Doctor Series 1: Soren Tiu

Chapter 4

"Gago talaga oh.." nagising ako sa tawanan ng tatlo kong kaibigan at pag-dilat ko'y bumungad saakin ang mukha ni Tobias.

Tinulak ko siya at bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga, "Anong nangyari sa labi mo?" tanong ko nang napansing namumula ito.

"Kinagat ng langgam." sagot nito kaya binato siya ng tissue ni Siobhan.

Napalingon naman ako sa dalawang nagpipigil ng tawa habang naka-tingin saakin kaya tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.

"Ano?" tanong ko sakanila ngunit umiling lang ang mga ito at hindi nag-salita.

Nag-inat ako ng katawan at tumayo.

"Bwesit ka talaga, Tobias." rinig kong sabi ni Siobhan.

Sinuot ko ang aking coat saka nilagay ang aking cellphone sa bulsa nito. "Mauna na ako, may surgery pa ako maya-maya." sabi ko at nauna ng lumabas saaking opisina.

Habang naglalakad ako papuntang PICU ay napansin kong pinag-titinginan ako ng mga nurse at saktong nakasalubong si Syrhane Gallardo, tumatawa at napapa-iling itong lumapit saakin kaya napahinto ako.

"What happened to your face?" tanong nito kaya lito ko siyang tinignan.

"Look at yourself." sabi nito at hinarap saakin ang screen ng kanyang hawak na cellphone at nakita kong may kiss mark ang aking kaliwang pisngi.

"Bwesit talaga tong si Tobias." bulong ko at pilit tinanggal ito.

"Ang bagal mo doc, ako na nga!" sabi nito at kinuha ang kanyang panyo na nasa kanyang bulsa.

She leaned up close to me, wiping the kiss mark from my cheeks with her handkerchief. She's so focused on it and she doesn't even notice that our faces are so close together.

"Matte lipstick pa nga ata ang ginamit ni Dr. Alsons, matagal bago mabura e." malumanay na sabi nito at tumawa pagkatapos.

Hinayaan ko lang siya sakanyang ginagawa habang ako'y nakatingin lang sakanyang mukha.

Gusto ko siyang pigilan ngunit may parte din saakin na gustong siyang hayaan sakanyang ginagawa at hayaan ang sarili naming dalawa na nasa ganitong posisyon.

"Okay na." naka-ngiting sabi nito at linipat ang tingin saaking mga mata.

With our bodies so near to each other, we shared a stare. This may be the insignificant beginning of nearly nothing, yet it is also the timeless beginning of everything.

Tumikhim ako at unang pinutol ang aming titigan, "Salamat." sabi ko at nauna ng naglakad.

"His CPR level have gone up a little." sabi ko nang masulyapan ang monitor.

"Yes, but his CBC level and chest X-ray from this morning are all looks good, professor." sabi ni Daryl kaya tumango ako.

"Are these the medical students?" tanong ko nang nasulyapan ang dalawang hindi pamilyar ang mukha.

"Yes prof, they are here to observe the surgery." sabi ni Daryl kaya tumango ako at nagtungo na sa operating table.

The Congenital heart defect also known as TOF or Tetralogy of Fallot of Yael's heart was repaired through open heart surgery and it involves a large incision through the chest and breastbone to access the heart and great blood vessels. Cardiopulmonary bypass is used to take over the heart's job of pumping blood during surgery because it allows to operate on the heart while it is not beating and has no blood moving through it. The repair involved in closing the ventricular septal defect (VSD) with a patch and also corrected the obstruction to the lungs. This includes opening the narrowed pulmonary artery and widening the narrowed pulmonary valve and it creates normal blood flow to the lungs to pick up oxygen and oxygen-rich blood flow to the body.

"Good job, everyone." sabi ko nang matapos na ang dapat gawin saka binigay ang hawak na forcep at clamp sa katabi kong nurse.

"Good job, Dr. Tiu." isa-isang sabi ng lahat na nasa loob ng OR.

"I'll finish it up." sabi ni Daryl.

"Of course, you should." sagot ko at tatanggalin na sana ang suot kong surgical gloves ngunit nahagip ng aking tingin ang dalawang medical students na nakatayo parin sa gilid.

"Help them wear their surgical gowns." sabi ko sa mga nurse at tinuro ang dalawang medical students.

Pinalapit ko sa sila sa operating table upang makita nila ang puso ng sanggol.

"You can hear his heartbeat, right?" tanong ko sakanila.

"Yes, professor.." tumango sila at tila namamangha sa nakikita.

I scoffed, "You should know better as medical students. You're probably hearing your own heartbeat." sabi ko kaya napatingin sila saakin.

"I'll let you touch it once. Be very careful though.." sabi ko. "While touching it, thank Yael for staying alive.." tumango silang dalawa at dahan-dahang nilapit ng lalakeng medical student ang kanyang daliri sa puso ni Yael.

Nagulat siya nang dumampi ang kanyang daliri sa puso nito kaya napa-iling ako at napa-ngiti.

"What's wrong?" tanong ng babaeng medical student sakanya.

"It's very strong." sagot nito habang naka-titig sakanyang daliri na dumampi sa puso ni Yael.

"The heartbeat feels very strong, professor.." sabi nito saakin kaya bigla kong naalala ang pangyayari noong resident palang ako.

"The heartbeat feels so strong, right?" tanong ng aking professor habang nakatitig din ako saaaking daliring dumampi doon sa puso ng sanggol. "It's quite amazing, isn't it?" tumango ako at tinignan sa mata ang aking professor.

"It has the same size as the fist but I didn't know it will feel this strong.." lumingon ulit ako sa puso ng sanggol.

"The baby's heart stopped beating and you made it beat again, professor.." may konting luha ang tumulo saaking mga mata dahil sa nararamdamang saya.

"Professor, I will choose cardiothoracic surgery.." sabi ko noon saaking professor habang may luha sa mga mata at puno ng pag-asa.

"Professor, I will choose cardiothoracic surgery.." napangiti ako at tumango sa sagot ng lalakeng medical student.

"Me too, I'll apply for cardiothoracic surgery professor.." sabi din ng babaeng medical student kaya tumango ako.

"Good choice." sabi ko sakanilang dalawa.

Paglabas ko sa OR ay agad bumungad saakin ang mga magulang ni Yael kaya agad ko silang nilapitan.

"Yael's surgery went well. The ventricular hole was patched up. The pulmonary trunk took longer than planned because we wanted to save the valve, but it went smoothly and is now closed well, so don't be concerned. We'll move him to the ICU in about an hour.."

I could give up my own life just to save others if I felt this much satisfaction.