81 Self Awareness (1/2)
Theater 9
At 8: 20 Suen Liko had been anesthetized, the safety checks were carried out and Li Xiuying was currently sterilizing and draping.
The plan was that Li Xiuying would remove Si Liko's left kidney. Then Dr. Ngai would be left to close up whilst Li Xiuying went to theater 10 re-scrubbed and started operating on Huang Fuhua.
Li Xiuying could feel the pressure in the room. All the staff involved were very aware of the time due to the importance of organ viability but they were particularly conscious of it now. It was unusual to have the same doctor both removing a kidney and inserting it.
Li Xiuying: ”Focus on the patient.”
Li Xiuying's calm voice helped to relieve some of the self induced pressure.
....
Unity hospital Theater 10 viewing platform - 9 Am
The viewing platform for theater 10 was completely full of people already; there were only 20 seats available. There were even staff members standing at the back taking up all available space possible.
Some of the doctors had swapped shifts to watch the operation; others had come in on their day off.
Only a few of the doctors were interested in seeing the kidney transplant the majority wanted to witness Li Xiuying's skills first hand. The staff chatted among themselves while they waited.
”I've heard from Chan Shi that Dr. Li's skills are absolutely amazing. She's precise, accurate and her surgical time is quick too.”
”I want to see if her skills are better than mine. I've been operating for 20 years I don't believe that someone who still has carries the scent of milk will be better than me.”
”Even if she has great skills so what? She's expressionless and cold like a frosty fish. She must have a terrible bedside manner.”
”I've signed up to be in theaters with Dr. Li next week. When her secretary brought up Dr. Li's schedule I became dizzy just looking at the details. It was absolutely packed! I also saw that Hu Yín Tao and Wan Chao have signed up for more sessions.”
Outside the viewing platform there were a few doctors waiting for even a centimeter of space to appear inside. They were all grumbling and kicking themselves for not arriving earlier.
C, B and F briskly made their way down the hallway and stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the queue outside the viewing platform.
B indignantly said: ”Why are there so many people here? Don't they have somewhere else to be?”
F: ”Like you, you mean?”
B: ”I got someone else to cover for me. Besides I was one of the first people to see Dr. Li in action. Ergo I'm entitled to be here.”
C and F rolled their eyes at Mr. entitled
...
At 1 pm Li Xiuying took off her surgical gown and made her way out of the theater 10 and headed for the changing rooms.
The members of staff that were in the viewing platform also started leaving.
”Wow. Dr. Li is very skilled; did you see how she handled all those tortuous arteries?”
”Psh I thought she was meant to be fast? What a letdown. Complete waste of my time coming here.”
”I know right. She didn't do anything special. This is why Unity hospital is always trailing behind Emerald hospital. They have Dr. Yang Zian and we have Li Xiuying.”
”After watching the surgery today, I'm going to sign up to shadow Dr. Li.”