REDAMANCY - Love's Timeless Path

11th Note

(Rajendra)

—

"Emang lu anjing ya, Mas." Wimar cursed me. I just laughed as I hurriedly changed into scrubs.

I was not late, if you were wondering. I even came earlier than my scheduled surgery, but maybe Wimar was terrorized by the nursing team because I hadn't come yet and it made him nervous.

"Bisa-bisanya lu datang mepet banget?!"

"Don't worry, I just recharged my body before coming here."

I could see Wimar staring at me with a look of disgust clearly visible on his face. If this wasn't the time for surgery, I might have punched him.

In the hushed corridors of the pediatric cardiac wing, I found myself gearing up for what would be one of the most intricate surgeries of my career. As a pediatric cardiac surgeon, I've tackled quite a few tough cases, but this one patient has me feeling a mix of determination and hope like never before.

Emily, the newborn baby, was battling a complex congenital heart defect known as *Tetralogy of Fallot. It's a jumble of four heart issues that mess with how the heart works and is put together. Honestly, there's been zilch info about how often this happens in Indonesia. That's why this kid holds a special place in my heart.

I remembered how her parents, anxious yet resilient, entrusted me with the delicate task of mending their daughter's tiny heart.

Thinking about how she had to fall asleep in the operating room right after her birth just hits me how messed up it would be. The statistics for this disease lay it out: without any treatment, your chances are 64% at 1 year, 23% at 10 years, 10% at 20 years, and a meager 3% at 40 years. Life expectancy increases to 83% at the age of 10 years and 79.6% in patients who undergo surgery.

As the operating room doors swung open, I entered a world of sterility and focused precision. The hum of machinery and the beeping of monitors created a symphony of anticipation. The initial moments were about meticulous preparation—ensuring every tool was in its place and every monitor calibrated. Her small frame, draped in sterile sheets, lay vulnerable yet resilient, awaiting the transformative touch of surgical expertise.

Fixing up the tetralogy of Fallot with total surgical correction is one way to go about it. With a mortality rate of 3% in developed countries and 6.9–15.3% in developing countries. The main causes of death in patients who have undergone surgery include arrhythmia, heart failure, respiratory failure, and sudden death. The risk of sudden death increases by 6–9% within 30 years after surgery.

With a deep breath, I began the procedure. The first incision, a carefully calculated entry into the realm of her tiny heart, marked the commencement of a meticulous journey. As I navigated the intricate landscape of valves, chambers, and vessels, the heart-lung machine took over the vital task of circulating blood, allowing me to focus entirely on the delicate dance within.

The congenital defect posed a challenge that demanded a nuanced approach. Each stitch was a commitment to mending the intricate fabric of her heart, addressing the ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

"Why do you want to become a pediatric cardiologist?"

Haira's voice rang in my head.

"Because I like children." I answered while gently stroking the top of her head. "I love seeing them laugh and run around happily. It doesn't seem fair to take that happiness away from them, right?"

Her dark eyes looked at me before she smiled. Confirm my statement.

"That's why I become a pediatric cardiologist who is always cheerful and always spreads laughter for them."