Elite Series: Otra Vez

Chapter 1 "Doctor, we have a problem" the head nurse said as she is on a call. I looked at her after I pulled out the saw from opening the ribs. "What is it?" I ask, she then explains about the sudden change of mind of the donor's family. My eyes grew wide with the news and look at the patient that is in front of me, then at the person watching me from the operating theatre. "Doctor, you need to close the patient" he said through the microphone, I look at the people surrounding me, and back to the open patient, he smiled at me for the last time as we entered the room and I assured him that everything would turn out fine. "Head nurse, please call the OTMO department and file a request, then call the patient's parents, I need to talk to them" I said, and with that the nurse close the call and dialed another number, I called the attention of the 2nd assistant and ordered him to bring me the things that I need. "No more questions, just proceed with what I told you" I said as I cut him off as he try to question me. "Doctor, can you give me 10 to 15 minutes for the patient?" I asked the anesthesiologist and he nodded in response, "10 to 15 minutes, no more than that" he said, and injected the medicine which I told him. I walked out of the operating room removing the gloves from my hands and the mask. Afterwards, the parents are walking with the nurse beside them. "What happened doctor?" the woman asked. Despite her strength, the thought of their son that might die any second brought her knee to lose its courage. Fortunately, the husband was there to help her from falling. "I am so sorry but the donor's family backed out from the last second" I know it is bad to tell them straight, but it is better to let them know that their son might be compromised due to the sudden changes. "Can't we find another donor? we will pay whatever the cost" the husband said, but I shook my head in response "I only have 10 to 15 minutes, and if we wait for another donor, your son's heart might ceased to function, as of now his body is deteriorating due to the heart's fatigue, it cannot pump enough blood to sustain the life of his organs" I reply "We only have 2 option, either we close up the patient and pray that he will pass this predicament until another heart arrive or we will proceed with the VAD" I added "What is VAD doctor?" the woman asks "This will allow your son's heart to pump more blood to all the organs inside the body, and it will also give him a chance to wait for another donor, but due to his heart current condition this is also a risk" they both look at me then to each other, thinking what is best for their son's life, they told me to proceed with the VAD even though this might be the end for their son's life but they pulled their self up for their kid "I will do anything, to give your son time until another heart arrive, please do not loose hope" I said and they both nod and thank me, I called the nurse and we proceed back to the operating room. "You're late for 2 minutes" the anesthesiologist said, I smile and let the nurse to help me suit up with medical clothes and gloves for the second time. "Due to the current condition and to the sudden changes in the organ, we need to proceed with caution, the heart might stop any second, we must do anything for this, kid's life" Opening my speech, I look at the president on the operating theatre and he nod giving me full authority to the patient. "From transplant, we will change the operation to BTT, Bridge To Transplant, and insert the VAD or Ventricular Assist Device on the left side of the patient, scalpel" and I proceed with the operation. The main pump is inserted into the tip of the heart. The blood is pumped out through a flexible plastic tube to the body's main artery (aorta). The aorta sends blood to the rest of the body. A cord inserted through the skin connects the mechanical pump to a control unit (controller) and battery pack outside the body. This operation took 6 hours, we even stopped his heart and made everything fast within that short time cause his heart may not beat again due to its poor health. After operation I told the first assistant and the second assistant to bring the patient to the ICU and must be monitored 24/7. I sigh in relief and the president said. "Thank you for your hard work doctor, yet another awesome operation doctor" he said and left the theater. "Everyone, thank you for your hard work" I said as I start to walk to the door "Thank you doctor" they said in unison, I wave my hand as I exit the operating room. "How is it doctor?" the parents asked. "Everything went well, the machine is functioning really well, we'll just wait till he gain consciousness, but right now both of you can breathe with ease! also I will be providing you all the contact of OTMO branch to hasten the search for prospective donor" I said "Thank you very much doctor" she said, she hug her husband while the man can't stop tearing and cries in relief. After leaving them I went to my office to finish the paperwork for the day and be ready to head home. I became a head surgeon 3 years ago when I operated an important person after knowing that no doctors were available at that time. It was an appendectomy operation and it was my first surgery ever since I became a doctor. I was scolded by the chief surgeons due to my actions and give me the full responsibility in case something happens to the patient. Not until they identified the true identity of the person, he arrived that day due to a sudden pain in his lower part and I admitted him and run some tests. I was just a newly licensed doctor and once the surgeons discovered his identity they tried to take credit from it. It was when the President stepped in, he did everything in his power to make the doctors who left their duty that day responsible and he manage to kick most surgeons, although it made a great impact to the hospital it was not a big problem because there are 25 branches scattered all over the world and this will be an opportunity from other doctors to take a step on the main branch which is the Kairo University Hospital. I also became a chief surgeon though in title, I still need more time to nurture my skills but that did not happen, the president himself through the span of 1 year taught me the skills in surgery and