Chapter 76, Part 1: Toward the Intern (1)

My eyes, which had been fixed on the station, began to smile at some point.

This was because the people at the station, including Ma Jae-wook and the nurses, were murmuring.

They were looking at the monitor with serious expressions.

Although their voices were too low to hear, it felt as if I could hear every word they were saying.

They must have found it hard to believe the test results.

They must have realized that they couldn't scold me, a medical student and the patient's guardian, with the test results as they had intended.

Sarang must definitely have bacterial meningitis.

I could tell just from the expressions of the medical staff, not the test results.

- "You, a pre-med student, sure know how to talk. The test results came back negative for bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid. I'll call your school and give you a stern warning, so be prepared."

Thinking of Ma Jae-wook's personality, he must have stormed over to me like a bulldozer as soon as the test results came in.

He must have spewed insults, curses, and threats.

But his inability to do so was proof that the test results were not good.

"Sarang, you'll feel better after the antibiotic injection. It's tough, but you can get through it, right?"

I said affectionately as I changed the ice pack.

"Yeah, hyung. I feel better than before. I'll try my best to endure. I'm good at enduring."

Seeing Sarang, who answered bravely despite his pain, made my heart warm.

In my previous life, I wasn't as mature as Sarang at his age.

I don't know if it's because I'm a prodigy, but Sarang definitely had something extraordinary about him.

"Teacher, have the test results come in?"

After reassuring Sarang, I moved to the station and asked.

Ma Jae-wook pretended not to hear me and avoided my gaze.

He must have felt like hiding in a mouse hole.

A second-year emergency medicine resident being humiliated by a first-year pre-med student.

It's his own fault. He should have focused on the examination instead of slacking off.

"Teacher, are you not hearing me? Or are you pretending not to hear? I'm curious about the test results."

"That's right. It is bacterial meningitis. The bacterial test on the cerebrospinal fluid came back positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae."

Ma Jae-wook's voice, reluctantly answering, was grim.

I felt a sense of satisfaction seeing him, who had been acting like a mad dog just a moment ago, now with his tail between his legs.

Perhaps such small revenge and retribution are part of the fun of being a time traveler.

"What's the treatment plan from here?"

"Besides administering the antibiotic injection, there's no other plan. The principle is to provide conservative treatment."

"Understood. Then, please take good care of my brother."

I could have made Ma Jae-wook suffer more, but I stepped back.

It was more beneficial to stay by Sarang's side.

As I returned to Sarang's side to provide care, a nurse with glasses approached our bed.

She was holding a vial, saline solution, and a syringe.

A vial is a glass container used for injections, and the medicine inside is mixed with saline to create an injectable solution.

Antibiotics are often in vial form.

A similar item is an ampule, which already contains the mixed solution, so you just need to draw it into the syringe.

"Did you study in advance? You did a good job talking down Dr. Ma, a pre-med student."

The nurse, while preparing the syringe, asked.

Indeed, it's rare to see a medical student argue with a resident.

I could understand why she was interested in me.

"It's not much, but I did some preparatory learning."

"Although it's a bit awkward to say this..."

The nurse looked around and continued in a whisper.

"I was honestly relieved when you caught Dr. Ma. Dr. Ma is particularly bad during night shifts."

"..."

"He's not even in the emergency room when he's not seeing patients. He just sees patients carelessly."

"..."

"He says he needs to conserve his energy when it's not an emergency? He just makes excuses like that. You did a great job, student."

The nurse smiled at me, and I smiled back.

If a barrel leaks inside, it will leak outside as well.

I could guess what Ma Jae-wook's usual attitude was like.

The nurse mixed the antibiotic with the IV solution, then gave me a can of coffee and left.

I finished the can of coffee in one go and focused on caring for Sarang.

Of course, "caring" meant adjusting the ice pack, offering words of encouragement, and staying by his side.

Even these simple tasks were exhausting.

Caring for a sick patient is a demanding job.

Being vigilant about every move of a loved one is not an easy task.

Anyone who has cared for a family member, friend, or lover can relate.

Seeing Sarang, who had fallen into a deep sleep, I felt relieved.

I checked the time.

It felt like I had been in the emergency room for about two hours.

But when I actually checked, it had been less than 30 minutes.

Ziiing.

The emergency room door opened, and a mother and child entered.

Coincidentally, the child was about the same age as Sarang.

The child's condition looked serious.

Bacterial meningitis is contagious.

Combining these three pieces of information, it was highly likely that the child was from the same kindergarten as Sarang.

Other students would probably come to the emergency room soon.

Dr. Ma was going to have a tough day.

* * *

As soon as the afternoon classes ended, I went home.

Today was the day Sarang was discharged.

