Surgery Godfather-Chapter 483 - 440: The Patient’s Wish

On the third day after the surgery, when Yang Ping went to ICU for ward rounds, he found that the muscle strength in the lower limbs of Gan Fengyi’s mother had recovered somewhat, increasing from level one to level two.

This rate of recovery was quite fast. The sooner and faster the muscle strength recovered after compression of the spinal cord was relieved, the better the surgical effect it indicated.

Based on Yang Ping’s experience, there was a considerable chance of Gan Fengyi making a full recovery.

If she regains level four muscle strength, she can begin to consider removing the tubes. If she regains level five, she is completely normal.

When Yang Ping came out of the ICU ward, there was a dispute among several family members in the waiting area.

"A male patient, just in his thirties, was suffering from fulminant viral myocarditis. By the time he was brought in, he was barely alive and is currently being kept alive with ECMO," the ICU’s Dr. Meng explained to Yang Ping. Issues like these were frequent in the ICU, possibly the place with the highest death rate in the world. Not everyone managed to fight off the specter of death. Not everyone had the chance to live.

To live is to be lucky.

The family members arguing were loud. The woman, who seemed to be the patient’s wife, was crying while sitting on the chair.

"You just kept belittling him, you know men have their dignity too. Do you even realize that after his company went bankrupt and he lost his job, in order not to worry you, he still carried his document bag every day and worked from morning till night? And he still gave you money on time every month, all of which were borrowed. All you did was scold him. Now, he can’t even hear you if you want to scold him."

"Didn’t you know that he had a high fever for some days?"

"If I had known, I wouldn’t have argued with him."

"You kicked him out in such heavy rain?"

"I didn’t know, really."

ICU and Emergency Departments often witness such disputes among family members. Both places were where life and death were separated. Yang Ping was used to such incidents.

Yang Ping hurried back to the Comprehensive Orthopedics Ward, where Professor Li was studying the latest test results of Zheng Baosheng.

Zheng Baosheng’s heart and blood vessels were like a blurred image, and the operation needed to differentiate one noodle from another. These "noodles" could neither break nor be destroyed, which was why the operation was so challenging.

The renewed tests included angiography of the surgical area. The distribution of many of his blood vessels differed from normal human anatomy.

Professor Li Zehui sat at his desk holding a heart model, staring at it, his hands slowly turning it around.

After coming to China, except for 301 Hospital and Sanbo Hospital, Professor Li didn’t have time to go anywhere else. He declined all social and entertainment activities, focused on studying Zheng Baosheng’s case, and spent all his time in the ward.

Sometimes, he closed his eyes and thought about it, while at other times he carefully reviewed the images. Sometimes he stared at the heart and large blood vessel models, often for a whole hour or two.

One day in-between, he made time to visit his parents’ old home to pay respects. After, he returned to Sanbo Hospital.

Several times, he personally performed a surface ultrasound for Zheng Baosheng bedside, ensuring everything was well-prepared before the surgery.

After looking for a long time, Professor Li started to sketch diagrams. He has might have sketched almost a hundred diagrams and always apologized to everyone for wasting so much paper.

Whenever he saw people, Professor Li would nod his head, considering it as a form of greeting. Doctors from the People’s Hospital, Fuer and Fuer Cardiology, invited Professor Li for dinner, but he declined politely.

Yang Ping had a habit of running. The Tri-Bo Hotel had a gym, and Yang Ping used to run on the treadmill there regularly.

Professor Li began running with Yang Ping, discussing their cases as they ran.

Back in the United States, Professor Li adopted a habit from his teacher. Every weekend, he would run alongside Lake Erie with his pet dog.

Professor Li was working intently on a drawing, and Yang Ping just smiled at him before they both got busy with their own matters.

Song Zimo reported that Zheng Baosheng’s pre-surgical preparations had been completed, and the surgery could be scheduled at any time.

As for Zheng Baosheng’s surgery, Yang Ping had already completed a simulation in the system space. For this kind of high difficulty surgery, as long as the score allowed, Yang Ping was willing to do a preoperative simulation. This was because, when it came to irreplaceable life, he wanted to maximize the success rate as much as possible.

