"Doc! Doc! May patient na dumating, cyanide poison!"
I quickly get myself fixed after treating the wounds of the patient who was a victim of a car accident near our hospital. I breathed heavily as I looked at him. Luckily, hindi siya napuruhan.
"You can go after getting your medication," I instructed. "Let's go," baling ko sa nurse na tumawag saakin.
I immediately run towards the ambulance outside the hospital kung saan nakahiga ang taong na lason ng cyanide.
"A police officer," they stated. Kaagad akong tumango bago hinila ang stretcher.
"Double time, to the ER now!" I instructed. Kaagad naman silang kumilos at mabilis na tinulak ang higaan papunta roon.
I couldn't help but to get worry about the man lying on the bed that we're pushing. Hindi biro ang cyanide poison, it can easily kill a person especially if the victim inhaled too much of it.
Cyanide poisoning can be caused by smoking, eating and drinking food or drink contaminated with cyanide. But the most dangerous case is inhaling the poisonous gas. Cyanide gas is used to exterminate pests and vermin in buildings. It can cause difficulty breathing, slow heart rate and others.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Nasunog daw po ang bahay na iniimbistigahan nila at na trap ito sa loob. He inhaled cyanide gas while trying to escape from the room he was trapped," paliwanag ng nurse.
Tumango ako bago mabilis na isinara ang pinto ng makarating kami sa emergency room. The nurses quickly prepared the materials needed as I started giving instructions.
"Oxygen," I said.
Athena, one of the nurses quickly gave him oxygen. Tinignan ko ang monitor. The patient is slowly losing its pulse. Wala akong inaksayang oras at mabilis na ni revive ang pasyente. I tried to push his chest harder but it didn't work.
"Defibrillator!" Sigaw ko. They quickly moved and prepare it. "Inject one milligram Epinephrine," I instructed. They injected him.
"200 joules," I said while holding the defibrillator, preparing to apply it.
First try didn't work. Huminga ako ng malalim.
"Let's do it again," I said. They all nodded. "200 joules,"
"Clear!" saad ni Athena pagkatapos lagyan ng medisina ang defibrillator. I tried it again for the second time.
"His pulse is back!" Sigaw ni Athena.
I quickly looked at the monitor and heaved a sigh out of relief when I saw his pulse is increasing. Mariin akong pumikit bago huminga ulit ng malalim.
I didn't forget doing the sign of the cross before facing the nurses.
"Prepare for the tests and assessments," bilin ko. Kaagad naman silang sumunod.
I couldn't help but to stare at my hands that's trembling. Pinagdikit ko ito para matigil ang pagnginig nito dahil sa kaba.
It's not my first time saving someone from a cyanide poison but my hands really tremble after saving a patient or victim.
"Doc, kumusta po ang asawa ko?!"
I was greeted by a woman with 3 children as I got out from the emergency room after the operation.
"Are you the wife of the patient?" I asked. She nodded.
"Ako po ang asawa ng pulis na nakalanghap ng cyanide poison, Doc," she answered while crying. Napatingin ako sa dalawang batang nakakapit sa bestida ng asawa saka sa isang batang karga-karga niya.
"He's now in stable state, he'll be transfered to his room now. You can visit him, then," I answered. She nooded.
"Maraming salamat po, Doc! Salamat sa pagligtas sa asawa ko!"
She then quickly turned her back to me and run towards her husband's room. Huminga ako ng malalim ng mawala na ang mga ito sa paningin ko.
Realization hit me so hard. Police officers has their family waiting for them to return as well as other jobs like firefighter, navy, who has a dangerous tasks and missions to face.
They save people's lives while leaving their family on their home. I salute them for their noble work.
But who would save their family in case of emergency and they're on their duty?
At sino nalang ang uuwi sa kanilang kanya-kanyang pamilya kung may mangyaring masama sa kanila dahil sa kanilang trabaho?
What if,
While saving others, they'll fail to save their own family?
"Doc! May pasiyente pong dumating! Car accident po!"
I quickly got back my senses when a nurse tap my shoulder. Napatingin ako sakan'ya.
"Is it severe?" I asked as I started walking. Nag-aalala itong tumango.
"The patient is unconscious. Marami na pong nawalang dugo sa katawan niya at bali po ang kaliwa niyang braso,"
I run faster after hearing what he said. The patient might be in the critical condition.
