Chapter 5: Out of Coverage Area

Alondra’s POV

I just finished my food when Dr. Sylvia came in. She's in her white doctor's gown and has a stethoscope hanging around her neck. I sat properly and flashed her a smile. She occupied the vacant chair on the left side of my hospital bed.

“How are things, Doc?” I asked her as she sat down. I noticed that she sighed before answering my question.

“Everything's fine Mrs. Madrigal. I should be the one asking that. How are you? We will be conducting your surgery tomorrow.” I drew a forced smile. I heaved a sigh during those moments, but I felt a tingling pain on my right chest. The smile I forced faded and was replaced by a poker face.

“Are you alright?” She asked me next, but I just nod at her with a smile to make her believe that everything's fine. I gulped when I felt the pain once again. I closed my eyes when I felt like everything around me is turning. I glanced at Dra. Sylvia, but my vision started to blur. I saw her open her mouth as if she's saying something but I can't understant any word she utters.

Seconds later, the pain on my chest started to crawl throughout my whole body. The next thing I knew, someone held me by my arm. I tried to look at that direction but I got dizzy and the pain worsen. I heard noise from afar. I was about to ask Dra. Sylvia about what's happening but everything just turned black.

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Doctor Sylvia’s POV

I immediately pushed the emergency button placed beside Mrs. Madrigal's bed. The alarm was ringing for about ten seconds when two male nurses with a cart containing medical apparatuses came rushing in. I took my stethoscope and checked her vital signs. Her heartbeat slows down as well as her breathing. I saw one of the nurses began to check up on the wearable patch placed on Mrs. Madrigal's wrist, together with her IV fluid.

“Darell, call the information desk. Tell them to clear the operating theater. She needs to undergo surgery right now!" I ignored the fear crumbling through my spine. I was holding Mrs. Madrigal's hand while she's unconsciously lying on her bed.

“Code blue, level two, 2nd floor room 209! Again code blue level two, 2nd floor room 209!” Said a voice from the speaker outside Mrs. Madrigal's room. A little longer, the nurses arranged the patient's bed and pushed it out of the room heading to the operating theater. Fortunately, the theater is just around the corner and we made it there in no time.

“Doc. Sylvia!” I turned my back when I heard that voice. A lady in her lab gown entered the operating room while staring at Mrs. Madrigal.

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Dia's POV

I was facing a vanity mirror that has LED bulbs surrounding the whole glass, like those that are placed inside the dressing rooms in our office. I was staring at my reflection while waiting for this woman in front of me to finish my make up. She's having a messy braided hair, a sky blue blouse matched with a white balloon shaped skirt. Later, she spun the swivel chair where I am at, and checked my look. I felt a bit anxious with all that I've been through this morning, but Brando on the side caught my attention. He's sitting on a couch beside the guy who picked me up earlier. They were talking as if they are just the same age. I stared at them for a bit more, although I can't really hear a thing due to the music played on the make up artist's phone. I saw the two looked at my direction, and I just smiled at them. Brando flashed a genuine smile in return and that made me less anxious and tensed. I looked at the guy who picked me up earlier and he's just staring at me without any emotion. He looks like a hungry cannibal who could consume me in just a blink of an eye because of his stare.

Few seconds later, the clock placed on top of the door of this room says it's already 8:48 in the morning. I am not yet done with the preparations and it is almost time. Tension started to grow inside me once again

“Becky, please get it done in 5 minutes. You have to hurry. You still need to fix Miss Madrigal's hair." I looked at Brando while she's talking go this lady named Becky. 

Couple of minutes passed and she's finally done with my face. I helped her in putting away the products scattered on the table that she used on me. I smiled at her when she looked at me.

"I help you with this." I told her. She smiled back at me then headed to the couch where Brando is sitting. The guy who picked me up earlier left us here. He might have an errand to do. Later, Becky approached me. She's holding a hair dryer on her left hand and a straightener on her right. She plugged both of it and started fixing my hair. She's indeed a pro since she finished doing my hair in less than 10 minutes. Becky removed the cloth hanging around my neck that prevents the make up from smearing to my clothes.

“Thank you Becky, Miss Madrigal, this is your schedule for the day. You are in charged on the table numbers, table cloths, chairs and covers and the centerpieces as well. All you have to do is to supervise and check the status of the elements from time to time. You can approach Becky if you notice something odd. The gathering that we are having today is for the welcoming of CEO of our Company. He's also a stockholder of Swisly Group of Companies.” Brando handed me a blue folder. I've been noticing the color blue since I got inside the hall. It must be the motif of the event that's why I was forced to wear a blue dress as well. But the guy who picked me up from the office is wearing a black suit. I whispered at the back of my head.

