SUNLIGHT streams through the curtains, painting the room in a warm, golden glow. He's there, my love, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he approaches the bed, carrying a breakfast tray like a precious offering.
"Good morning, gorgeous."
I smiled. "Good morning." Nahihiyang humihikab.
He places the tray gently on the bed, his hand brushing mine as he does so, sending a shiver of delight down my spine.
"Breakfast na tayo, baka mamaya ikaw pa gawin ko na breakfast." Then he kissed me.
"HAHAHA... Okay, let's see what's here?" while opening the food cover.
Lifting the food cover revealed an intoxicating aroma: rich cinnamon, crisp bacon, and subtly sweet fresh berries. Two perfectly formed cinnamon rolls, glazed to shimmering perfection, nestled beside a small bowl of whipped cream, its peaks as soft and inviting as his touch. The bacon, still slightly sizzling, was arranged with artistic care, each piece a testament to his thoughtful attention. Scattered among the bacon were plump blueberries and raspberries, their vibrant colors mirroring the passion in his eyes.
"Wow... I'm speechless." I smiled, gazing at the food he'd prepared.
This wasn't just breakfast; it was a love letter, written in the language of delicious aromas and textures. With each bite, I felt it was a tender kiss, each taste a whispered promise. The sweetness of the cinnamon rolls melted on my tongue, mirroring the sweetness of his love. The salty bacon and tart berries offered a delightful counterpoint, reminding me of the spice and passion in our relationship. It was a perfect morning and moment, made perfect by him.
****
MAG-isa akong naka-upo sa labas ng café ng biglang dumating mga asungot ko na mga kaibigan. I was about to leave pero bigla pinigilan ni Jia.
"Ops.. saan ka pupunta?" she asked. "Tatakas ka naman?" sapilitan akong pina-upo ulit.
"Utang na loob Jia, wag mo sirain ang mood ko ngayon." Sabay higop ng kapeng binili ko.
"OHHHH~" sabay-sabay nilang reaksyon.
I shook my head. Kahit Kaylan talaga madudumi utak ng mga 'to. Then a fluorescent light hummed, a relentless soundtrack to the pre-op bustle. My pager vibrated - another patient.
"Dr. Ramirez, Room 312 needs a stat IV." Another voice crackled, "Nurse Andrada OR 2 is ready for the next case - laparoscopic cholecystectomy."
- It's a minimally invasive surgery using a small camera and surgical instruments inserted through tiny incisions in your abdomen to remove your gallbladder without a large open incision.
"Aga mo girl ah." Habang pinuputol ang kuko niya.
"Being early is on time; being on time is being late," I said before taking my leave.
"Ano daw?" rinig 'kong tanong ni Jia bago ako makalayo.
"It simply means she lives by that," Knute said, without looking at them, "always the first to arrive, always prepared."
I checked my watch - 7:53 AM. Late again. I grabbed my cap, the familiar weight grounding me. The OR air was different - colder, cleaner, and charged. Dr. Evans was already scrubbing in. I double-checked the instruments: laparoscope, graspers, scissors, energy device. All are present and accounted for.
"Ready for the next one, Nurse Andrada?" Dr. Evans asked, his voice calm but focused.
"All instruments checked and ready, Doctor," I replied, my voice steady despite my nervousness.
"Good. Okay, everyone, let's make this a quick one." He said, "Then the real surgery starts. Scalpel."
His voice was low and focused. I handed him the instrument, my eyes glued to the monitor, tracking the patient's vitals, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. The surgeon made the initial incision, and the camera feed showed the glistening peritoneum. The next few hours were a blur of precise movements: insufflation of the abdomen, careful dissection of the gallbladder, and meticulous clipping of the cystic artery and duct. The tension was palpable, a silent conversation between the surgical team. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors was a constant reminder of the patient's fragility. I meticulously counted sponges and instruments, my hands moving with practiced precision.
The patient, Mrs. Gable, was a high-risk case - elderly, with a history of heart problems and a known penicillin allergy. The usual calm confidence I projected felt a little shaky today. The surgery began smoothly enough. The initial incisions, the insufflation, and the camera feed show the glistening peritoneum. But halfway through, a sudden change. Mrs. Gable's heart rate spiked. The monitor's rhythmic beeping turned erratic, a frantic staccato.
"Doctor, her heart rate!" the nurse, calculating, said, her voice sharp with alarm.
I carefully controlled composure, shattered. The room seemed to fall silent, the usual controlled chaos replaced by a tense stillness. I saw the other nurses in the room exchange worried glances; their faces mirrored my fear. Dr. Evans's face tightened, his focus intense. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Ramirez, was already reacting.
