Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Salem nodded in understanding. “Okay. I feel like Kyle made a good call here. I already sent an email saying I’d take lead this afternoon, but I want to go meet my patient.”
“Sure. I was actually on the way myself to explain why we delayed until you got here. This will go over even better.”
He gathered up his iPad, wanting to make some notes, and followed her. Then doubled back for three markers. If this surgery had been delayed, then likely both patient and parents were now anxious, no matter the reason. It was best to release the tension ahead of time if possible.
His patient was only one hallway away, and when Salem stepped in, he found the father—who did look stressed out of his mind, wringing a worn-in ball cap between two hands—and mother, a simply dressed woman in her late thirties. The ten-year-old was in a patient gown, sitting upright in bed, with an IV in one hand already and a blanket clutched close for comfort.
Yup. Way too much tension in this room.
“Hi there,” Alexis greeted everyone. “I bring to you good news. This is Doctor Hunter, who, fortunately for us, just got back from his brother’s wedding yesterday.”
That was his cue. “Hi, all. Let me explain a bit about why they delayed surgery for me to come in. Did anyone talk to you about what Situs Inversus is?”
“Um, Doctor Alexis did,” the mother admitted. “But I’m sorry, I’m not sure if I really understand it all. How will this affect him long term?”
“It won’t.” Salem shot her a reassuring smile. “The nice thing about this condition is it isn’t at all harmful. He’ll have a normal lifespan, just like the rest of us, without any issues. Except in times like these, when he might need a surgery, and it sends the poor staff’s heads spinning. Let me tell you something, looking at the mirror image of anything gets confusing. And when those organs are teeny-tiny, it doesn’t help anything. Now.” He braced his hands on the side rails of the bed and looked at his patient directly. “You, sir, have nothing to worry about there. So don’t let it fret you. Now, Doctor Kyle waited on me because he knows I’ve seen a patient like you before.”
Half the tension in the father fled out of his body language. “You have?”
“I have indeed. It’s incredibly rare, no lie, so I’m one of the very few in this hospital who has.” Salem gave him a comforting nod. “I promise you, I’ve got this. After today, Doctor Kyle will as well, because he’s still assisting in the surgery. He wants to see all of this with his own eyes so he’s not caught flat-footed again.”
“Sounds great,” the father muttered. “Damn, I never expected this as a complication.”
“No one did. I read from the chart that you guys tried a variety of different methods to avoid surgery, but now it’s unavoidable, so let’s just power through it so your son can heal.”
Salem straightened and pulled his markers out of his pocket. “In that vein—Cas? You want to help me and Doctor Kyle out?”
“Uh…sure?”
“This will be the one time you’re allowed to draw on your body.” Salem offered him the markers like a gambler would a hand. “Pick your weapon of choice, sir.”
He seemed excited and immediately picked a black.
“Good! Now, normally, your liver would be over here.” Salem lightly touched the spot in question. “But we don’t want to cut over there, ’cause your liver is over here. So let’s make sure we mark the right spot, okay? I’m going to pull this gown up some, thank you, Mom, for the help, and first thing’s first. Let’s mark off the spot where your liver isn’t.”
Salem wrote in a mostly legible scrawl with bright blue, Wrong side! Abort abort!
Cas started laughing and drew a bunch of access denied symbols to join the words.
Good, this was working. Salem circled the area where the incisions would be. “Right spot.”
Cas immediately switched to drawing arrows and OKs around the circle. Salem joined in, marking a treasure trail from the wrong side to the right side, then made an elaborate X to mark the spot, much like a pirate map.
“Phew, okay.” Salem admired their handiwork. “Don’t think mistakes can be made now. Whatcha think, Cas?”
“Can I keep drawing?”
“Sure.” Anything to occupy his mind so he didn’t stress out. “Want mine too?”
“Yeah.” Cas took the offered marker, happy to keep going.
Alexis spoke to his parents in a soft voice. “We’ll get surgery prep going in about two hours. I don’t think this will take long at all. He should be back in his room by midafternoon. I promise you, he’s in great hands.”
Salem shook hands with both parents, gave the same assurances, then left because he did have a lot to do in the next few hours if he wanted to squeeze in lunch somehow before the surgery.