Taking advantage of the spare time he had now, Yang Ping decided to have a one-on-one conversation with Zheng Baosheng himself. Song Zimo knew that before every major surgery, Yang Ping, in his role as the Chief Surgeon, would have a one-on-one conversation with the patient. It was Yang Ping’s prerogative, so Song Zimo stepped aside.

The young man was hunched up on the hospital bed, with his parents by his side. Yang Ping said, "We’re fully prepared to go ahead with the surgery. I’d like to have a private chat with him."

Old Mr. and Mrs. Zheng left the ward, carefully closing the door to wait outside.

Yang Ping opened the curtains, "Do you always keep the curtains shut?"

"Um, I’m afraid to see the sunlight outside," Zheng Baosheng’s eyes were half-closed, his voice timid.

Yang Ping stood by his bed, "Whether you look or not, the sun is still outside. Keep the curtains open and be open-minded," he advised.

Zheng Baosheng consented, his half-closed eyes gradually adapting.

"We are prepared for your surgery. The risks are high, but I have a lot of confidence," Yang Ping broke the ice.

When talking to patients, honesty was essential.

"I know. I could very well die on the operating table," Zheng Baosheng said, somewhat numbly.

Yang Ping comforted him, "That is just one possible outcome. As a surgeon, I’ve brought several patients back from death’s door. You wouldn’t be the first."

"Thank you. I’ve seen many doctors. You are the only one who gives me confidence, but I am familiar with my condition. It doesn’t matter. If I get through this, my dream, my parents’ dream, all could come true. If I unfortunately die on the operating table, well, then at least I can finally be free, and they too will be liberated. I’ve been holding them back. They would be much happier if they had a healthy son," Zheng Baosheng said, sounding defeated.

"You’re taking this well. Anything else you want to share? Fears, worries?" Yang Ping encouraged him.

"There’s not much to say, just resentment. Why me, when I haven’t done anything wrong," Zheng Baosheng replied dispassionately, clear signs of his despair.

"That’s simply down to chance. You must face it, there’s no running from it. Your severe spinal deformity led to inadequate thoracic development. Your heart and large blood vessels are compressed into a small space, coupled with some sort of unidentified exudative inflammatory lesions, resulted in a tangled mess inside you. During this surgery, we’re going to decouple this entanglement, separate these factors, move each to where it is supposed to be and then straighten your curved spine. If we succeed, you’ll be able to lead a normal life. If we fail, you will die on the operating table. That too is a matter of chance. But I am confident, the chance of success is higher," Yang Ping gave Zheng Baosheng a straightforward rundown.

"Even without this surgery, I can clearly see the end of my life looming ahead. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is? To live each day counting down, with endless fear and helplessness!" Zheng Baosheng sobbed softly.

"That’s why I want to have this final discussion with you, to hear your thoughts." freewebnσvel.cѳm

"I don’t want to die! So, I would jump onto the flame even though I know it’s fire."

"Are you sure?" asked Yang Ping.

"I am sure. I’ve thought about this for many years. No one ever gave me a choice until now. Whether the surgery succeeds or fails, I accept my fate. I’m scared of dying, but sometimes I think it wouldn’t be so bad. It’s like falling asleep and never waking up," Zheng Baosheng said with a resigned tone.

"If I do wake up, I want to take my parents around, let them enjoy life. I will take over our family restaurant and learn from them how to manage it. I will cherish every day, not waste my time gaming, not shout at them anymore, I want to live properly. But right now, even being alive is a luxury. I don’t ask for anything else, I just ask to live," Zheng Baosheng turned his bedstead to face Yang Ping slowly and painfully.

Yang Ping stretched out his hand, "If you trust me, I will do my utmost for your wish."

Zheng Baosheng reached out his skinny hand, "Thank you. Please tell my parents for me, that I really don’t want to leave them."

"Why don’t you say it to them directly?"

"I don’t know. Every time I want to, I just want to cry. I don’t want them to see me cry."