Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 83

#83 Breath (14)

“You’re going to discharge her?”

The professor was dumbfounded.

We, who were listening beside him, couldn’t help but feel the same.

Discharge on the second day after surgery?

Song-yi still had a significant amount of pleural fluid draining through the chest tube.

Therefore, we couldn’t even remove the chest tube.

It was impossible to discharge her in this situation.

However, Song-yi’s mother spoke to us as if she had already made up her mind.

“I clearly said before the surgery that I wanted her discharged early. Besides, the surgery went well without any problems, right?”

The reason why Song-yi’s mother was being so stubborn was clear to everyone.

It was because of her studies.

She was trying to get Song-yi back to school as soon as possible because of her grades.

“Guardian, it’s far too early for discharge.”

“The doctor said it would take 3-4 days. Tomorrow is the third day, so isn’t it possible?”

The professor sighed and said.

“It’s true that she’s recovering well, but… we still need to monitor her progress further. We need to observe the drainage amount from the chest tube decreasing, and see if the blood test results are stable…”

“So, how much more time do you need?”

Song-yi’s mother interrupted.

The professor was about to say something but closed his mouth.

It seemed like he wouldn’t be able to stop Song-yi’s mother no matter what he said.

After a while.

The professor said in a resigned voice.

“…Then let’s decide after seeing the test results tomorrow. I’ll do as you wish.”

After saying that.

The professor didn’t spend any more time and coldly left the hospital room.

Step, step—

I and the nurses who were with him also followed to see the next patient.

It was a bit embarrassing.

Considering Professor [Threshing Machine’s – a nickname implying a relentless and efficient work ethic] personality, he retreated much faster than expected.

“Will it be okay? To consider discharge already…”

At the nurse’s words, the professor shook his head as if he was fed up and said.

“You can’t stop a guardian who’s being that stubborn anyway. Do I have to beg people who don’t want to be hospitalized to stay?”

As expected, Professor Threshing Machine had a fiery personality.

He preferred to coolly send them away rather than waste time arguing with the guardian.

“Did you see the look in the guardian’s eyes earlier? When I had a fight with my wife yesterday, she looked at me with that exact same look. You can’t reason with someone like that.”

The professor sighed and said.

“Well, we can’t just discharge her without any precautions… If the drainage amount falls below 200 tomorrow and there are no major problems in the blood test, we’ll discharge her.”

“Yes, Professor.”

The nurses replied.

I didn’t say anything behind them.

Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?

I have a bad feeling.

* * *

“So, I’m the only bad guy, huh?”

Meanwhile.

Song-yi’s mother was fuming in the hospital room.

It was because of a phone call with her husband.

When she told him that she was going to discharge Song-yi early, her husband’s reaction was lukewarm.

As always in this situation, her husband only gave vague answers.

Only a frustrating voice could be heard from the other side of the phone.

‘Is this guy?’

They say a husband is someone else’s side, that’s why he’s a husband! [A Korean saying implying husbands often side with outsiders rather than their wives].

Song-yi’s mother burst into anger.

“So, I’m the only one who cares about our child’s education, right?”

“Enough! If I had listened to you, Song-yi wouldn’t have even been able to apply to a specialized high school in the first place. I’ll take care of it myself, so hang up!”

Click!

Song-yi’s mother nervously pressed the end call button.

Throbbing.

Her head hurts.

She felt a sense of loneliness, as if she was fighting alone in this difficult battlefield of child education.

Song-yi’s mother rummaged through her handbag for a headache pill.

“Mom.”

At that time, Song-yi, who was lying on the bed, opened her mouth.

“Can’t I just stay in the hospital for a few more days?”

“Huh?”

Song-yi’s mother was surprised.

What’s going on?

It was the first time in a long time that her daughter had expressed her opinion.

Perhaps it was the first time since she entered high school.

Wasn’t Song-yi the one who obediently followed her mother’s words, even down to the brand when buying a school uniform?

If it wasn’t related to that idol called Carbonated Boy or whatever, Song-yi had been following her mother’s decisions well.

“Why? Do you hurt?”

“No. I don’t hurt that much… but I think it’s better to listen to the doctors.”

Song-yi said cautiously.

Song-yi’s mother wavered for a moment at those words, but soon returned to her usual tone.

“Oh, doctors always talk like that! They’re people who make money if they keep you hospitalized for even a day longer.”

Then Song-yi muttered in a small voice.

“I’m studying hard even while lying here in the hospital…”

“How can I trust you? You’re the kid who skips expensive academy classes to go to concerts.”

“Why are you bringing up the concert again.”

Sob.

Song-yi was annoyed.

The conversation with her mother always ends up like this.

It’s like talking to a solid wall.

“Why? Am I being harsh? You might resent me now, but you’ll thank me later.”

“…”

Song-yi didn’t answer.

Because she had heard those words countless times.

Will that day ever come?

At least to Song-yi now, that day felt so far away that it would never come.

‘I can’t breathe.’

Squeeze—

Song-yi grabbed the collar of her patient gown.

Surely the lung that was operated on is getting better…

Why does it keep feeling like I can’t breathe?

* * *

POD (Post-Op Day) 3.

