“Doctor Liu! The fetal position is abnormal!” The midwife was already stationed in the delivery room, so as soon as Ding Sha was pushed in, she began examining her condition.
Doctor Liu’s heart skipped a beat, “Did you find her medical records?”
The little nurse took out a thick medical file, “Got it. Her last prenatal exam before the flu was still normal.”
“Then the change must have happened in the past few months,” Doctor Liu felt Ding Sha’s belly.
“Prepare for a C-section.”
“Her husband didn't come. He's quarantining at home,” the little nurse looked embarrassed, “There are her employees outside.”
“Do the routine checks first. Get in line,” Doctor Liu didn't stop working, “Prepare the ultrasound and fetal heart monitor.”
“Her water broke early,” Doctor Liu said, “If we drag on too long the baby will suffocate.”
“Yes!” The midwife and nurse responded in unison.
They knew the severity of the situation and immediately started busying themselves.
Gong Sister-in-law and Zhuang Auntie waited anxiously in the crowded hallway, dripping with sweat. Gong Sister-in-law’s phone rang, it was Xiao Jun calling.
“Hello, Xiao Jun. Don't worry. She's already been taken into the delivery room. Doctor Liu and the others are all there,” Gong Sister-in-law hurried to reassure him.
Xiao Jun was anxiously pacing around at home. His hands and lips were trembling.
He didn't dare imagine what Ding Sha looked like giving birth in the delivery room.
Hearing Gong Sister-in-law’s words calmed him down a little, but he still repeatedly urged, “Call me if anything comes up.”
“Okay.” Gong Sister-in-law simply didn't hang up the phone, keeping it in hand for convenience in talking to Xiao Jun.
The doctors and midwives were running around, so busy that their protective goggles fogged up.
Finally, all the checks were completed. Doctor Liu shook her head and wiped away the stinging sweat from her eyelashes.
“The baby is in an abnormal position. We have to do a C-section now,” Doctor Liu told Gong Sister-in-law in the fastest speed, “We have to get the baby out as soon as possible. Her water broke already. The baby could suffocate at any time.”
Doctor Liu's words were relayed word for word into Xiao Jun's ears over the phone. He hurriedly shouted, “Doctor! Doctor Liu!”
Gong Sister-in-law handed the phone to Doctor Liu.
“Hello? This is Liu Li.”
“Doctor Liu, I'm Ding Sha’s husband,” Xiao Jun said urgently, “Record what I'm about to say. I entrust Ding Sha's care to you. If anything happens, you must save Ding Sha!”
He could do without the child, but he couldn't be without Ding Sha.
The family he envisioned required Ding Sha.
“Alright, I understand,” Doctor Liu was startled for a moment, “But rest assured, if we can save both the mother and child we will definitely do our best.”
After saying this she went into the delivery room.
Xiao Jun didn't say anything more. He sat on a stool with his heart pounding violently, his mind thundering as if struck by lightning. His whole body convulsed as if electrically shocked.
He was afraid.
Ding Sha lay unconscious on the operating table, an IV drip inserted in her arm, connected to various medical devices.
Doctor Liu looked at the midwife, “Let’s begin.”
The midwife nodded and exposed Ding Sha’s belly.
The operation commenced. The little nurse concentrated at the ready, closely monitoring the equipment and patient’s status.
Gong Sister-in-law and Zhuang Auntie tightly clasped hands as they stared at the delivery room door.
One after another, gurneys draped in white sheets were wheeled past them. Gong Sister-in-law knew they bore the departed.
Grief-stricken families followed behind. The crowded hallway couldn’t contain the highs and lows of humanity.
Gong Sister-in-law couldn’t help but wipe away some tears. Zhuang Auntie grabbed her hand, “Don’t cry, be careful of infection.”
Gong Sister-in-law sighed, “I just feel...sigh, it’s too difficult.”
“How did it come to this?”
The red light at the delivery room door remained lit.
“I see the baby,” the midwife said, “Not good - the umbilical cord is wrapped around its neck.”
