A Melody of You: Book Five

Leanne

What kind of maniac decides to do a surgery that is impossible to have a success rate of over fifty percent?

I look up from the file Dr. Kim has given me. Cristina sits by him in the chairs in front of my desk with worry. She knows how risky this surgery is, too. No one in their right mind would play around with such a risk.

But unlike Cristina, Yujun seems excited about this case. He's mesmerized by the scans I have been looking at for the past five minutes. I clear my throat and say, "I won't do it."

His smile falls immediately and looks at Cristina. She does a small shrug and he says to me, "But why? I thought you would be excited about this!"

"Why should I when I know the child will die?"

He furrows his brows at my words. "Do you not trust I will do a good job?"

"I know you will do a good job, but there are some things that not even the most gifted hands can avoid. That tumor is wrapped around so many arteries and veins that will leave the child paralyzed for the rest of his life if you make the smallest mistakes."

"Then I won't make a mistake."

I raise my brows at this confidence. "Dr. Kim. This child can die on the operating table. You are gifted. Yes. But do you also know how long this surgery can be? This surgery can take almost a whole day!"

He sits back with a confident expression and nods. "You're right. It's nearly impossible and I can most certainly be affected by the difficulty of this surgery. I am human after all. However, I know I will have an excellent team that will have my back and I want you on my team, Dr. Nam."

I have to admit that he is smart. He's persuasive. He's too good at most things in the medical field. But...he's always been even better as a friend. He knows my heart. He remembers it well as he slightly narrows his eyes at my silence.

"Faith, Dr. Nam," he gently says. "You still lack in that. Your logical mind has taken you far. You are a good doctor because you plan and prepare almost perfectly. But what about faith?"

It feels like I'm listening to my father right now and I scoff. "Faith won't mend mistakes and make consequences disappear."

"It won't if you have your faith here." He takes out his hands and smiles at them. He then puts a hand on his chest and says, "But all of that can be reversed if faith starts in here."

Cristina does a soft sigh showing that she has been touched by his words. He returns her warm smile and I do a soft scoff. "I didn't know you were religious."

"My religion is in the power that can give life back and stop death. Hope is the start of faith. You are so close. It'll be fun."

"It won't be fun if this surgery doesn't work. You can get a lawsuit, Yujun."

"Your logic makes you negative, you know that right?"

"My logic has saved my career and helped me get this far." I look at Cristina and she is surprised to be part of the conversation after being silent this whole time. She sits up as I say, "Be honest with me. You have interacted with the patient and his family more than any of us have. What do you think about this?"

She thinks three times and formulates her words well in her mind as she tries to understand her opinions. She is an indecisive person. It might be complicated for her to conclude this dilemma.

Yet, I've never seen her this confident as she softly says, "You're right. This surgery is risky and has more cons than pros. It would be crazy to even try to go into that area of his spine. But Dr. Kim is right. It's worth giving it a try. His dream is to become a football player. He loves to run and play at school, and his family is hopeful. They are willing to trust the process as long as their child can have a normal life again. He deserves a second chance. It's scary, but this team is powerful. I know the surgeons in this case and I know there is a chance to see that child walk out of this hospital on his two legs."