Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 141

Fifth Vitality – Episode 141

141. Responsibility for the Patient

Knock, knock.

“Yes?”

“Dr. Jung Ui-jin.”

After going up to the ward to see Do Seung-won, Tae-kyung had dinner and visited Ui-jin’s office.

“Let’s have a cup of coffee.”

“Sure.”

“Mmm, delicious. Did you know Ms. Won-du roasts these beans herself?”

“Really?”

“Yes, she buys the beans and roasts them at home. She even has a barista license.”

“She’s getting older, but her passion is truly amazing.”

“I know, right? But, sunbae [senior colleague or mentor], what brings you here today?”

“I’m hurt that you’d say that. Do we always need a reason to see each other?”

Ui-jin narrowed his eyes with a suspicious look, and Tae-kyung confessed honestly.

“I came to apologize.”

“Suddenly? Is it because of Lee Seung-hee’s guardian earlier?”

“How did you know?”

“It’s easy to tell. You seemed like you had something to say during dinner, but you couldn’t because people kept coming. I had a feeling it was about the guardian.”

“You’re not just perceptive, you’re a mind reader. I’m sorry about earlier.”

It was an unavoidable method for the patient, but Tae-kyung felt sorry for making a decision without consulting Ui-jin, the anesthesiologist.

To be honest, most other anesthesiologists would have opposed it to the end. He knew Ui-jin allowed it because it was him.

“I appreciate you allowing the surgery, even though you must have been taken aback by me suddenly bringing in the guardian.”

“Actually, I was incredibly taken aback. In that brief moment, my mind was dominated by the idea that it was absurd. But because it was you, sunbae, I understood why you would go to such lengths.”

“Wow, I’m feeling a wave of emotion.”

“But, sunbae?”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you go so far?”

Not every doctor would act as proactively for a patient as Tae-kyung did in that situation.

Of course, they would try to persuade, but almost no doctor would have the extraordinary idea of bringing the guardian into the operating room to proceed with the surgery.

“I think it’s just a sense of responsibility.”

“Responsibility?”

“Yeah. Responsibility for the patient. No matter how critical or difficult the patient’s condition is, I feel like I have to take responsibility for the patients who come to me. If I give up on a patient, that patient might lose trust in doctors, even if they see a different doctor.”

“Hearing you say that reminds me of what Mr. Lee said in the operating room earlier.”

“The thing about what I would be if I weren’t a doctor?”

“Yes. It’s hard to imagine you not being a doctor.”

“Me? I probably would have been a veterinarian.”

“That’s still a doctor.”

“I guess so.”

“Actually, when I saw Lee Seung-hee in the operating room earlier, I was struck by how strong and resilient she seemed… She’s an amazing person.”

“It’s amazing that she readily agreed to enter the operating room, and even more so that she continued to encourage the patient throughout the surgery.”

“She must have been having a hard time inside, but she didn’t show it at all.”

For an ordinary person who isn’t trained like a doctor or nurse, entering an unfamiliar operating room is more difficult than one might think. Moreover, entering an amputation surgery where the sounds can be terrifying is truly remarkable.

“Watching the two of them during the surgery, I could feel how sincere and deep Lee Seung-hee’s love for the patient is.”

As Ui-jin said, it was impossible without love.

“They said they’re going to get married.”

“I had a feeling. It wouldn’t be easy to do that otherwise.”

“I hope they do well.”

“Me too. I think they’ll manage wisely.”

Tae-kyung and Ui-jin sincerely cheered for the two of them.

* * *

“Team Leader, just a moment. Just a moment… My legs are shaking too much to go in.”

“Me too, Chief. I don’t know why my legs and heart are trembling so much at the thought of seeing hyung’s [older brother or respected male figure] face.”

Yeoul Fire Station Team 1, Do Seung-won’s colleagues, stopped for a moment on a bench in the yard, right in front of our hospital’s main gate.

They came to visit after their shift, but their steps were heavy.

As it was the first injury to a member of Yeoul Fire Station Team 1, the team’s atmosphere was even more somber.

“Seung-hee said earlier that he refused to have surgery?”

“That’s right. He said he’d rather die than have surgery. He’s not usually like that, so the shock must have been immense.”

“How can we face Seung-won?”

“So, you’re not going to see him? Are we going back like this?”

The team leader raised his voice, looking at the dejected team members.

“Hey! Can’t you guys lighten up? You all look like you’re about to die?”

“Team Leader, you know it’s because of Seung-won. It breaks my heart just thinking about him.”

“It’s really too much.”

Among the team members who were sighing deeply with serious faces, the youngest team member suddenly got angry and complained.

“Even so, how can they ask us to check if he made any mistakes when someone got hurt?”

The team leader and the other team members had nothing to say to the youngest team member’s words. The team leader knew best what he was talking about.

After returning from the scene, the team leader informed the higher-ups about Do Seung-won’s injury. However, the first response he received made his heart heavy.

The words that came out of the mouth of a high-ranking official were not much different from what they were 10 years ago.

‘Did that firefighter follow the guidelines? Did he make a mistake? Ha! This is going to be a headache again.’

‘What? Someone got hurt. Someone got hurt so badly that they can’t walk like they used to. Is that all you have to say?’

At those words, the team leader yelled at the higher-up for the first time.

He felt pathetic for even expecting an answer like, ‘How badly is he hurt? Is his life in danger?’

“Seung-won hyung is like that, but my dream has been to be a firefighter since I was a kid. But honestly, I didn’t know the reality would be this bitter.”

The youngest’s words were true.