Doctor Liu frowned, “Get the baby out as quickly as possible.”
“Yes.” The midwife immediately started working.
“Doctor, the mother’s heart rate and blood pressure are rapidly dropping!”
“Push epinephrine!” Doctor Liu ordered.
“Yes!” The little nurse nimbly injected it into the IV.
“It's eased.”
“The speed still needs to increase,” Doctor Liu said.
“It’s faster now!” The midwife was also anxious.
“Doctor!! Doctor!! Save my wife! She just gave birth to our baby! How could she be gone just like that?!”
A grief-stricken man burst out from some corner, rushing towards the delivery room. Gong Sister-in-law was startled and hurried to block him.
“You can't go in! A baby is being delivered inside!”
The man pushed her away, “I don't care who's giving birth! I only know the doctor has to go save my wife right now!”
Zhuang Auntie also came over to stop him, “How can you be like this! Go find another doctor!!”
“Get lost!” The man was still trying to get into the delivery room.
Zhuang Auntie firmly dragged him back, “I won't let you in!”
For a time, they were at an impasse. The people in the corridor watched this commotion numbly, no longer caring about their own well-being, let alone someone else’s life or death.
Not long after, an elderly woman came over crying, “Da Hao, let’s go. Bring your wife home.”
“I won't leave! Xiao Yan still has a chance! I want a doctor to save Xiao Yan!” The man refused.
“Da Hao!” The woman scolded, “Xiao Yan was a good doctor her whole life. Do you really want to torment her spirit by causing a ruckus even after she passed?”
Gong Sister-in-law was startled, “A doc...doctor?”
The woman came over, pulling the now unresisting, sobbing man along, “Sorry about that... My son just can’t accept his wife's passing...”
Gong Sister-in-law stood up, somewhat stunned, “Your daughter-in-law...was a doctor?”
“Ah, yes. She was a doctor. She came back to work just days after giving birth. I guess her fate wasn’t good... She was infected... Her health was weak, she didn’t make it...” The woman wiped some tears.
The woman led Da Hao away. Gong Sister-in-law suddenly felt chilled to the bone. For the first time, she clearly realized how cruel this flu epidemic was.
“Auntie... after this is over...” Gong Sister-in-law suddenly said, “Let’s go home and get a good sleep...”
“Oh, alright...” Zhuang Auntie also had complex feelings.
Inside the delivery room.
“The baby is out!” The midwife excitedly announced.
“Is it cleaned up? How’s the baby?” Doctor Liu asked.
“Everything normal.”
“Begin suturing,” Doctor Liu also breathed a sigh of relief.
“Doctor Liu!” The little nurse suddenly pointed to a machine, “The mother’s situation has worsened again!”
“Keep pushing epinephrine!” Doctor Liu frowned.
The little nurse immediately administered it.
“No good!” The little nurse saw the numbers continuing to drop precipitously.
Doctor Liu’s heart sank to the bottom.
“Prepare emergency procedures. Call people over to help.”
“Doctor Liu! Massive bleeding!” The midwife suddenly exclaimed.
“What’s going on?” Doctor Liu shouted anxiously.
“Placental adhesion.” The midwife’s expression was not good.
“I’ll order blood products. You go to the blood bank,” Doctor Liu told the little nurse. “First try manual removal. If that doesn’t work we’ll have to consider hysterectomy.”
After taking the order form, the little nurse quickly ran out. Gong Sister-in-law hurriedly asked, “Nurse, nurse, how is my Ding Sha?”
The little nurse had no time to say anything. “The doctor will be out soon.”
The little nurse ran off. Gong Sister-in-law was extremely uneasy.
Doctor Liu came out. “The mother is bleeding heavily. Worst case we’ll have to remove the uterus.”
Gong Sister-in-law couldn’t make the decision. Hands trembling, she called Xiao Jun and told him about it.
Xiao Jun didn’t hesitate. “I consent. As long as Ding Sha’s life is saved!”
