CHAPTER 12PIETÀ
After the Christmas break, Ryan plunged back into the neurosurgical world with a three-day weekend of call. And it didn’t disappoint. Friday was filled with broken spines; Saturday, with brain hemorrhages; Sunday, with newly diagnosed brain tumors. By Monday, he was spent. Nonetheless, he had two brain tumor operations and a spinal fracture repair to get through before he could head home. They all went smoothly, and after the last operation, he and two medical students walked down to the coffee shop for celebratory chocolate chip cookies. They were just finishing up when Cara Klein came bustling through and spotted him.
“Hey, sir, you done already?” asked Cara.
“Yep, piece of cake,” replied Ryan, eyes sagging. “Where you going in such a hurry?”
“Trauma bay. They’ve got
