Dr. Phil Richards , was fresh graduate from Harvard, who just started as a resident at Westwood Children's hospital. He is a kind hearted, enthusiastic doctor, ever ready to help.
Then comes Samantha Byrnes.
Read further to find out what happens next.
Chapter 1:
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER :
It was my first week of work as the new resident doctor, at the Westwood's Children's hospital. Fresh out of Harvard, I joined the Children's hospital 'cos I really wanted to specialize in pediatrics, and what better way to that, the joining one of country's best children's hospital. A new resident in a big hospital meant a lot of work. In a day, I had to do the regular rounds, twice, the free clinics for three hours, and the night duty four times a week.That night, was my third night duty, of that week. The long hours were already killing me.
"Dr. Richards, it's time for your rounds in the ward, here, I got you this ", Maria, the nurse on duty informed, while handing me a cup of hot steaming coffee.She truly was god sent, that Maria. If I have to pull a 20 hour shift, I would need as many cups of these as possible.
"Thanks Maria, you are a savior and please call me Phil ", I told the kind woman.
Nurse Maria was probably around fifty years old, I cannot really be sure. She was one of the first people to welcome me here, and make me feel at home. She has been a nurse here, for the past thirty years. The children here mean the world to her, which was probably because she had no kids of her own.God was really unfair to her, for she would have made a great mother. Her kind eyes, reminded me of my mother, who was now resting in heaven.
I sipped my coffee, relishing every bit of it, as I stepped out of my room to make the regular rounds in the wards.The white tiles on the walls of the corridors, the flickering lights illuminating the entire length of the corridor and the smell of surgical spirit , was something I was acquainted with by now.Being a doctor, was my only aim in life, since I found out of my mother's illness.
She was a very kind woman, much like nurse Maria .they said she had no hope, to recover, and advised her to spend the remaining days of her life in peace and calm.They diagnosed her with terminal cancer of the colon, when I was nine years old. I was old enough to know what death was, but young enough to cope with it.She died ten months after that, peacefully, in her sleep. We only found out the next morning, when my dad made her some breakfast in bed. It was a huge blow to our whole family. It was her death that brought me closer to my father. A week after her death, I remember telling him that I wanted to become a doctor, and save people from dying.
My dad thought, it was just a passing phase .He didn't expect me to actually be so serious about it, when I was nine years old. He only realized how serious I was about it, when I decided to go pre med in college.He never opposed my decision and was proud of me, when I got into Harvard on a scholarship.Since then, there was no looking back and what followed, was a long list of hospital duties, long hours of studies and an extremely grueling schedule with night shifts every alternate day.
In the end, it was worth it all, and I am exactly where I wanted to be.
There were no new complaints, by any patients, except this one kid who was convinced that the hospital is haunted.It took some time, to calm him down, which he eventually did.After finishing the rounds quickly, I went over to the reception, to sign in, that I have performed the routine rounds. The rest of the night was uneventful, and that was until I heard some commotion near the front office.
There was a lady, panting profusely , trying to tell something to the receptionist. She was holding her daughter, in her arms, whose head was resting on her shoulder.I went up there, to see what the whole fuss was about .
"Ma'am I'm Dr. Phil Richards, I'm on night duty here today. Now if you could please tell me, what happened...?"
"She threw up all her dinner. I was in the kitchen, when I heard her throwing up in the bathroom. I rushed to see what happened and I saw her, lying on the floor unconscious, with stains of blood at the side of her nose. She was bleeding from her nose."
Towards the end of the sentence, there was a definite quiver in her voice and her eyes were so red, that she would burst out crying any moment now.
"Now ma'am, there is no reason to panic we will admit your daughter for tonight and give her some fluids. She must be dehydrated with all the throwing up. The nose bleed must be due to the dehydration. It must be food poisoning or some kind of an infection. We'll just run some tests. Why don't you fill the forms, while we get your daughter a room?" I asked her, trying to be as reassuring as possible.
I understand a parent's state of mind, when their daughter is in such a state. It is necessary for them to be strong at such times, for their kids, so I tried to be as convincing as possible. I called for Nurse Maria, and asked her to set up a room for the kid. I don't even know her name yet.
After setting up an i.v infusion of fluids so her body can rehydrate, and running some blood tests,I came out of her room to see her mother waiting outside the door, anxiously tapping her feet on the floor.She immediately stood up, on seeing me, and looked at me expectantly.
"All her vital statistics are fine; I've given her some fluids and ran some tests. The blood works should arrive in another hour. You can go inside Mrs....."
"Byrnes...Rebecca Byrnes." She said, extending her arm.
"What's your daughter's name Mrs. Byrnes?" I asked her.
"Her name is Sam, Samantha Byrnes. Thanks a lot doctor." she replied, showing all the gratitude she felt in her eyes.
"Don't worry about it. It's my job". I told her and returned to my room. It was about 3 A.M.
I waited for the blood works of Samantha Byrnes to arrive.My sleep was now completely gone. I even, checked on Samantha, half hour later.
She seemed fine and nothing was out of order, but that only lasted until her reports arrived.
Okay so this is another new story J yay!!
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