“Doctor, I beg you, you must find a way to save Martin’s legs. If Martin becomes a cripple, how can I go on living?” Jessica pleaded, gripping Archie’s hand with tears and snot streaming down her face.
Archie wore a troubled expression on his face and replied, “Mrs. Henley, I’ve done my best. If we don’t amputate Mr. Henley’s leg soon, he’ll be in serious danger.”
“You’re a doctor, you must have a solution. I beg you, please think of something. I’m ready to kneel down for you,” Jessica implored, preparing to kneel before Archie.
Archie quickly reached out to stop Jessica, and Sophia also hurriedly grabbed her mother’s hand.
“Mrs. Henley, I’m a member of the Asnuwana Medical Research Society. I can assure you that Mr. Henley’s current condition, even in the capital or abroad, cannot be cured. Amputation is the best option at the moment…”
“I’ll go in and take a look,” Archie’s words were interrupted by Leo.
Archie quickly stopped Leo, wearing a apologetic expression on his face, and said, “I’m sorry, but there are rules in the hospital. Non-hospital staff cannot enter the operating room.”
Though he said this, Archie sneered in his heart: Do you really think the hospital is your home? You can just enter as you please?
Sophia then remembered Leo’s medical skills and, suppressing her discomfort, said to Archie, “Dr. Fox, my husband is a traditional medicine practitioner. Could you please make an exception and let him in to have a look? Also, I would like to go in and see my dad. Is that possible?”
Sophia pleaded, causing Archie to ponder for a moment before saying, “Alright, for the sake of our old school days, I’ll let you in, but you can’t stay too long.”
Sophia expressed her gratitude repeatedly.
Archie had the nurses bring two sets of white coats and masks. After Leo and Sophia put them on, Archie led them into the operating room.
Inside the operating room, three assisting doctors were finishing up their work. Martin, under general anesthesia, lay on the operating table, still unconscious.
The monitors next to the operating table displayed Martin’s vital signs as normal.
Archie approached the table and reminded Sophia, “I’m now going to uncover the sterile dressing on Mr. Henley’s injuries. It might be unsettling, so be prepared.”
When Archie lifted the sterile dressing, Sophia couldn’t help but cover her mouth, and tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.
Martin’s legs were truly horrifying. The right leg was somewhat better, with a wound of over ten centimeters on the thigh that had already been stitched up. The situation with the left leg was unbearable to look at, matching what Archie had described earlier. The kneecap protruded from the flesh, the bone was shattered, and though the bleeding had stopped, even a non-doctor could tell that the left leg was likely beyond saving.
Archie covered the sterile dressing again and said to Sophia and the others, “You’ve seen the situation. Let’s discuss it outside.”
As they exited the operating room, Jessica rushed over, grabbing Sophia’s hand and asking, “Sophia, how’s your dad?”
Sophia wiped away tears and replied, “Mom, Dad is not in immediate danger, but it’s doubtful we can save his left leg.”
Upon hearing this, Jessica’s expression froze, and she took a few steps back, a regretful expression on her face, almost sitting down on the floor.
The actual situation leading to the incident was different from what Jessica had claimed earlier, about a truck running a red light. It was due to a trivial argument between her and Martin, causing Martin to be distracted while driving and resulting in the collision with a large truck carrying debris.
Strangely enough, after the accident, the driver’s seat was severely damaged, and Martin was seriously injured. On the other hand, Jessica, who was in the passenger seat, only suffered minor scratches and had no serious injuries.
Archie took the file board from a nurse and handed it to Jessica, urging her, “Don’t be too sad. At least, his life is saved. Before the amputation, please sign the consent form. Now is the best time for amputation; it will be difficult once the anesthesia wears off.”
Jessica couldn’t focus for a moment and looked towards Sophia.
Sophia nodded with a heavy heart, “Mom, go ahead and sign.”
Just as Jessica took the file board to sign, Leo suddenly spoke up, “There’s no need to sign. I can save his legs.”
Three pairs of eyes turned to Leo simultaneously.
“Leo, what are you saying!?” Jessica’s tone was not accusatory this time but filled with incredulity.
However, Sophia’s heart started pounding, and she asked, “Leo, can you really save my Dad’s legs?”
When they entered the operating room earlier, Leo had remained silent. Sophia thought he might be unable to help Martin due to his injuries, and also because of the emotional distress, she hadn’t asked Leo if he could heal Martin.
“It should be no problem,” Leo nodded. “I can not only save his legs but also make him walk normally again.”
Archie couldn’t help but speak, adopting a polite but questioning tone, “Leo, Sophia mentioned that you are a traditional medicine practitioner, and I don’t doubt that. However, in the field of surgery, I believe I am more professional than you. I can vouch for this with my integrity and reputation – Mr. Henley’s current injuries have no possibility of saving the leg. If we don’t amputate, the wound will deteriorate severely within three days, posing a risk to his life.”
If Archie had previously underestimated Leo, he now considered him foolish. In Archie’s view, Leo was just someone who thought he knew a bit of traditional medicine and wanted to show off in front of Jessica and Sophia.
People these days, lacking a sense of reality, dared to say anything.
Seeing Sophia’s excited expression, Archie couldn’t help but frown and warned, “I advise you to think carefully. If anything goes wrong during the treatment, can you bear the consequences?”
Leo confidently smiled, “You don’t need to worry about that. Even if I can’t save my his legs, it won’t endanger his life.”
“Ha, shameless boasting. Do you know you are at Hill Crest General Hospital? You can’t just do as you please in the hospital,” Archie said, looking at Sophia. “Sophia, you must believe me. You’ve seen your Dad’s injuries. There’s no time to waste. Quickly get your mom to sign.”
Sophia said without hesitation, “Dr. Fox, I’m sorry, but I choose to believe in my husband.”
Leo smiled at Sophia, appreciating her trust and approval. Knowing that his wife believed in him, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.