everything that I need to know, he even provided various references for me to study and a lot of discs which were his past operations. The president then gave me a file stating that I became a 10% stock holder of Kairo Internationals, a worldwide medical organization. The patient that I operated was his friend and a great person who's just under the chairman of Kairo, that was the reason they give me so much credit. By the way, let me introduce myself, I am Ezekiel Clive, I don't know where I came from, the only thing I remembered was I am a doctor applying for my residency and for my license back then, yes, I woke up one day and I could not remember who I was. Though I knew my age and my name but I don't know where I came from, I know where I lived though. The people that surrounds me, I knew all of them but aside from them, I remember nothing. I went to another hospital to take a test for myself and it was a selective amnesia, though the doctor said that my memory would return after some time, but it has been like 10 years and I can't still remember. Phone you may ask? I do have one but nothing's in it, no phone number, but there were these photos of a family and I was there. I thought to myself that I still have family but I don't know where they are until I found out that they were in another country. I lost my memory when I was at medical school in Kairo, I don’t mind anything at all since I was living in a condo unit which was in my name, money is also not a problem since I got an income from my personal account and when I tried to track it down, it was not link to another account, so all the money in it are mine. "Ezekiel?" I look back after reminiscing my past and over-thinking. "Yes?" I questioned, the president is walking towards me "I have a good news, but before that, thank you for saving him" he said, the patient is his nephew and the woman is his sister, he recommended me as a surgeon to his family, though he wanted to operate his own family but he can't do it, he can't watch his nephew dying on his own hand he can't risk it. "It's nothing, anyway what's the good news?" I ask "Oh yeah! the Chairman approved your transfer but..." he stop midway "But???" I utter in low voice, I feel something is going to happen, I thought to myself "But he wants you to act as the chairman of the 10th branch, the Xuan Medical Hospital" I stared at him for the longest time, straight into his eyes. "You're kidding right?" I doubted at first. "No I am not, he is also giving you the Presidential suite at the Garden Estate Hotel and this black card" wait... wait a minute, what is happening, I thought I will just go there as another doctor "But why me?" I said and he take a huge air to breathe in "Because he trusts you, you passed his tasks that secretly organized and you become a doctor who will do anything just to save a patient, he approves you as a member of Kairo International and is giving you another 5% of stocks" he explained, but when did he organized it? I was not told about all of these stuffs. "Now then no more question, you will be out here tomorrow, you're plane ticket will be provided to you by the person who will send you to the airport, and yeah! I will visit you after 3 months so best of luck my friend, the terror of operation" and with that he pat my shoulder twice before leaving me dumbfounded. I am still holding the black card which he gave me that I unconsciously accepted. I walk out of the plane and straight to the luggage area to take my things. I need to look for the person whom the Hotel provided me. "Doctor Clive?" I heard someone called my surname, I turn around and there is a man standing with his black suit. "Yes! good day" I said, after I approach him. "Good day to you too sir, I am James, the hotel sent me to pick you up, shall we?" he ask and I nod in response, he then take my cart full of my things and he pushed it towards the parking area just outside the airport. "How was your flight sir?" he ask "Just call me El, no need to be so formal" I utter "It was a great flight, it took 14 hours or so" I added "Great then, anyway umm? Sir El, shall we go straight to the hotel or you want to go somewhere?" he ask "Straight to the hotel, I will be resting for the day" I said and ride the car after he opens the door. He put everything on the back side of the car and it fits well, anyway, as he began to drive me towards the hotel, he told me everything that I need to know about this country, though I seem to be from here but I can't remember anything maybe because I have been in another country for 10 years and I have an amnesia! It took another 2 hours of drive before arriving at the hotel, but before he let me walk out the car he called someone first and then there goes the run. There are so many people running towards the main door of the hotel, even stopping the guests from entering or exiting. "Do you guys need to do this?" I ask, he look through the mirror and said, "It was ordered by the president and the chairman himself" he reply. "Gosh those old men, anyway let's go! I feel embarrassed with such treatment” "Don't be sir, they told me you are their cherished friend and guest, so this much is nothing" I sigh in defeat and let him do his job, I will call the president later and ask for chairman's number. "Welcome to the Garden Estate Hotel Mr. Ezekiel" they said in unison as they lower their head and bow after taking my first step inside the hotel. People are watching me and some of them are taking photos thankfully there are guards that block off the people from taking shots. "Sir, my name is Amelia and I will be the one attending your needs inside this hotel" she said, I look at James and shows him my questioning face, but Amelia added. "James will be responsible for your security and your personal driver, while I and my team will be the one to tend your needs from foods to accommodations" she explained, oh! that's why I thought they're running something bad here, I would run myself away if that's the case. "Thank you, and I mean, thank you all for doing all of this, please take care of me" I said and bowed myself. "Shall I lead you to your suite sir?" she offered and showed her hand through the long aisle. I nod in response and she began to walk towards the private elevator while she explains every part of the hotel.