Granting You A Second Life

Li Xiuying made her way to the theater changing room. She changed into a set of blue scrubs and purple surgical shoes. She put her clothes and briefcase in her locker and locked it.

Li Xiuying then made her way to theater 3. She found E waiting for her by the entrance of theater 3.

....

E saw Dr. Li approaching theater 3, he smiled awkwardly: "Good morning Dr. Li."

Li Xiuying nodded: "Have you met the patients?"

E: "Yes Dr. Li I've clerked all the patients from your theater list."

Li Xiuying: "Staff?"

E wasn't sure what Dr Li was asking exactly: "They're all inside?"

Li Xiuying frowned for a short moment before returning to her usual expressionless demeanor: "Introduced yourself?"

E blushed a little in embarrassment at having misunderstood: "Yes, I've met all the staff and introduced myself."

Li Xiuying nodded: "Scrub up."

Li Xiuying and E walked to the scrubbing area and scrubbed up. A health care assistant walked over to help them tie their gowns.

Li Xiuying walked to the patient who was on the table. "Patient checks?"

A nurse looked at the patient's wristband and compared it to the consent form she read out loud: "This is Leung Biyu, D.O.B 3/03/1984, no allergies."

The team continued to do safety checks whilst Li Xiuying sterilized and dr.a.p.ed the patient.

Li Xiuying spoke to E: "Present."

E took a deep breath before speaking: "Leung Biyu is a 34 years old female who is having an umbilical hernia repair. She presented with pain, an irreducible hernia and changing coloration of the hernia in the umbilical area. She also reported vomiting and nausea. No relevant past medical history. She has had two cesarean sections one of which was for a twin birth. She is not currently on any medication, no known drug allergies. No relevant family history. She has smoked 5 a day for the last 10 years, drinks socially and is a housewife."

Li Xiuying nodded. She had finished sterilizing and draping the patient's abdomen.

Li Xiuying: "Start?"

Anesthetist: "Good to go."

Li Xiuying spoke to the theater nurse: "Scalpel please."The theater nurse placed the scalpel in Li Xiuying hand. She then began making her incision. E stood on the opposite side to Li Xiuying and watched her operate.

Li Xiuying spoke without looking up: "What is a hernia?"

E: "A hernia is an out-pouching of a viscus or part of a viscus through a weakening in the wall that contains it."

Li Xiuying: "Layers of the abdomen?"

E: "Skin, subcutaneous tissue, Camper's fascia, Scarpa's fascia, external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, Transversalis fascia, extra-peritoneal fat and peritoneum."

Li Xiuying: "Good."

E felt like he was hallucinating.

His mind was screaming: DR.LI JUST SAID I'M GOOD!

Li Xiuying spoke to the theater nurse: "Mesh."

E was giddy with happiness as he continued to watch Li Xiuying operate.

As Li Xiuying was suturing she said: "Call for the next patient please."

Li Xiuying finished suturing: "Checks."

The nurse started doing the equipment and safety checks. The Anesthetist started slowly rousing the patient.

Li Xiuying walked to the scrubbing area; she removed her mask, gloves and gown and began to scrub up once again. E followed behind her.

20 minutes later the next patient was anesthetized, sterilized and dr.a.p.ed.

The safety checks were conducted and the anesthetist had given the go ahead to start the operation.

Dr Li: "Present."

E: "Luo On a 45 year old male patient who will be having a Pilonidal abscess drained. The patient reported the abscess has grown in size and become progressively more painful. He has hypertension for which he is taking Altace, he is also pre-diabetic. Past surgical history: inguinal hernia repair 2004. He has no known drug allergies. He has smoked 20 a days for the last 25 years; he drinks on average 10 units a week. He works in construction."

Li Xiuying: "Management?"

E: "Draining the abscess and delayed closure of the site, so as to allow healing and decrease risk of infection."

Li Xiuying: "Prevent recurrence?"

E: "Cleaning the area, laser hair removal."

Li Xiuying nodded.

Li Xiuying continued quizzing E.

...

Meanwhile in another part of the hospital; someone else was also being questioned.

Unity Hospital- Private office

Elder Qin had tears in his eyes at laughing so hard at his son. He couldn't believe his ears when his son had told him he was locked in Li Xiuying's office. He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at his eldest son: "Why did Dr. Li lock you in her office?"

Qin Song didn't speak.

Qin Song had tried calling Jiang Huan first, but after trying for the 5th time in the last hour and a half with no response he gave in and called his father.

Elder Qin looked at his son with a critical eye, he was wandering why Song was so reluctant to speak: "What did you do?"

Qin Song didn't answer and sat in his chair like an ice sculpture.

Elder Qin's voice took on a stubborn tone: "You're not leaving until you tell me."

Qin Song knew that if he didn't say anything that his Father would stubbornly follow him around until he received an answer; his father had once followed him around for two weeks.

Qin Song: "A simple misunderstanding."

Elder Qin pressed on: "A misunderstanding about what?"

Qin Song: "She misunderstood."

Elder Qin looked at his son suspiciously: "Why are you treating your words like treasure? Just hurry up and tell me."

Qin Song's phone started ringing.

One word appeared in his mind: Saved.

He took out his phone and looked at the screen; it was Qin Xian Jun.

Qin Song's was saved. He answered the call: "Hello."

Qin Xian Jun: "Bro, you need to come to the company ASAP. Huang Teng the CEO of World Bank has just arrived at the company and wants to speak to you."

Qin Song: "I'm on my way."

Qin Song: "Father, Jun just called. There's an urgent matter at the..."

Elder Qin rose from his chair and started walking to the door: "I heard. Let's go and see what Huang Teng wants all of a sudden. You can tell me what happened with Dr. Li on the way to the company."

Qin Song followed his father; his face displayed his usual icy expression but on inside he was filled with regret at having called his father.

He thought to himself: I should have just called a lock smith.