Chapter 37: Blind Test (7) (1/2)
A/N: From now on, I'll upload any donated chapter on the Friday of that week (unless I don't have any chapters stocked, then I'll upload it the next Monday with the regular chapter).
Inside the resting area where he was forced to stay since it was still a long time before 9 AM.
“It’s the most memorable surgery I’ve seen this year. I wanted to ask for a copy of the surgical video for my students to study but that Chief Ha told me to pay for the lecture fee. He was probably joking, right?”
When asked by the professor who served as the deputy head of the oncology center at Gyecheon University Hospital, Dowook avoided eye contact and shook his head.
“My department has been making definite deals when it comes to money these days….”
“It’s worth it even if we have to pay for it. It was textbook skills for a high-level surgery. If our hospital was a training hospital, I would definitely buy it.”
A neurosurgery professor from a medical center pushed a plate with morning bread on it toward Dowook.
“You skipped breakfast, didn’t you? Eat this and we’ll talk slowly. Senior Nam Goong! Will the americano take longer?”
“It’ll be ready soon. Dr. Park, would you like sugar?”
“N-no need!”
Dowook jumped up and answered the professor who stood in front of the simple cafe and swallowed a sigh that was about to come out.
There were five professors who came to go over Jeong Woo-seok’s surgery.
They were all those who had stepped back from fieldwork to train and manage surgeons. They were also older and more experienced than Chief Ha.
Almost at the level of the vice dean. That was probably why they could comfortably come over so early on a weekday morning.
‘D*mn. These people have to suffer from curiosity anyway.’
Dowook took a sip of the coffee given to him by a senior with at least 30 years more experience than him and asked a question instead.
“Senior, you’ve observed the surgery yesterday. What do you think is the reason behind the patient’s optic nerve recovering?”
When the hot topic was thrown out, all five became locked in deep thought. The professor from Gyecheon University Hospital, who was stroking his beard with his arms crossed, expressed his opinion first.
“There are many factors to consider, but it may be a symptom from someone suffering from diffuse astrocytoma.”
[TN: Diffuse Astrocytoma-Diffuse astrocytomas, also referred to as low-grade infiltrative astrocytomas , are designated as WHO II tumors of the brain. The term diffuse infiltrating means there is no identifiable border between the tumor and normal brain tissue, even though the borders may appear well-marginated on imaging.]
“It’s limited to the left eye, isn’t it? The nerves are the same, but the eye cells may have been stimulated. There are similar cases in patients who underwent surgery for crystalline saddle meningioma.”
“There are also cases where meningioma deteriorates the optic nerves. I think we should start with auditory schwannoma…..”
[TN: Auditory Schwannoma-a benign tumor that develops on the balance (vestibular) and hearing, or auditory (cochlear) nerves leading from your inner ear to the brain.]
Since they were all professors with abundant clinical experience, Dowook could hear about case studies he didn’t even know existed.
Dowook meticulously memorized them as he carefully listened. If he put this together with the sense he’d borrowed from Lim So Yool, he would be able to find the probability of which one was the most likely cause.
As he kept listening for about 30 minutes, it was now 9 o’clock.
“I have to go see Mr. Jeong Woo-seok now. Will the professors continue to remain here?”
“Chief Ha said if we go to your office, Choi Hoo’s going to have something to say about it so it’s better for us to stay here.”
“Ah.”
It seemed they already talked about this. Unless they had given up on academic activities like Choi Hoo, they could not neglect these people with great experience.
A surgeon should not be just skilled in surgery but also study numerous cases regarding the correct application of techniques.
“If there’s anything you need, please inform our chief resident, Nam Hana. She became the chief recently so she’s stationed at the desk.”
“This rest area is clean and spacious so it’s fine. It’s like a hotel we have seminars at. You don’t have to worry about us and do what you need to do.”
Dowook said goodbye to them and headed to Prof. Lee Won Seok’s office in the clinic.
Knock knock.
“It’s Park Dowook, professor.”
Opening the door, Prof. Lee came out.
“You’re here. I’m sorry to unexpectedly take time out of your schedule. You must be busy.”
“No, it’s ok. I wanted to see how the patient was doing and would have preferred to be called.”
Moving to the VIP ward to check on Jeong Woo-seok, Prof. Lee talked about his thoughts yesterday.
“Since the neural clinic was opened, I’ve seen many patients but this is the first time I have to keep thinking about a new diagnosis each time. How fortunate is it that they are all positive? It’s all thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have come to this stage. Have I thanked you?”
Compliments filled with real feelings always made one puff their chest out with confidence.
“It was nothing, I also received a lot of help from everyone.”
Although those who helped him weren’t aware since he got it through his special sense.
From Lim So Yool, who first suggested the solution, to Choi Hoo, who verified that it was surgically possible, and the members of the association, who helped him overcome the crisis when it seemed impossible to operate.
The fundamental reason Jeong Woo-seok’s optic nerve was partially restored was that Dowook could make use of all their senses with his hands.
‘If you want to be specific, these hands are the miracle.’
Dowook wriggled his fingers and suddenly remembered the mysterious man who gave him this special sense and disappeared without a trace.
“Professor, do you happen to know Dr. Ji Gang Cheol?”
“Hmm? Ji Gang Cheol? How do you know Dr. Ji?”
Lee Won Seok, who had been in the field of neurology for a long time, really knew him.
“Not long ago, he was brought into the ER.”
Prof. Lee let out a fake laugh when Dowook told him of the commotion on the day he was forced on duty with the exception of how he got his special sense.
“Something like that happened? I don’t actually have his contact number. It’s also been a while since I’ve seen him at a conference.”
“Is that so?”
“Still he’s not the type to run away without paying the bill, no matter how difficult his situation is. He was always intelligent and full of confidence. He would have succeeded if he just continued as a clinical professor, but was it nerve manipulation technology? He started a research institute saying some nonsense about how he would develop talented people, and I stopped hearing from him.”
It was true that it sounded like nonsense, but it apparently seemed like he succeeded in making that technique. Right at this moment, he was making use of it very well.
There was no news from the police who said they would investigate. If he met Ji Gang Cheol, he could accurately define this special sense, but for now, he seemed destined to remain as an uncertain competent person.
Around Room 2009 of the VIP ward, a few of the documentary team’s cameramen were wandering around here and there.
The staff who had dark expressions on their faces before the surgery, could not stop smiling after they heard about the positive development.
PD Lee Chang Yong ran over to Prof. Lee and Dowook from the other side of the corridor.
“Professor, we installed an electronic keyboard in the room at Mr. Jeong’s request.”
“He can’t move around yet.”
“He’s not going to play it himself, he’s just too curious about how it would sound. In a little while, someone from the city symphony orchestra will arrive for a visit and play a few pieces. Would that be ok?”
“That’s….”
Prof. Lee turned to Dowook.
“I think there might be a negative effect on his recovery if there is focused stress on his ears. What do you think as the main surgeon?”
“We didn’t touch the actual auditory nerves. It should be fine as long as it isn’t loud enough to ring in his skull.”
After listening to Dowook’s opinion, Prof. Lee turned to the PD.