Elion had always wanted to be a doctor, to give the best of himself to the field of medicine and somehow find a cure for all diseases.
A remedy, an elixir that could remove all discomfort from people who were tormented by it.
It was true that he devoted his time to studying what little he could of the field, but he never achieved anything because he died long before he could even extend his hand to help people.
His gratitude toward the doctors who saved his life on countless occasions could never be repaid, and that was why right now he was taking the initiative to become one of the men he had admired since childhood.
"Take the initiative."
When he learned what was about to happen, Elion was the first to move and reach the patient who was suffering respiratory arrest due to the infection.
"Move aside." Chase wanted to take over from here, but Elion did not move and instead made a signal for the nurse to bring the machine to help the patient breathe.
"I'm in charge." Elion prepared to perform a tracheotomy, without the slightest doubt in his movements.
"Don't rush." Chase, who knew he could not intervene now, stayed watching Elion's actions and supported him from the side.
"She has a complete obstruction; she won't be able to receive air any other way." Elion's words were correct because Cameron, who wanted to manually give air to the patient, ran into that problem.
Now Elion had control, not only to save a life but also to preserve his own.
Any action, no matter how minimal it may seem, is of great importance. Even if it is not obvious, if Elion makes a mistake now, someone who is destined to live could die.
The butterfly effect that Elion created in this reality was taking effect, and if for any reason he made a mistake, Rebecca would die.
"Use minimal force, let the incision guide you, and stop in time." Chase trusted Elion; being an intern does not mean he cannot do a job like this, and Elion's character showed everyone that he would be a great doctor.
As he handed him the medical instruments, Chase was giving Elion the opportunity to prove what he was made of.
Foreman approached Cameron's direction and asked, "Are you sure you'll leave this job to an intern?"
"He's here for this, not just to review documents. If he doesn't take initiative, he won't be approved and shouldn't be here." Chase was acting like a true mentor as Elion took the initiative to help the patient.
"We're following House's instructions; we have to include the intern, and if he can't do something like this, he should reconsider continuing as a doctor." Cameron, upon realizing that the patient had a complete obstruction just as Elion had diagnosed earlier, agreed with Chase in giving him confidence.
Since House also trusted Elion's abilities and the hospital itself had selected this intern as the only one qualified to be in the diagnostics department, things like this should not be a problem.
"If her pulse isn't adequate, you must pull him out." Foreman said nothing more; he only watched Elion closely and mentally prepared for the worst.
His experience with residents and interns was very bad. In other hospitals, interns who claimed to be the best of their classes would faint at the sight of a little blood during not-so-critical procedures. If something like that happened to Elion, the patient's life would be in mortal danger.
But contrary to what Foreman thought, Elion was confident in what he was doing. Being perhaps one of the few who had died and returned to life, how could his hands tremble in a situation like this?
Even better, his new identity belonged to a legitimate medical student who was not only the best at his university, but also had a kind personality and was the type who would jump into danger to save those who could not fend for themselves.
That was why Elion, wearing disposable surgical gloves, used an alcohol swab to disinfect Rebecca's neck naturally.
Then, receiving the scalpel from Chase's hand, he took it and with his left hand opened the folds of skin near the trachea.
Once the area was visualized, the sharp scalpel held in his right hand easily opened a wound from which dark red blood constantly flowed.
Chase and Foreman, although nervous, did not appear tense at all. They were prepared to intervene if Elion panicked at the sight of blood.
In general terms, when an intern performs a surgery or participates in one for the first time and sees blood, their hands involuntarily begin to tremble.
Elion's situation was more complex; it could be said that he was going through his first test at an extreme level. Now he not only had to precisely locate the patient's trachea despite the blood obstructing his vision.
This is not easy without some experience, and it can easily cause beginners to panic and ask for help.
So both of them were prepared in case that moment occurred.
This was the first time for them being superiors to an intern since they began working at this hospital, so yes, they did not know much about how to deal with someone like Elion either.
Foreman, who had a bit more experience, believed that Elion at this point in the surgery might back out; he had seen it countless times.
However, Elion's hands did not tremble at all as he faced the blood that was flowing.
After firmly and quickly cutting a tracheal opening large enough to insert the assisted breathing tube, he did not hesitate. He took the curved scissors that Cameron handed him and plunged them into the blood, precisely opening the trachea.
Then, without caring about the continuous flow of blood, he placed the fixation device and used the negative pressure setting of the device to remove blood clots from the trachea.
Finally, he inserted the short endotracheal tube and connected it to the endotracheal tubing. Elion's facial expression remained completely unchanged throughout the entire process.
Seeing this, Chase and Foreman exchanged another glance; this time their eyes no longer held any doubt, but were filled with astonishment.
Elion's skill was so good that it was hard to believe he was an intern.
