Ricci Rivero, MD

19

Ring ng ring yung phone ko kaya agad  ko itong tinignan.

Nurse Lianne calling ..

"Dr. Larazabal. Emergency." Pinatay ko kaagad yung phone at tumakbo na papuntang emergency room.

"Information." tanong ko the moment na napunta ako sa ER.

"Patient Aliza Camayo, 16 years old. Tenderness in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen." Inassess ko na ito.

"Dr. Rivero." sabi ng nurse acknowledging his presence.

"Anong nangyare?" Tanong nya sakin.

"Appendicitis. We need to operate on her asap." It's dangerous pag pinapatagal pa ito kaya we really have to operate on her.

"Dr. Pangilinan." And again the nurse acknowledged his presence.

Napatingin ako sa gawi niya. Kakarating lang nito may dalang dalang chart sa kamay nito.

"You'll operate on her?" Donny asked me.

"Di ko alam. Dr. Rivero, ikaw ba?" Umiling ito.

"It's not that hard. I'm sure kaya mo yan. Ikaw na mag operate since I'll officially start tomorrow pa naman. " Rivero stated.

"I'll assist you." Donny uttered.

I quickly went to the SO of my patient to let her sign some operation consent form na pumayag ito and just explained to her about the procedure.

Pagkatapos nun ay nagpalit na ako ng operating gown. I did a scrub bago ako pumasok sa OR. Napatingin ako kay Donny.

Ang hot nya tignan with the blue operating gown. Yung mata lang natitignan mo cause of the surgical mask.

"Operating on Aliza Camayo. Headed by Dr. Larazabal and assisted by Dr. Pangilinan. Scrub Nurses in are Nurse Hernandez and Fajardo. Is there anything you want to ask before we get started doc?" Nurse Fajardo asked.

"40 nylon black." I muttered and she left.

"Time starts: 8 : 40 PM 30 minutes duration."

"Okay. Let's begin. Scalpel"

Ibinigay sakin yung scalpel at nagsimula na ako.

I cut the part where I have to operate.

"Retractor." hingi ko at binigay ito ng nurse kaagad. 

Retractor used for expanding the skin.

"Dr. Pangilinan, suction." Inilagay nya yung suction.

"Status." saad ko.

"Everything's normal, doc." Sabi ng nurse at nagpatuloy lang ako.

Nung nakuha ko na agad ko itong nilagay sa lalagyan nya.

"You'll close it or me?" Donny asked.

"Ikaw nalang."

"Suture." He announced.

Before I left the operating room I heard him saying.

"Cut." To every suture he made.

I've been awake for 32 hours. I need coffee kaya pagkalabas ko ng operating room I changed into my office attire at pumunta na sa malapit na coffee shop.

"Two iced coffee latte please." While waiting, nag scroll nalang ako ng ibang cases that I already tried operating.

A message appeared..

Donny:

San ka?

Me:

Coffee shop. You done?

Donny:

Yea. Omw there.

Me:

Sige. I bought you a coffee.

Donny:

Wow ang bait naman.

The coffee shop's main entrance made a noise indicating someone went in.

Nakita ko pumasok na si Pangilinan wearing a black t-shirt and fitted white pants under his coat. May nakasabit pa na stethoscope around his neck.

Uminom nalang ako ng kape when he made his way to me.

"You're studying some cases?" salubong nya sakin.

"Yep. Have you tried operating jaundice?" he drank his coffee before answering.

"Just once."

"I'm so tired." I stated.

Tumayo si Donny sa upuan nya at pumunta ito sa likod ko. Hinawakan yung noo ko at minassage.

"You're working too much." He knows everything kaya wala na akong masasabi. I can't even win in an argument with this dude.

"You rest. I'll operate on your patient with jaundice." The moment he let those words come out from his mouth alam kong I can't say no.

He will always have the last say.

Or maybe he knows me too well.