"What are you doing?" tanong ko sa dalawang naka-abang sa harap ng PICU.
"Oh, Prof Tiu." sabi ni Daryl kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"I came to see Jane." patuloy nito.
"Hello, Professor Tiu." bati ng kasama ni Daryl kaya tumango ako at inalala kung sino ito.
"Vince Ponce, right?" sabay turo kong tanong sakanya.
Tumango siya, "Yes prof, that's right. I'm Vince Ponce, third year medical student." sagot nito kaya tumango ako tinignan siya ng mabuti.
"We've met a few times, prof." patuloy nito.
"Isn't he impressive?" napalingon ako kay Daryl na nagsalita.
"What do you mean?" tanong ko.
"He's spending his break working here as a sub-intern instead of hanging out with his friends." sabi nito at inakbayan ang balikat ni Vince.
Lumingon ako kay Vince, "How's the VAD different from the ECMO?" tanong ko.
"Well..." napa-tingin ito sa itaas na parang nag-hahanap ng sagot para saaking tanong.
"Professor Tiu." tawag saakin ni Daryl kaya tinaasan ko silang dalawa ng kilay.
"He should study since that's what he's here to do." sabi ko.
Lumingon ako kay Vince, "I expect you to have the answer ready the next time I see you." patuloy ko.
"Yes, prof." agad na sagot nito at yumuko.
"You should go study too. Don't be one of the few people who fail the board exam." sabay turo kong sabi kay Daryl kaya sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.
Pagkatapos kong magawa ang aking trabaho sa ngayon ay nagtungo ako saaking opisina para magpahinga.
Bumuntong hininga ako, "Hay, buti nalang." sabi ko nang pagpasok ko'y walang isang bumungad saaking mga kaibigan na tumambay ulit dito saaking opisina.
Pinatay ko ang ilaw saka tinanggal ang suot na salamin at nahiga sa sofa para magpahinga.
"Are you off to see Jane? I'll tag along." bungad ni Daryl saakin nang magkasalubong kami sa hallway.
"No, si Trevor ang pupuntahan ko, hindi si Jane." sagot ko.
"Trevor?" tanong nito kaya tumango ako.
"A patient with Dilated cardiomyopathy. We may need to implant another VAD." sagot ko habang nasa harapan ang tingin at tumatango sa mga nakakasalubong na bumabati.
"DCMP? Then he must have a history." sabi nito.
Tumango ako, "He was told last year that his heart wasn't beating properly and his heart was also enlarged." sabi ko.
"Did he come to OR?" tanong nito.
Tumango ulit ako, "Yes, two days ago. We've been monitoring him, but the heart rhythm problem is getting worse even with inotropes. He needs something, wether it's an ECMO or VAD. I want to use a VAD if it's approved soon." sagot ko.
"He was playing in the playground up until two days ago. If his mother that he now needs a heart transplant, she'll be heartbroken." bumuntong hininga siya saaking tabi.
"I'll bring it up carefully. I'm on my way to meet her now." sabi ko.
"How old is Trevor?" tanong nito.
"Four." sagot ko naman.
"Weight?" tanong ulit nito.
"He weighs 13 kg.." sagot ko at napahinto sa paglalakad nang may napansing hindi tama.
"What are you doing? Why am I reporting this to you right now?" sunod sunod kong tanong at pinag-krus ang dalawa kong kamay saaking dibdib.
"I don't know.." sagot nito at nag-pipigil ng tawa kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"I'll be off then." patuloy nito at agad naglakad ng mabilis sa kabilang direksyon.
Nagtungo ko sa PICU kung nasaan ang magulang ng aking pasyente. Agad ko siyang nakita sa harap ng room ng kanyang anak sa PICU kaya nilapitan ko siya at nagsimula sa pagpapaaliwanag tungkol sa kondisyon ng kanyang anak.
"So he needs to depend on a machine. It means he's in a serious condition, right?" tanong nito kaya tumango ako.
"Well.. I don't think his heart can hold out any longer. It's too risky to let him go on like this. Ultimately, he'll need a heart transplant. He needs to be supported with a VAD until we can find the right donor for him." napayuko siya at dahan dahang tumango saaking sinabi.
"Could his condition improve with the VAD alone?" tanong nito.
"That can happen in some cases but the chances are slim, so I don't want to get your hopes up. The VAD is just temporary, it's not a permanent solution. So I can't say he'll recover with the VAD alone because it only supports the heart function. Many issues will arise in the lungs such as infections. If he can't hold out until it's approved, we may need to put him on the ECMO as an emergency measure." sabi ko sa malumanay na tono.
"But at the moment, I think the VAD is the best solution to help Trevor hold out until we find the right donor for him." patuloy ko.
Tinaas nito ang kanyang tingin saakin, "I'll get the screening started today, The results will be out in three to four days. Our coordinator will walk you through the steps and costs." sabi ko at nakangiting tumango upang ipakita sakanya na magiging ayos din ang lahat para sakanyang anak.
"Okay, Dr. Tiu, thank you.." sabi nito at tumango ngunit kitang kita ko sakanyang mga mata ang pag-aalala para sakanyang anak.
"We'll do our best." sabi ko at tinapik ang kanyang balikat.
Paglabas ko ay bumungad saakin si Vince Ponce. Maglalakad na sana ako paalis ng PICU ngunit nagsalita ito kaya napalingon ako sakanya.
"Professor, a VAD is–" sabi nito.
"It looks like you know now." putol ko sakanyang sasabihin. "Then how is a pediatric VAD different?" tanong ko at humarap ng maayos sakanya.
"Well..." sabi nito at napa-tingin sa taas kaya napa-tingin din ako doon para tignan kung ano ang kanyang tinitignan.
"How are the ones in the ICU different from the ones you've seen in the PICU?" tanong ko ulit at pinag-krus ang dalawang kamay sa dibdib.
Hindi ito nakasagot at nagpatuloy sa pag-titingin sa taas na para bang nag-iisip kung ano ang kanyang isasagot saaking mga tanong.
I scoffed, "Have the answer ready the next time I see you." sabi ko at diretsong naglakad paalis sa PICU.
YOU ARE READING
Doctor Series 1: Soren Tiu
General FictionThe series revolves around four doctors in their forties as they embark on hospital adventures involving medicine, relationship and hardships. The four of them have been best friends since they first met in medical school in 1998. At their 40's life...
