Chapter 313 - Life-saving
historical
Even when he had his earphones on listening to some music, Xiao Luo was well aware of what was going on in the first-class cabin. Someone, from across the aisle, made sure of that. The moment the old man fainted, Wang Yanzu was already prodding Xiao Luo’s shoulder, keeping him updated. He even said that the old man would die if he did not receive prompt medical attention from a doctor.
“By the looks of it, he’s done for. If he really dies on the plane, the airline company will have a lot of compensations to make,” Wang Yanzu said.
Xiao Luo chose to ignore Wang Yanzu. He was more concerned about the old man and was considering whether he should try to save him. According to a Buddhist parable, to rescue one person from death is greater than to build a seven-storied pagoda for worship; but deep down inside, a voice kept telling him to stay out of it. If Xiao Luo succeeded in saving the old man’s life, he’d be hailed as a savior, but if he didn’t, and the old man died in his hands, he’d be considered a sinner and spurned. Was it worth the risk of getting involved in this matter?
But as he looked into the helpless old woman’s desperate eyes, Xiao Luo clenched his fists and immediately made up his mind. He then took off his earphones, got up from his seat, and walked over to the old man.
“I’m a doctor, let me have a look at him!”
Several people in the way immediately moved aside to let Xiao Luo through.
Tan Ningfu looked at Xiao Luo rather dubiously and asked, “Sir, are you really a doctor?”
She had her doubts as Xiao Luo looked too young to be one.
“Well, I’m an intern.”
Xiao Luo kneeled next to the old man, held his eyelids opened briefly, and took his pulse.
Everyone was startled. An intern? Is he up to it?
The purser gestured for everyone to stay silent as they were doing everything they could with only a doctor-in-training on hand to do the job.
Suddenly, Wang Yanzu walked over to Xiao Luo, and without any regard for the passengers around him, he said, “Brother, this old man looks like he’s in pretty bad shape, please think twice about this.”
His meaning was clear, this wasn’t something he should be meddling with. Being just an intern, he would be putting himself at risk should something go wrong.
“Doctor, please save my husband, I’m begging you. I’ll kowtow... let me kowtow to you!” the old woman pleaded, weeping uncontrollably.
Like a drowning man clutching desperately to straw, the old woman knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Xiao Luo. Tears were streaming from her eyes as she pleaded unceasingly.
“Okay, don’t worry, I’ll try my best.”
Xiao Luo was no god, and despite having had purchased the healing ability from the system previously, not all illnesses could be cured. And especially so in a plane, where medical facilities were lacking.
He fixed the band from the blood pressure gauge over the old man’s arm to monitor his blood pressure value regularly. He looked up at Tan Ningfu and said, “Pay attention to his blood pressure readings. Let me know when they are lower than 70 or higher than 150.”
“Okay!”
Tan Ningfu nodded.
“Hmm...”
Wang Yanzu let out a long sigh. He felt that Xiao Luo’s decision was rash and irrational. He should’ve known that if he couldn’t save the old man, he might be held responsible by his family. It was simply a thankless task.
The passengers in the first-class cabin became anxious and were paying close attention to the situation. While, the old woman was distraught, trembling as she held her palm together in prayer. She was murmuring in silent prayer for the Heavens to keep her husband safe.
“Do you have a syringe?”
Xiao Luo turned to the purser and asked, after putting the oxygen mask over the old man’s nose and mouth.
“Yes, we do,” the purser replied, then nodding at a flight attendant, she said, “bring him the syringes.”
When he got them, Xiao Luo quickly tore one of the sealed packets, and unbuttoning the old man’s shirt front, he prepared to push the syringe into his lungs.
“What are you doing?”
The purser was shocked. Was he trying to save him or kill him? Piercing through the lungs with a syringe, could the old man survive that?
The purser had never heard of such a procedure, and the passengers felt apprehensive too, watching the scene with trepidation.
“His blood pressure is too high, and the pressure in his thoracic cavity is also rising fast. If the pressure isn’t normalized, it will lead to internal hemorrhage.”
As he spoke, Xiao Luo pierced the syringe through the old man’s chest. “The patient has cerebral thrombosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and acrophobia. These problems were exacerbated by the aircraft’s low cabin pressure, which caused him to lose consciousness,” he continued to explain.
As the crowd listened to what Xiao Luo said, they felt relieved and thought that the young intern seemed quite knowledgeable.
But after the first needle was inserted, the old man coughed violently and spat blood, spraying the inside of the oxygen mask red. The old man’s face went pale, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
“Old man!!!”
The old woman shrieked in anguish, losing control of her emotions.
The atmosphere in the entire first-class cabin was tense. And doubts once again emerged in the eyes of those observing Xiao Luo.
Xiao Luo ignored them all and removed a second syringe from its air-sealed packing. He found another point and slowly inserted the needle.
“Blood pressure is at 150,” Tan Ningfu said.
Then, the old man’s body trembled and twitched violently, once again coughing out several mouthfuls of blood.
“Oh god, you’re in big trouble, my friend.”
Wang Yanzu was anxious for Xiao Luo, and he kept on stomping the cabin floor. After some thought, he felt that he’d be better off severing all ties with Xiao Luo. He slowly backed away to avoid being dragged into the incident.
“Blood pressure is at 160, and it is still rising!” A hint of panic was detected in Tan Ningfu’s voice.
“Is he going to recover or not?”
“This won’t be happening if he is. Look, the old man has vomited blood.”
“Well, he’s just a trainee doctor.”
Voices of doubt came from everywhere, and despite being mere whispers, Xiao Luo’s ears picked up every word.
Xiao Luo ignored them completely and concentrated on depressurizing the old man’s chest cavity. Sweat trickled down his forehead, as this work was more exhausting than any other, requiring long periods of full concentration. After the third needle was inserted, the old man’s condition gradually stabilized. His blood pressure was steadily dropping and finally stabilized around 100. The old man’s complexion improved substantially, slowly regaining a liveliness to his skin.
Huh? He did it!
Everyone was startled. It was only a moment ago when the old man looked like he was going to kick the bucket. How did his condition suddenly stabilize? What happened?
Xiao Luo didn’t feel the need to explain, and he just wiped the sweat off his forehead and stood up. “The patient’s condition has stabilized. When we arrive at Xiahai Airport, get him to a hospital immediately. He will receive comprehensive care there,” he told the purser, “and, by the way, try to give him as much space as possible. Keep the air flowing around here.”
The purser nodded. “Okay, and thank you,” she said.
“Old man, you’re awake, you really scared me there.”
The old woman held the old man tightly in her arms, she had nearly lost him. Then, she looked kindly upon Xiao Luo and expressed her deepest gratitude, “Thank you, doctor, thank you so much.”
Xiao Luo smiled, then turned around and returned to his own seat.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The purser took the initiative to lead a round of applause for Xiao Luo.
The applause carried on for a while, and all passengers in the first-class cabin had nothing but admiration for the young intern, and broad smiles on their faces.
Suddenly, Wang Yanzu appeared again. He looked cheerful as he laughed and said, “This is my brother, my good old brother, Xiao Luo.”
Shamelessly, he stood by the hero of the moment and shared in the adulations.
...