of money to educate my child, so I’d be angry if my child didn’t listen to me like that.”

“Is that so?”

“You’ve been through the college entrance exam, so you know, right? Parents get very sensitive during the college entrance exam season.”

“My family wasn’t like that.”

“Huh?”

“Rather, they tried to stop me from studying. I still remember my father’s words. He said that medical school doesn’t make sense with my grades, and it wouldn’t be easy with my brain…….”

“Puhaha.”

Ma Dong-seop burst out laughing.

It’s funny, right?

It’s funny, but it’s a true story. That’s my family’s style.

Of course, only my older sister supported me.

However, at the time, I was in a situation where I couldn’t expect support from my family for various reasons.

“So, you stubbornly studied and went to medical school only with your own will?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow. There really are people like you. It wouldn’t have been easy to study alone with your own will, you’re amazing, amazing.”

I smiled silently.

Suddenly, I thought of the old days.

I briefly recalled my school days when I envied my friends who were nagged by their mothers.

Other people are tired of nagging…… but I was envious.

Then Ma Dong-seop asked.

“Putting your father aside, what about your mother? Usually, mothers have a stronger passion for education than fathers.”

“She’s not here.”

“Ah…….”

In an instant, Ma Dong-seop lost his words and said with an awkward expression.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

I shrugged.

I don’t care.

It’s not like this is the first time.

I deliberately said in a bright voice to change the atmosphere.

“By the way, it’s a bit disappointing to just pass by like this on my first incision, isn’t it?”

“Are you going to treat me?”

“There’s only a convenience store open at this hour, though.”

“Hehe. Are you looking down on convenience stores? I’ll show you how much I can rip off at a convenience store.”

Ma Dong-seop put his arm around my shoulder with a loan shark-like smile.

He’s more friendly than usual.

I’m also in a good mood today.

Because it’s the first day I succeeded in using the advanced technique of using a scalpel.

Like this, day by day, I accumulate experience.

To stand where I aimed, little by little.

* * *

The next morning.

I met familiar faces all at once in the cafeteria for the first time in a while.

Yeon-seo and So-dam find me and wave their hands with happy expressions.

“Oh, it’s Superstar Shin Seon-han!”

“Seon-han, sit here. We haven’t been sitting for long either.”

So-dam points to the seat next to her with her chopsticks.

I put down my tray and said.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

“How’s TS (Thoracic Surgery) going? How many patients are you in charge of now?”

“23 people. Two people are being discharged today.”

“You’re working hard. It’s not easy being an attending physician, is it?”

I was having a casual conversation with So-dam like that, but I saw Yeon-seo focusing on something next to me.

When I looked closely, Yeon-seo was busy setting up something on the table.

“Yeon-seo, what are you doing instead of eating?”

“Setting up the camera.”

“Camera?”

I wondered what it was, but it was a small video camera for filming.

It seems like she has fully equipped herself with equipment.

“What are you trying to film?”

“Just stay still for a moment.”

Yeon-seo quietly silences me and begins filming in earnest, getting the angle.

Suddenly, her voice changes softly.

“Today’s vlog is the cafeteria! I’m currently at the cafeteria of Yeon-guk University Hospital. Today’s menu is…….”

Vlog?

What is that again?

I whispered to So-dam next to me.

“What’s a vlog?”

“It’s like an everyday video.”

“Why are you filming that?”

“Doctor vlogs are popular these days. Yeon-seo uploaded a few videos and already has a lot of fans.”

“Ah.”

I nodded.

Well, when I think about it, Yeon-seo’s appearance and the fact that she’s a doctor at Yeon-guk University Hospital would make her popular.

Come to think of it, she seems to have put on makeup subtly, more carefully than usual. Her hair too.

Then Yeon-seo glares at us.

“Ah, the audio is getting mixed up.”

“Sorry. I won’t say anything.”

I chuckled and picked up my spoon.

So-dam also focuses on her meal, munching.

After Yeon-seo finished filming the video for a while, I asked.

“But what suddenly made you want to film something like that?”

“Why? Are you dissatisfied? I’m going to become a superstar like Seon-han oppa [term used by females to refer to older male friends or brothers].”

Yeon-seo says jokingly.

She keeps calling me a star since the Gangnam Station incident.

I chuckled and replied.

“Stop it. It’s been two months since that happened…… It’s starting to be forgotten now.”

Then my colleagues look at me with strange eyes.

Why are they looking at me like that?

Did I say something wrong?

While I was thinking that, So-dam asked.

“Seon-han, you haven’t been on the internet lately, have you?”

“Huh?”