The Resident//#Wattys2018

003

“Hello young interns, My name is Dr. Mallon, just think of me as your father for the next year, if you have questions about anything just come to me” he states as we walk down the hospital’s hallways.

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Rounds are probably the most tiresome as a new doctor fresh out the gate. You have to walk over the hospital with different cases that were never the same, well that was the fun part, you could come across some very interesting, speaking of interesting cases, “Ow, oh, oh, ooh, Mom don't touch it there it hurts!” a random child said as we came into her room. “I’m sorry honey, but you have to let me touch it so I can apply your ointment” the mother said to ease the child’s mind.

I began to look around the room, there was no attending in sight, that was weird, this was our 3rd stop today and usually the attending would be in here while one intern would read out the facts and stay in the room with them and basically be their sidekick on the case. Hopefully they would be here soon, this case seemed exciting, this little girl had something big underneath her gown, I couldn't make out what it was, but I was intrigued.

“Now who would like to read me the details, hmm let’s see…..bada bing, bada you Dr. Wester.” Dr. Mallon says as he points to me, i was overjoyed at least I got something interesting, and it was going to be a pediatric surgeon, which was going to be my specialty.

I grabbed the clipboard atop of the bed and began to read, “Katie Ramirez, age 7, came in about a month ago with pain in her left abdominal area, was diagnosed as a stage 1 cancerous tumor, today she will be put back in the MRI only to check if the cancer has spread.” I stop to take a breath then continue to read when I am interrupted. “Sorry I’m late, I just got through with our newest patient, it was a lot, now where were we?” Theo says as he walks over to Katie with sweat dripping down his face, it must've been a long run. I was about to  pick up where I left off, but then I remembered that if I read this case I would have to stay almost the whole day with Theo, lord knows what he had planned for me. I didn't want to risk it so I just decided not to speak.

“Dr. Wester, what seems to be the problem? Cat got your tongue?” Dr. Mallon asked while everyone stared at me, I look over at Theo’s face and he seems to be in a state of shock, I guess he hadnt noticed me earlier, but he sure as hell saw me now.

“I, I-I ugh, sorry I had a brain fart, Anyways, if everything is all good we will proceed with the surgery.” I say with so much speed so the attention would just get off of me. I can't believe it, I’m stuck with Dr. McPrankster all day long, I pray for my soul.

“Alright, well take care of my intern Doc, see you around Wester.” Dr. Mallon says as he and my fellow interns head out the door to move on. I hesitantly begin to look over at Theo, he was still in shock, but he more or less shook it off and went on, “Hello Katie, how are you doing today? Feeling any better?” he asked as he leaned down to the little girl’s face. She raised her thumb up to let him know her answer, just a minute ago she was screaming bloody murder to her mother, but as soon as Theo walks in she’s quiet. “That’s good, now can I check your heartbeat? It’ll only take a second.” he asks, she nods her head in agreement and he proceeds to using his stethoscope, he asks her to breathe in and out for him and he was done.

I was really confused at this point, I’ve never seen him act like this before. It was weird,“Uh oh, your heart sounds a little funny” he says and the little girl and her mom look at him with worry on their faces, “Your heart kinda sounds like an elephant”, Theo than starts to make an elephant noise, he used to make it when we were kids, especially to his younger brother when he was crying. The little girl starts to laugh, Theo gets up and starts to laugh with her, and in only a matter of seconds a room that was filled with tension and sorrow was now filled with joy and laughter.

“Now Katie, my sweet young lady, we have to check your blood.” he says as the room quiets down, her smile soon changes into a frown, “but that means needles, and I don't like needles.” she says with worry in her cute little voice. Theo smiles and grabs a lock of her hair, “yes that means needles, but it's okay, you see that pretty lady over there? That’s Dr. Wester, she is going to take your blood and she’s really, really good, so nothing bad is going to happen to you, you can trust her.” he says to her which makes her stare at me with a smile. I loosen my body and walk over to her and hold out my hand, she needed to be comfortable around me. “Hello, my name is Dr. Wester, how are you?” I ask to ease her stress, “good.” she says in a quiet voice still a little timid, “you wanna know something Katie?”, she nods her head, “I’m not a big fan of needles either.”.”. She had the most shocked look on her face ever, “but you're a doctor, you're not supposed to be afraid of needles” she replies, I give out a little chuckle, “I know, that’s what makes it so funny, now I know you can be a big girl and do this” I say as i grab her little hand, she looks up at me and nods ferociously.

“okay, atta girl”, I grab her arm lightly and ask Theo to give me the tools. As I go to stick the needle in her Theo walks over to us and plops down next to me, “So Katie, what do you like to do for fun?” he asks to take her mind away from the needle being put inside her arm. “Umm, I like to dance, umm, sing, draw, oh and ice skate when it’s cold out or in a rink” she said with so much joy, “That’s cool, you and Dr. Wester have something in common then, she used to ice skate all the time when we were kids.” he says as I finish cleaning up the punctured area, Katie looks over at me with a wide smile, “You did?” she asked, “Uh huh, all the time.” I answered,”she was really good even if she fell on her butt all the time” he chuckled. I gave him a sideways glance, it was mostly because his dumb self anyways, he would “accidently” bump into me and knock me over.

Theo looked over at me and must’ve read my mind because he stopped laughing immediately, “of course I was the one who knocked her over, but it was never on purpose.” he nervously laughed, if he did read my mind it wasn't well enough. “How do you guys know each other?” The mom spoke up and asked, Theo and I looked at each other, that’s an interesting question. “umm, well we first meet when her family moved in next door and she became friends with my little sister and we just sortve ended up friends” he answers. Friends? Him and I? Friends? When was that ever a thing? As I recall that “friendship” was mostly made up of him teasing me and pranking me to no end, but I guess I don't need to call him out on his bs, all that is important is Katie and her health.

“Ohhh, have you two ever dated? I mean, you guys look so good together and your chemistry just flows perfectly.” The mom suggested, this day is just full of surprises isn't it?

“I mean there was that one time when..” I interruped him before he said somthing completely by covering his mouth, “no, we never dated, just...really good friends.” I lie about the last part. The lady gives us a saddening look, “Oh thats too bad, like I said you two look good together.” I roll my eyes slightly so she doesn't notice, and Theo leans over into my ear, “We would never work anyways, it’s not possible you know with the whole no Residents dating Attendings thing.” I look over at his wide smirk, “oh yeah, that’s most definitely the reason why we wouldn't work out.” I sarcastically say back to him.

“Anyways, we’ll just take this blood of yours to the lab, and test it out and then we’ll bring you by the MRI later on okay.” Theo says to Katie and her mother, they both nod their heads.

“Well, I’ll just go take this then and see you when you come back from the MRI.” I say to Katie hoping to get out before Theo tries to drag me into anything else, I then say my goodbyes and head out the door.