Summit of Healing

Author: Theodore Voss

Chapter 1: Emergency Rescue

Words : 2009 Updated : Mar 13th, 2025

The mountains and lakes blurred by, with light and shadows flickering. The G23 train to Gerton sped ahead like a whirlwind. Walter Zorn sat by the window, gazing absentmindedly at the passing scenery as his mind wandered to a past memory. After graduating from a military medical university, Walter joined a mysterious peacekeeping force, embarking on an extraordinary journey. During an evacuation of compatriots, his team was attacked by armed criminals, resulting in fifteen team members being severely injured. With life hanging by a thread, Walter swiftly cleaned and stitched each wound, even bringing back a soldier whose abdomen had been pierced by a bullet. However, the shortage of blood packs and the long journey made treatment difficult. Disregarding his colleagues' objections, Walter drew 800cc of blood from his own body to sustain fellow blood-type wounded soldiers. Thanks to his efforts, the injured returned to the camp alive. Yet, due to excessive blood transfusion and physical exhaustion, Walter collapsed into unconsciousness. ***** Then, Walter awoke to find himself in a different world. Still named Walter, he was now a student at Xenas Medical College. With a father who was a doctor, Walter was inspired from a young age to follow in his footsteps. He excelled in medical school and secured an internship at a top domestic hospital before graduation. His personality was strikingly similar to his younger self—modest, diligent, earnest, and fiercely determined. This time, he was on his way to Toria City Tenos Hospital in Gerton for a three-month internship. Besides the supervising teacher, there were six interns. The girl sitting next to him was named Renee Lashbrook. With earbuds in, she held a copy of Gray's Anatomy. Her tranquil gaze and faint dimples complemented her graceful figure and unparalleled elegance. Focusing on her studies, the woman declined many suitors, choosing instead to sit beside Walter, appreciating his calm and respectful nature. ***** The quiet of the carriage was suddenly disrupted by an announcement, "Someone in Carriage 1 has fallen ill. If you are a medical worker, please assist immediately!" Max Showyer, the leader in the row ahead, sprang to his feet. "Grab the first aid kit and come with me!" He was a renowned professor at Xenas Medical College and a surgical expert at the affiliated hospital. He was upright and held great authority among students. Carriage 1 was a double-decker sleeper. Max flashed his ID, and the conductor immediately let him through. The patient was an elderly man curled up on the bunk, clutching his chest in agony. Blood seeped through his fingers, pooling on the floor. Max examined him briefly, furrowing his brow. "He recently had heart valve surgery, right?" "Yes!" Hearing Max's accurate judgment, the young woman beside the patient burst into tears. "This is a case of improper post-operative care. The stitches have torn, causing internal bleeding and blood seeping out!" "My grandfather left the hospital early against the doctor's advice to handle urgent company matters. Please, you must save him!" She spoke rapidly, her arm trembling uncontrollably. Her face was etched with pain, worry, and despair as she breathed hard. The elderly man, though speechless, gazed imploringly, his will to live causing him to weakly raise his hand, only to let it fall again. He didn't want to die. Max's brow remained furrowed. "After heart valve replacement surgery, the patient needs a week in the hospital and at least three months of rest. Now that the wound has torn and internal bleeding is occurring, surgery is urgently needed." Walter stepped forward to examine, confirming Max's precise diagnosis. Such cases of wound tearing due to improper post-operative care required re-stitching in a sterile hospital environment. It was a process more complex than the initial surgery and accompanied by possible complications. The cramped space and essential tools made open-heart surgery impossible. At the current bleeding rate, the elderly man would succumb to hemorrhagic shock in no more than half an hour. "Can the train make an unscheduled stop at the nearest station to transfer the patient to the closest hospital for treatment?" Max asked. The conductor quickly responded, "We've communicated with the train manager. In fifteen minutes, we'll make an unscheduled stop at the next station." Max inquired further, "What's the next stop?" "Quinton County." "Quinton?" Max's expression darkened. The facilities at Quinton County Hospital might not support such a complex surgery. Of course, even a county hospital was better equipped than the train. Bang! A muffled sound interrupted the exchange between Max and the conductor. The patient's granddaughter collapsed heavily to the floor, her legs convulsing uncontrollably! "She's probably too anxious, causing a panic attack. Everyone, step back! Ensure adequate ventilation." Max sighed, lifting the woman and pressing the acupoint between her nose and mouth—a standard method to treat fainting and promote consciousness. However, after two or three minutes, the woman remained unconscious. Her complexion paled, and her convulsions intensified. Max touched the back of her hand, noting the dropping temperature and his expression grew grave. There was more to this fainting than met the eye. Without diagnostic equipment, he couldn't make a definitive diagnosis. The atmosphere became tense. A patient lay critically ill on the bed, and now his granddaughter was also unconscious! Sweat beaded on Max's forehead. Despite his years of medical experience handling complex cases, he felt helpless. "Professor, could she be suffering from air poisoning?" "Hmm?" Max glanced at the person who had spoken like a beacon in the darkness. It was Walter—tall, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and neatly cropped hair. A hush fell over the carriage. "Don't speak nonsense! If the air is toxic, why are we fine?" The conductor hurriedly countered, assuming Walter meant the carriage had toxic gas. The medical students pondered. Air poisoning didn't refer to toxic air, but rather improper breathing leading to poisoning symptoms. When anxious, people may feel they can't breathe, causing them to hyperventilate. This expels large amounts of carbon dioxide, reducing bicarbonate ions formed by carbon dioxide in the plasma and raising its alkaline content, resulting in alkalosis. With years of military medical experience, Walter developed keen observational skills in combat, allowing him to identify the cause of a patient's condition swiftly. Walter found a clean paper bag meant for trash and placed it over the woman's mouth and nose, allowing her to rebreathe her exhaled carbon dioxide. "Relax, breathe slowly and naturally." Simultaneously, Walter pressed his right thumb to the center of her chest. There was a saying about beating one's chest and stamping one's feet—when emotions fluctuated and breathing became irregular, one's chest acupoint could be blocked. Pressing it could help release pent-up energy. As if waking from a nightmare, the woman slowly opened her eyes, relief washing over her face. "Phew!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the woman regain consciousness, Walter quickly set the paper bag aside and continued guiding her to breathe correctly. Max felt deeply moved. In those few minutes, he hadn't identified the cause, risking the woman's condition worsening. Fortunately, Walter had stepped up in time. Walter's ability to handle sudden situations and adapt quickly impressed him greatly, leading him to commend the student, "Walter, your performance just now was amazing!" Renee's gaze softened, filled with admiration and appreciation for Walter.

Summit of Healing

Chapter 1: Emergency Rescue

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