There were still fire stations working in three shifts a day, and the hazard pay was still less than 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD] for several years. The increase was still only being pushed forward.

Every time, the reality of how firefighters were treated was scarier than the fire that threatened their lives.

“A firefighter from Seattle I met at the World Firefighters Games last year told me that firefighters in his state earn more than the mayor. I had nothing to say when I heard that.”

Not all firefighters working across the country chose to become firefighters to earn money. However, it was clear that the treatment of firefighters in South Korea, which is significantly lower compared to other countries, needed to be improved.

“Why are you suddenly bringing up those stories and making us feel even worse?”

“I’m sorry, Chief. I was just so upset.”

“Everyone, stop it. The person who’s feeling the worst right now isn’t us, it’s Seung-won. What do you think Seung-won will feel if we go in with this kind of atmosphere? Are you going to show him your dejected faces when he’s already having a hard time?”

The team leader tried to rally the team members for Do Seung-won, who must be feeling distraught.

“Don’t you guys know who Seung-won is? He’s a steadfast guy with more grit than anyone else. He’ll never be discouraged or collapse because of something like this. So, go in and don’t say anything unnecessary, and if anyone even sheds a tear, you’ll be in trouble with me.”

The team leader had been working as a firefighter for a long time.

In the meantime, he had saved countless people, but not every day was good.

While working in the field, there were colleagues who were injured or who tragically lost their lives and went to heaven.

There were many days that were more heartbreaking than ever. That’s why he knew how to treat a junior who had been injured.

“Only talk about good things, only talk about positive things. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“And if possible, don’t ask questions about whether he’s okay or direct questions about his injury.”

“Why?”

“Do you have to ask?”

The chief answered instead of the team leader to the youngest’s question.

“He’s already worried about his injury, and if we bring it up, Seung-won will worry even more.”

“Ah… Yes. I wasn’t thinking. Of course, I won’t.”

“By the way, Seung-won was supposed to go to his girlfriend’s house to greet her parents, but this happened, so it’s really upsetting.”

“Stop worrying and let’s go in now. Everyone, go in with bright faces.”

“Yes.”

“Team Leader?”

Lee Seung-hee called out to the team leader as he entered the hospital with the team members.

“Everyone’s here?”

“Oh, Seung-hee. Why did you come out?”

“I thought you might not be able to find it since it was past the arrival time, so I came out.”

“Seung-hee, you’re going through a lot.”

“No, what am I going through?”

The team members thought that Lee Seung-hee was deliberately trying to be strong, unlike when they had contacted her a few hours ago.

“How is Seung-won?”

The team leader asked a question that he couldn’t ask Do Seung-won directly.

“He’s okay. Were you all worried about oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or boyfriend]?”

“Of course, we were.”

“I don’t think you need to worry too much anymore.”

“…”

The team members hesitated about how to react, looking at Lee Seung-hee, who was answering with a smiling face.

“Oppa is okay. Of course, he won’t be exactly the same as before the accident, but he’s not having a hard time anymore. Go up quickly.”

The team members followed Lee Seung-hee to Do Seung-won’s ward on the second floor with bewildered expressions.

“Seung-won?”

“We’re here.”

“Everyone’s here?”

The team members, who had been worried, were relieved to see Do Seung-won greeting them with a bright face.

“I’m sorry.”

The team leader conveyed his apologetic feelings, looking at Do Seung-won’s leg wrapped in bandages.

“Hey, Team Leader, you told us to come in with a bright atmosphere before we came in, why are you being like this?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“I’m upset, you guys.”

“It’s not something Team Leader should be sorry about. It was my decision and my choice. I’m okay.”

“As expected, Seung-won hyung is cool.”

“That’s right! Was the scene handled well?”

“Hey! Is this the time for you to be worrying about the scene? Don’t think about that kind of stuff, just worry about yourself for the time being.”

The chief waved his hand at Do Seung-won, who was nonchalantly asking about the news from the scene.

“Team Leader, seeing Seung-won worrying about the scene even after getting hurt, I don’t think we need to worry.”

“The scene was handled well. By the way, you had a hard time getting surgery, right?”

“I had surgery with spinal anesthesia, but Seung-hee had a harder time than me. Seung-hee came into the operating room with me to help me get the surgery.”

“What?”

“Seung-hee was in the operating room?”

“No, how can that be?”

The team members all looked at Lee Seung-hee at the unbelievable story.

“Oppa is right. I was next to him while he was having surgery.”

Do Seung-won explained the whole situation to the team members.

“Seung-hee, you’re really amazing.”

“Seung-won, you have to treat her like a queen for the rest of your life. Huh?”

“I’m planning to do that anyway.”

The team members were happy that Do Seung-won seemed to have regained his strength.

“I’ll be back in a bit. I’ll be back, oppa.”

“Be careful.”

“Seung-hee, see you later.”

While Do Seung-won continued the conversation with the team members, Lee Seung-hee said goodbye and left the ward.

“I’m the guardian of patient Do Seung-won in room 203. I’m going home for a bit, is there a time limit for going out?”

“No. There are no separate rules for guardians.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Seung-hee left the hospital because she had to go to Do Seung-won’s house to pack underwear and necessities, and she also had to go home. And more than anything, she had to go home to tell her parents about her boyfriend.

-Seung-hee, this is Dad. Do you have plans for dinner tonight? Don’t come home late because I have something to tell you. Take care, my daughter.

Lee Seung-hee headed home, looking at her father’s message that she hadn’t been able to reply to because she had rushed to the hospital.