"We need to get her blood pressure up," Dr. Evans said, his voice tight. "Penicillin, 1g IV push, stat!"
- In life-or-death situations, there's no time to waste. The word 'STAT' comes from the Latin word "STATim", which translates to "immediately", and it means that the order should be prioritized first as it's needed urgently. A STAT medication order should generally be administered within 30 minutes of it being ordered.
Before I could react, another nurse, Sarah, spoke up, her voice clear and urgent.
"Doctor, hold on! Mrs. Gable's chart indicates a penicillin allergy!"
Dr. Evans paused, his brow furrowing. He looked down at the chart, then back at Mrs. Gable's monitor. The urgency in the room intensified.
"Epinephrine, 1mg of 1:1000, IV push, stat!" Dr. Evans corrected, his voice sharp.
I grabbed the vial of epinephrine, double-checking the concentration and expiration date. I then carefully drew 1 ml of the solution into a sterile syringe, ensuring no air bubbles remained. I labeled the syringe with the medication name, dosage, and time, and confirmed the compatibility with her allergy.
"And 0.5mg of atropine sulfate, IV push!" Dr. Evans ordered, his voice tight with urgency.
Again, I moved with practiced efficiency, ensuring the medication was compatible with her allergy before preparing and administering it as quickly and accurately as possible. The other nurses moved to support, adjusting the patient's position and monitoring the IV lines.
The next few minutes felt like an eternity. The situation was critical. We battled to stabilize Mrs. Gable, a silent, desperate struggle against the unpredictable nature of the human body. The usual precision of the surgery was replaced by a frantic race against time. Finally, slowly, her heart rate began to normalize.
"Doctor, her heart rate has decreased substantially from a peak of 140 bpm. Currently 85 bpm with a regular sinus rhythm. Blood pressure is also trending upward. Before the intervention, she presented with marked sinus tachycardia, tachypnea, and peripheral vasoconstriction."
- Sinus tachycardia is a fast heart rate originating from the sinus node. Tachypnea indicates rapid breathing, often associated with respiratory distress. Peripheral vasoconstriction is a narrowing of blood vessels, often a sign of low blood flow.
"Sawakas natapos din ang operasyon." saad niya habang nakalagay ang mga kamay sa likod ng ulo na naglalakad.
"Kaya nga makakapahinga na din at makakauwi." sagot din ng isang nurse na kasama namin kanina sa OR.
"Val, punta ka mamaya huh?"
"Um? Huh? Anong meron?"
Maya-maya pa ay tinaas niya ang kaliwang kamay at doon ko na pansin ang singsing, a dazzling solitaire diamond, easily two carats, perched on a platinum band. The light caught it, and I swear, the office momentarily dimmed. It was breathtaking. Suddenly, my own perfectly acceptable (but decidedly less extravagant) engagement ring felt… underwhelming. I mean, underwhelming is an understatement. It looked like a tiny, shy firefly beside Sarah's blazing supernova.
"Uy! Okay ka lang?" tanong niya habang nakatayo sa harap ko.
"Um.. o-okay lang ako. Congrats sa engagement niyo ng boyfriend mo." I smiled.
"Thank you. Kayo pala ng boyfriend mo? Matagal-tagal na din naman kayo diba? Wala ba kayo plano magpakasal?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.
"Pinag-iiponan pa namin."
"Punta ka mamaya huh? Sama mo partner mo." Tinatapik balikat ko sabay alis.
I sighed and was about to walk away when I saw my cousin's fiancé walking toward Dr. Mendez's office, a well-known OB-GYN in our hospital. Nagtataka man ay hinayaan ko lang. Then I dialed my boyfriend number para sabihin sa kaniya ang tungkol sa engagement party nila Sara. As always, he said yes, that we would go.
"Are you sure napupunta tayo?" Pagtatanong ko.
"Yes po beside it was your co-worker who invited you personally. So nakakahiya naman if di natin pagbibigyan invitation niya." Habang abala sa kausap niyang empleyado.
"Okay po. Baba ko na po call may work pa eh." Pagpapaalam ko.
"Okay, Po. I love you."
"I love you more, mwah."
"Bye-bye, sunduin kita mamaya."
"Okay, I'll wait."
After hanging up the call, one of the nurses at the nurse station informed me that Dr. Evans wanted me to get the laboratory results of her patient right away. Saktong pa punta ako ng laboratory at na daan ko ang office ni Dr. Mendez.