Song-yi had a chest X-ray and a detailed blood test.

The drainage amount through the chest tube for the past day was exactly 200, and the blood test showed that the white blood cell count was slightly elevated.

There was a slight fever last night, but Professor Han Sang-ki frowned and said.

“At this point, let’s remove the chest tube today and discharge her, and have her follow up quickly in the outpatient clinic.”

It was the moment when the decision to discharge Song-yi was made.

After the discharge decision was made during the morning rounds, I headed to Song-yi to remove the chest tube.

“Doctor.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry. My mom’s personality is weird, so it must have been hard for you.”

She said that as soon as she saw me.

Song-yi’s expression was full of apology.

I chuckled.

“It’s okay. It seems like your mother is just very concerned about you.”

“Still, please understand my mom. I failed my midterm exams. If I fail the finals too, I’m really screwed…”

Song-yi trailed off.

I nodded.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

I could understand Song-yi’s position because I had also experienced my exam days.

There’s pressure from her mother, but there must also be her own urgency.

Instead, I didn’t forget to remind her.

“Still, you have to come back to the hospital on the scheduled date. Got it?”

“Yes, of course.”

This is the best I can do.

In the end, doctors can only take care of patients in the hospital.

Then Song-yi said cheerfully, as if changing the atmosphere.

“Oh, right. I bragged to my friends!”

“About what?”

“That you’re my attending physician. I even showed them the proof shot we took last time, and they’re all jealous.”

“Do your friends know me?”

“Of course. How famous are you on the internet, Doctor!”

Song-yi chattered excitedly for a while.

Perhaps because she thought it was the last conversation, she talked longer than usual.

I listened to Song-yi’s words with a smile and then started removing the chest tube.

“Okay, let’s pull it out now. Like this, raise your right hand above your head. When I tell you to hold your breath, take a deep breath and hold it in— like ‘eup’.”

“How long do I have to hold it in?”

“5 seconds. Count to 5 in your head, and don’t inhale under any circumstances. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Song-yi took the position as I told her.

Soon, the patient gown was lifted by the nurses’ hands, and Song-yi’s chest was exposed.

I removed the gauze covering the area where the chest tube was inserted and disinfected it.

Then I picked up the blade.

Thud—

I cut off part of the thread that was holding the chest tube in place.

And I said to Song-yi.

“Okay. Hold your breath!”

“Gasp!”

Swoosh—

I pulled out the tube.

Then a surprised breath escaped from Song-yi’s mouth.

“Okay. You can breathe now.”

“Haa, surprise…”

“Were you surprised?”

“Ugh… Can I breathe whenever I want now?”

Although the chest tube was pulled out, the process of suturing the area where it was inserted remained.

If this finishing process is not done properly, air can enter the chest cavity again.

“Okay, let’s hold your breath one more time.”

“Eup—”

While Song-yi was holding her breath again, I tied the remaining thread in the area where the chest tube was pulled out.

Shash—

So that Song-yi wouldn’t have a hard time, I finished the tie in an instant with the tying skills I had developed through practice.

“Okay, really done now! Did it hurt a lot?”

“It hurt for a moment… but it feels a bit refreshing to have it pulled out.”

I finished the chest tube removal with a dressing.

Already, traces of the incisions made during the surgery remained on Song-yi’s body, sewn up.

Seeing those marks left on a child’s body made me feel sorry for her.

“You’ve worked hard carrying the chest tube around.”

When I said that, Song-yi lowered her clothes, got up, and smiled shyly.

“Is it all over now?”

“Since I pulled out the chest tube, I have to take another X-ray.”

A process is needed to check if there were any problems in the process of pulling out the chest tube.

“Then goodbye.”

“Huh… Why are you talking like it’s the end? If I come next week, can’t I see you again, Doctor?”

“It’s better for you if I don’t see you again.”

I said with a chuckle.

Because seeing me again means being hospitalized again.

Song-yi said with regret.

“Thank you so much for everything, Doctor!”

“Okay.”

“Goodbye!”

I understood this time.

I said my last goodbye to Song-yi and left the hospital room.

And after a while.

Click—

I opened the electronic medical record at the station and added the last line about Song-yi.

* * *

It was evening.

Even if Song-yi was gone, I was still busy.

Because there were twenty more patients I had to take care of.

After dealing with the work that piled up all day, I remembered her again in the evening.

I hope Song-yi is okay?

“She’ll be fine.”

Ma Dong-seop said that to my worried nagging.

“Our professor has a fiery personality, but that doesn’t mean he’s irresponsible.”

Ma Dong-seop’s explanation continued.

Although he discharged her early because he couldn’t stand the guardian’s pressure…

He must have made the decision within a range that wouldn’t cause any major problems.

Furthermore, the test results weren’t bad either.

And he even put in place a safety device to have her revisit the outpatient clinic faster than usual patients.

“You said she’s scheduled to see you at the outpatient clinic early next week, right? That’s calling her in early. There won’t be any problems until then, so don’t worry too much.”

Yeah.

Maybe I’m being too sensitive?

Everything will be fine.

That’s what I was thinking when…

Flash—

As if someone was drawing blackout curtains, the surroundings darkened.