"Faster!" I instructed as I reached the nurses pushing the stretcher from the ambulance.
I checked its pulse and luckily, he's still breathing.
I quickly get myself ready as we entered the emergency room. Get all the things needed before starting the operation.
Saving lives has been my duty for already 5 years. And within that years, I can say that saving people is not easy.
It requires hard work, dedication, commitment, passion, and willingness to do the work. Hindi p'wede basta lang gusto mong kumita ng pera. Hindi basta lang kasi gusto mong makilala. Hindi lang dahil gusto mong pasalamatan ng mga taong iniligtas ma.
But it is about your eagerness to save people's lives no matter what happen and no matter what it will cost you.
Kasi ito ang gusto mo at ito ang sinasabi ng iyong puso.
"Thankyou so much for saving my son's life, Doctor Verzosa. I couldn't imagine living without my son, I love him so much,"
I sweetly smiled to the woman and man who meet me up as long as I get out from the emergency room. Hula ko ay nasa mga 40's na sila pero sumisigaw pa rin ng kagandahan at kakisigan ang mga ito. They also looked so elegant and I must say that they're rich observing the clothes that they're wearing. They must be a business man and woman.
"It's my duty to save lives, Ma'am, Sir, no worries," I answered.
"Doc, tawag ka po ni sir Lewton!"
I bit my lower lip as I put the spoon I was holding in my plate. Kakain palang sana ako dito sa Canteen ng hospital nang tawagin ako ni Athena.
"S-Sir Lawton? Why?" I asked, confused.
"Hindi ko nga po alam Doc, e," kibit balikat nito.
"Okay, thankyou Athena," I nodded.
Pagkarating ko sa opisina ay nakita kong nagbabasa ito ng mga papel sa kaniyang mesa. He was reading seriously like he didn't want to be disturb but I have no choice but to knock.
"Get in Dr. Verzosa," he said as he keep all the papers in his table. I nodded.
"Good evening, Sir Lawton," I politely said.
"Yes, good evening. Sit," he motioned the chair infront of his table. Umupo ako rito.
"I won't make this long, Dr. Verzosa, one of the patients want to get you as his private doctor," he said.
My lips parted after hearing what he just said. Nangunot ang noo kong tumitig sakan'ya.
"Po? Private Doctor? Who? And why does he have to have a private doctor?" I asked. "I mean, he can just stay here for recovery," I explained.
He sighed before drinking some water.
"I know. And if I have just to decide, I wouldn't agree to it. I'll be losing one of the great doctors in my hospital," he said that made me flattered.
Mr. Lawton is the Deputy of our hospital. He's been a great doctor in the industry and I admire him a lot for that. This is our first time to talk personally inside his office. Kadalasan kasi ay nakakausap lang namin sila kapag nasa meeting kami.
"But I couldn't say no to the biggest partner of our hospital, Mr. Verzosa," he answered.
Buenavista Memorial Hospital is known as one the known hospitals in the country. Not just because of it's service quality offered but also because of its rich figure partners. I know that and I can still clearly recall all their surnames as it is discussed to all of us in the meeting.
"Mr. Villegas wants you to be his Private Doctor,"
My eyes widened after hearing the surname he just mentioned.
"V-Villegas?" I asked to confirm that I just heard it right.
"Yes, you heard it right, Dr. Verzosa," he said.
Hindi ko na napigilan pang mapatayo ng wala sa oras dahil sa nalaman.
"S-Sir! Are you referring to the richest partner of our h-hospital?"
Tinanggal nito ang kan'yang suot na salamin saka marahang tumango.
"Yes, their son wants you to be his private doctor," he said as he stand up.
"B-Bakit ako?"
"His son saw you early in the morning today for his check up," he said.
Nangunot ang noo ko. Early in the morning today? I tried to remember kung sino roon. Isa lang ang lalaking pinuntahan ko kananing umaga para sa check up. Could it be...
"Room 88, the one with a broken arm? H-He's the only son of the V-Villegas?!" I asked, still in shocked.
"Yes, and that man wants you to be his Private Doctor," he sighed as he put back his glasses. Umupo ito ulit sa kan'yang upuan saka kinuha ang mga papel na niligpit niya kanina.
"Go, Dr. Verzosa. Take time to think about it," He instructed.
"Mr. Villegas requested it...." He paused and looked at me.
"Mr. Billionaire wants you to be his Private Doctor,"
