It had been days since the hospital was thrust into chaos.
A rare case had been brought in-a young woman with unexplained neurological and respiratory symptoms that baffled every doctor on staff. It started as a simple seizure, but soon escalated into a full-blown medical mystery that no one could solve. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and each failed diagnosis only added to the tension. Every department had been called in, and the entire surgical staff was now involved.
Dahyun, along with her fellow interns, had been working nonstop. She could feel the weight of exhaustion pulling at her, but there was no time to rest. Every second mattered.
In the middle of the bustling OR hallway, Boo Yong-joo, the hospital's chief of surgery, gathered the team for yet another meeting. His presence was commanding, but his expression was grim as he addressed the group.
"We're running out of time," Boo Yong-joo said, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "If we don't figure this out soon, we're going to lose her."
The group of doctors exchanged tense glances. Kang Dong Joo stood next to Dahyun, his arms crossed, deep in thought. Kim Jun-wan, one of the top cardiothoracic surgeons, had been called in to assist, and he was pacing back and forth, muttering to himself.
Im Nayeon, their tough, no-nonsense attending, stepped forward, looking around at the team. "We've been over this case a hundred times," she said sharply. "What are we missing?"
Jihyo was scribbling notes furiously on the whiteboard, her mind working overtime as she ran through possible diagnoses. She stopped and turned to Dahyun. "What about an autoimmune disorder? We've ruled out most of the neurological causes, but what if it's something more systemic?"
Dahyun frowned, considering the idea. "But she's showing signs of respiratory failure. Wouldn't that be more indicative of a severe infection or a toxin exposure?"
Jungkook, always quick to jump in with an opinion, shook his head. "No, it's not an infection. We've tested for everything-viral, bacterial, fungal. All the cultures came back negative."
Yoongi, the quietest of the group, spoke up from the back. "What if we're dealing with two different issues? Something neurological and something affecting her lungs?"
Kim Jun-wan stopped pacing and turned to face the interns. "It's possible. But the seizures, the respiratory distress-it all seems connected. I'm not convinced it's two separate conditions."
Nayeon pinched the bridge of her nose, frustration clear on her face. "We don't have time to argue. We need answers. Now."
Dong Joo, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "We're missing something. Something simple. What about her exposure history? Has anyone dug into her travel history, her environment?"
Sana's brow furrowed. "She's a student. No recent travel, no significant exposure to chemicals or toxins."
Nayeon nodded. "We've already checked that. It's not environmental."
The tension in the room was palpable. Everyone was exhausted, running on adrenaline and caffeine. As the arguments continued, Dahyun couldn't shake the feeling that they were overlooking something crucial. She exchanged a glance with Jihyo, who looked just as frustrated.
Suddenly, a loud beep echoed through the room. Dahyun's pager went off, followed by everyone else's. It was an emergency page to the ICU. The patient was coding.
---
The team rushed to the ICU, where the young woman lay motionless, her vitals plummeting. Nurses and other staff crowded around the bed, working frantically to stabilize her. Dahyun's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the monitor flash red. Time was running out.