Even Chase, a surgeon with extensive experience in this type of surgery, was certain that Elion had done everything perfectly.
After finishing placing the device, Elion looked at Cameron and she immediately took the mechanical ventilation device and began squeezing it rhythmically.
As fresh air continuously entered Rebecca's trachea, she recovered quickly.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, especially Elion, who was now breathing with a bit of agitation.
Elion could not deceive himself; although he appeared relaxed at the moment, in reality he was more nervous than anyone else.
Because right now not only was Rebecca's life in his hands, but also his own life.
Now he was about to discover whether, after rescuing Rebecca from the brink of death, his own life, which was already on the edge of death, would be prolonged.
"[Congratulations, you have intervened and saved a life from the hands of death.]"
[Reward]: One day with fifteen extra hours of life.
[Remaining lifespan]: One week with fifteen hours.
…
Upon hearing the message, Elion felt as if a million ants were frantically biting his neck.
If he hadn't saved someone today, he would only have four days of life left.
Being aware of something like this was very hard.
"Congratulations, Elion, that was a perfect surgery." Foreman smiled, more relaxed after this.
Chase, looking at Elion, asked him, "Elion, Elion, what are you thinking about?"
Suddenly, a hand moving in front of him interrupted Elion's frantic thoughts.
When Elion came back to his senses, he saw Cameron, who had already secured the external trachea with medical tape.
Only then did Elion smile, naturally unable to tell her that he was a little happy that his life had been extended by one more day.
"Oh, I was wondering if her allergy to the contrast agent was related to cerebral vasculitis."
Cameron looked at her colleagues and reflected for a moment. "Hmm, it's a possibility, but how did you know she might be allergic to the contrast agent?"
Elion had anticipated this question and, being prepared, responded immediately, "That's because sometimes patients lie unintentionally, and as doctors, we have to consider more possibilities."
Cameron was visibly puzzled and asked curiously, "Isn't that something House always says?"
Elion smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, I'm a fan of his, that's why I came to this hospital to do my internship."
Cameron shook her head. "House doesn't want fans; he wants exceptionally capable assistants, and you've clearly demonstrated that talent. Maybe that's why he appreciates you."
"I know what you think, and that isn't my dream. What I want isn't to be his assistant, but to be a doctor even better than him." That was the desire that now lived inside him.
"Then you probably still have a long way to go." Chase smiled; now all the previous misunderstanding seemed nonexistent.
"I'll work hard…" Elion thought, knowing that although not everything was due to knowing the events of this story, that was largely the extra help he was receiving. If he wanted to be a doctor, he should not depend on anything or anyone.
Just as they were leaving the radiology department,
House appeared in front of everyone, leaning on his cane with his back against the wall, having just taken Vicodin to relieve the pain.
Upon seeing his doctors, House immediately focused his gaze on Elion, raised an eyebrow, and said mockingly, "Our intern just had an exam. How did it go? Did the patient die?"
Elion chuckled. "She's alive, and it wasn't a problem to perform that minor surgery."
"Hmm, you've proven that you have certain reaction skills, but that doesn't prove everything. Why don't you take a shift in my clinic for a while?"
"I've been there for a couple of shifts and it's torture."
"Clinic?" It's a good place to accumulate experience." Chase supported that idea.
Elion, who was actually looking for that, nodded. "Sure, but this patient—"
Before Elion could finish speaking, House interrupted him and said, "I made a diagnosis on this patient and prescribed her a steroid, a high dose of prednisone."
Elion frowned; he knew House was wrong and tried to remind him. "It's an anti-inflammatory. Does that mean you've confirmed that she has cerebral vasculitis?"
Although an allergy to the contrast agent can be related to cerebral vasculitis,
cerebral vasculitis is as rare as brain tumors at this age.
It would be too arbitrary to reach such a conclusion without performing a biopsy.
"If she has cerebral cysticercosis, this medication could accelerate the worsening of her condition."
Cameron reminded House of the diagnosis Elion had made earlier. "The intern thinks our patient has cerebral vasculitis."
"Yes, he just made that clear."
"The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated, the MRI results are consistent with the related symptoms." Elion tried to explain to everyone.
Cameron looked at House and said, "These conclusions are enough to justify giving it a try. Even if we fail, wouldn't that confirm that she has cerebral cysticercosis?"
"That's enough, let's start the treatment now!" House, who has the power of decision, is a figure who can make the final call in the diagnostics department.
Although Cameron did not support House's approach, she had no choice but to comply.
Only Elion knew that this would only accelerate Rebecca's death. Fortunately, he knew that in the end House would discover the truth, and he hoped that with his participation it would be faster than before.
"Hey, doctor, what are you doing standing there? Come with me to see outpatients; let's reinforce your experience!" House stopped in front of the elevator and called out to Elion, who was lost in his thoughts.