Sarang, who had been receiving conservative treatment in the emergency room, ended up staying in the pediatric ward for one night and two days.

Fortunately, the decision to admit him was not due to a worsening condition.

It was for easier observation and more in-depth conservative treatment.

I knew Sarang would be discharged in good health, but my steps toward home were still hurried.

Worries, like weeds, grow endlessly.

"Hyung, you're here?"

As I entered the house, Sarang greeted me cheerfully.

There was no trace of the Sarang who had been on the brink of death two days ago.

I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Sarang, my only precious younger brother, who didn't exist in my previous life but must exist in this one.

A brother as lovely as his name.

"How's our Sarang feeling?"

"Me? I'm tough!"

Sarang raised his arms as if to boast about his health.

The cute kid.

I couldn't help but smile and lifted Sarang up with both arms before setting him down.

Sarang's laughter was bright and cheerful.

"Is the big brother here?"

"Rare to have the whole family together on a weekday."

Father and Mother also greeted me late.

It was too early for dinner, so our family sat on the living room sofa and watched TV.

We chatted while eating fruit.

The main topic, of course, was Sarang.

"I never thought Sarang would get bacterial meningitis... I'm glad you took him to the emergency room quickly. If we had left it thinking it was just the flu, it would have been a disaster."

Mother, a nurse, said with relief.

Probably only Mother and I knew how dangerous Sarang's condition had been.

"I kept watching him, and it didn't seem like a normal flu. So I took him to the emergency room right away."

"You did well, you did well. We really benefited from having a medical student as our eldest son."

"It's not like I did anything great, really."

"Saving your brother isn't a big deal?"

"It's just a way of saying it."

I deliberately didn't mention the argument with Ma Jae-wook.

If I did, my parents would be more stressed.

The conversation soon turned to the kindergarten.

According to Mother, the kindergarten decided to cover all the medical expenses for the infected students.

The kindergarten was also undergoing an epidemiological investigation by health authorities.

It was said that the kindergarten would be closed for about a month due to this incident.

Thanks to my timely warning, no students died or suffered from meningitis.

Although I still have a long way to go to become a doctor,

I saved Sarang and many other students with the knowledge I brought back.

This was more than enough to feel the worth of my time travel.

"By the way, isn't it time for Sarang to have a circumcision?"

Father casually brought up the topic.

It was the perfect timing as Sarang had fallen asleep while watching TV.

"Well, although it's a bit early, I think I had a circumcision around this age. Since he won't be going to kindergarten for a while, it might be good to do it next week."

Mother supported Father's suggestion.

Sarang, the unknowing victim, was still lost in a sweet dream.

The only person who could speak up for Sarang was me.

No, I can't let Sarang go through the same pain (?) I did.

"Do we really need to do a circumcision?"

I gently expressed my opinion.

"Circumcision is good for preventing infections."

Mother was the first to oppose.

"I think it's just a simple expected value. And I haven't seen anyone get a urinary tract infection because they didn't have a circumcision."

"..."

"Also, there are many who say it's better not to do it nowadays."

When I was young, circumcision was almost mandatory.

But around the early 2000s, the anti-circumcision stance began to emerge.

Right around this time.

"But, Hyung, if there's an expected value, isn't it better to do it?"

Father, who had been listening silently, joined in to support Mother.

In their generation, circumcision was a natural procedure, so it was hard for them to change their views.

"The expected value isn't really reliable. It's just a guess that it might prevent infections."

"..."

"Think about it globally. Very few countries, except for religious reasons, make circumcision mandatory like in Korea."

I continued with a passionate voice.

"Preventing infections is also a bit silly. If you keep it clean, it's fine, just like washing your hands after going out."

"..."

"I don't want Sarang to have a circumcision."

My passionate opposition made my parents' eyes widen.

They seemed to think I was overreacting about a simple circumcision.

"Still, it might be better to do it."

"Mom, it can't hurt to do it."

The combined attack from Mother and Father.

To protect Sarang, I had to fight a lonely battle.

The unexpected debate lasted nearly 30 minutes, and my parents finally gave in.

They decided not to have Sarang circumcised.

They seemed a bit surprised by my passionate stance, as I had never opposed them so strongly before.

"Mom, Dad, did you fight with Hyung? It was so noisy..."

Sarang, who had been in a deep sleep, opened his eyes slightly and asked.

He seemed to have been woken by the conversation.

"We weren't fighting, just having a conversation."

Father said in a nonchalant voice.

"Something about a circumcision... What is a circumcision? Am I still sick? Do I need surgery?"

Sarang, looking at me and my parents with innocent eyes.

"It's nothing. You don't need to worry about it, Sarang."

I stroked Sarang's head to reassure him.

Sarang.

You won't know, but I protected you.