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Doctor Slyvia’s POV

I am already in my scrub suit, surgical mask, gloves and cap together with the other 5 hospital personnel that'll help me with this surgery. I raised my hands with my palms open opposite my chest. I waited for Cecill to finish injecting the general anesthesia to the IV drip using a syringe. Cecill is one of the best anesthesiologists here at our hospital and even abroad.  I've been working with her for about six years now. I've seen how she handle patients and I am a hundred percent sure that Mrs. Madrigal is in good hands. I was just looking at the monitor attached to the patient's body during those moments.

We are 6 persons inside the operating theater. Dr. Cecill Bo, a licensed anesthesiologist. Darell Mercado, is the nurse on duty inside the operating room. He's a registered and licensed nurse and I've been working with him since day one.

Next is Dr. Rawn Santiago, he's my assistant physician as of this moment. He finished his master's degree and works as a part time professor in School of Medical Society here in the Philippines. Dr. Theodore Dejoya is the surgical technologist. And Dr. Adelaine Luson, who's standing beside the medical ventilator and writing something on the patient's chart, is the resident surgeon. Few seconds passed and Dr. Adelaine is done with what she's doing. We all waited for another 2 minutes before we proceed with the surgery.

“Antiseptic solution.” I uttered. Theo handed me the solution. I started rubbing it on the center of the patient's chest. After that, Darell llaced the sterile drape around the affected area. One or more sections of blood vessel will be taken from leg, thigh or chest wall and the incisions at this points will be sutured and bandaged.

“Laser scalpel.” I said next. I immediately made a vertical incision. I asked for the blunt senn retractor next to expose the superficial wound. I can clearly see the breastbone of the patient. While Rawn is adjusting the retractor, Theo handed the sternal saw to Darell. It is used to perform median sternotomy, opening the patient's chest by splitting the breastbone or the sternum. Darell carefully cut open the patient's chest. Rawn is ready with the sternum retractor. He's just waiting for Darell to finish opening the chest. Moments later, the chest is completely open in front of us. After I clearly viewed the heart, I make another incision in the pericardium which is a thin membrane that encloses the heart. Rawn pull back the pericardium and reveal a beating heart. I took a deep breath before I carefully put an incision on the aorta. Rawn inserted a tube on that part. Next, I cut the right atrium for a way to insert the tube. One or two smaller tubes are then inserted into the heart, that will carry a special solution that helps preserve the heart's temperature. After that, Theo switched on the heart-lung bypass machine, and it started to circulate the blood as the heart cools down, then as the cooled blood circulates through the heart as well as the heart muscle cools causing the heart to be at a slower pace.

“Liddle clamp.” When it reached its proper level, Theo immediately handed me the clamp. I put it on the aorta to temporarily stop the heart from beating. I began to open the artery on the right side of the heart going to the lungs.

“TromboWire .” I said when I saw blood clots on that part. The pulmonary thromboendarterectomy takes about 8 to 10 hours. This is one of the most critical surgeries but because I trained hard to perform surgeries like this, I am positive that it will be a success operation. I've got 10 cases relevant this in 6 months and I really have no tension within me whenever I perform operations like this. I got used to it as time progresses. But this one has a different story. I can really feel my body trembling every second that pass by.

Alondra is one of my classmates back in grade school, but we moved out of the country because of my parents' business. Nobody in this hospital knows that I knew her personally, especially my team. I did not violate any law of this establishment since we've been classmates for just a year and it happened 25 years ago. I heaved a sigh and continued to remove the blood clots in her artery.

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Shine's POV

I was standing outside Tita Alondra's room while trying to call Dia. It's been 40 minutes since Tita  was brought inside the operating room. I heard what happened from Darell. I'm very thankful that Karen is in good mood when I asked for permission to come here. Unfortunately, I still cannot contact Dia. I sat on one of the benches and for the nth time, I dialed Dia's number.

“Sorry the number you have dialed is out of coverage area, please try your call later.” Said the operator on the line. I heaved a deep sigh and rested my head on the wall.

Where on earth are you, Dia? Your mom needs you here. She's having her surgery right now. I whispered underneath my breath. Concern and being worried is written all over my face. I'm just suppressing the tears that are about to flow of my eyes. I really need to be strong. Not for me, but for Tita Alondra.