Behind The Exhausting Hours

PROLOGUE

[PROLOGUE]

"Due to massive trauma to the abdomen, he is suffering from both a liver and spleen injury." Sabi ko habang sinusuot ng nurse ang gloves sa aking kamay.

I said as the nurse put the gloves on my hand. They're caught off guard. Bagamat tahimik silang lahat sa loob ng operating room ay mararamdaman mo naman ang mabigat na tensyon na makikita mo sa kanilang mga mata kahit na nakasuot sila ng surgical mask.

I gulped.

Napatikhim si Doc Dwayne dahilan para mapalingon ako sa kanya at magtama ang paningin naming dalawa. "His BP is low and his saturation level...is now unstable because of left hemothorax. He could go into a cardiac arrest at the moment we open him up... Are you sure about your decision, Doc?" Malumanay ko siyang tinignan bago pumunta sa harap ng pasyente.

"Pwede bang mag-focus ka lang dyan?" I said sarcastically.

Napasimangot siya at saka ako inirapan. Tumingin ako sa kanilang lahat bago sumeryoso. "Today, we will focus on the damage control first, and also his bleeding. After a splenectomy, we will do a perihepatic packing. Then after we monitor him, we will conduct a second surgery within 48 hours."

Napasinghap silang lahat sa gulat.

Doc Dwayne sighed.

"You may begin, Doc." I nodded and took a deep breath.

I cleared my throat.

"Okay, He has massive bleeding in the abdomen. So, maraming dugong kakalat. Be ready." Napatango sila sa binitawan kong salita. Tuningin ako kay Doc Maica na nasa paanan ng pasyenteng ooperahan. "Doc Maica, maghanda ka ng enough large tape and several abdominal suction tubes." Kumislap ang mata ni Doc Maica at tumango.

"Yes doc." She said.

"Okay, Scalpel." I said and started to open the patient's stomach. "Suction," Malumanay agad na sabi ni Doc Anchiellea. "Bovie," I said. Kagaya ng sinabi ko, maraming dugo agad ang nakalat, agad na inilagay ni Doc Anchiellea ang Bovie at Suction.

"His BP is dropping."

Halatang kinakabahan sila ngunit nanatili lang akong kalmado, kami ni Doc Anchiellea. Maging si Shantel na isang pinakamagaling ring Surgeon ay nasindak na naman, palagi nalang siyang ganito sa tuwing aayain ko siya na sumama sa aking operasyon. "Large tape." I said while trying to manage the blood. "Keep the suction going." I added when the large tape finally stopping the blood. "We finally have a visual." Doc Anchiellea said. "We'll wrap up the splenectomy in five minutes." I said while continuing what am I doing. Halatang natigilan si Doc Anchiellea.

"Five minutes?" She's caught off guard.

"Splenic artery." I said, hindi ko pinansin ang kanyang sinabi. Wala rin siyang magawa kundi ang magpatuloy, bakas na rin sa kanyang mukha ang pagkabalisa at pagiging kabado. Naningkit ang mata ko at tinapunan siya ng tingin. Damn. "Forceps," She uttered. "Dang, Doc Glein. Mapahamak mo yung pasyente..." Halatang takot nang sabi ni Shantel. "Edi nice." I said sarcastically. Narinig kong napamura siya dahilan para magawa ko pang matawa. I'm nervous like them, but I just stayed calm in front of them, I didn't want to show my fear because maybe when they saw it, they would lose hope to continue the operation I started. "Right angle..." I said, Doc Shantel gave it to me. "Give me another right angle, Doc." I said again, agad niya ulit ibinigay yon.

"Metz." Sabi ko. Halatang hindi gumagalaw sa pwesto niya si Doc Anchiellea. Hindi na malaman kung ano na ang susunod niyang gagawin, marahil ay hindi siya pamilyar sa ginagawa ko ngayon. Muli ay binalingan ko siya ng tingin. "Doc Anchiellea. Are you just going to stand there and gawk?" Paninita ko, halatang kabado siya at muling nagpatuloy. "Crile," Aniya.