By: Health Reporter
In a high-stakes drama that played out behind the swinging doors of Hathian General Hospital (‘HGH’), local surgeon Dr. Theo Castillo delivered a performance worthy of an action film, yanking a man back from the jaws of death after a near-fatal shooting which the Observer plans to cover in due course once we can piece together both the victim’s, HPDs and other perspectives.
Our reporter pieced together bits and pieces of the story, both from the victim, who gave a glowing account of his treatment and then a few whispered words of praise for Dr. Castillo, delivered by excited interns, giggling receptionists and of course the off-the-record praise that goes with public service workers in Hathian.
The victim, who identified himself as Nero Milano, reportedly arrived on the operating table bleeding out from a devastating wound to his chest. We understand that the atmosphere in the operating room shifted from tense focus to pure, chaotic urgency when the monitors flatlined and everyone shifted up to an even higher gear as they did their best.
Dr. Castillo barked orders and like any good emergency room doctor, got his hands bloody in an all-out effort to save Nero’s life.
Sources say blood splattered onto the surgeon’s apron, shoes and the floor as a crimson tide threatened to claim the patient’s life. Castillo was reported to have clamped the aorta just in time, performing desperate compressions before moments later, the bullet that caused the carnage was fished from the wound and tossed into a kidney tray. Momentarily the tension lifted and Castillo was heard to say:
“Another one for my collection.”
The metallic clink was followed by the meticulous insertion of a shunt, a delicate graft, and the steady hum of machines dragging Milano inch by inch away from the ‘flatline’ abyss that many Hathian residents sadly never recover from.
At the Observer, we like to think that everyone can play a part to make Hathian better, Daiyu’s ‘Snake’ example of how we can eat ourselves in a never-ending wave can sometimes be put to one side by the good that people do. So it wasn’t just medicine keeping him alive, at least according to a nurse who witnessed it. They described it as if Dr. Castillo was “holding him there by will alone” as Milano’s pulse returned.
Hospital staff say Milano is now in the ICU under heavy sedation. While the motive behind the shooting remains under investigation and we hope in the Observer to cover it soon, one thing is clear, Hathian just witnessed a surgical save for the HGH history books.
