Lin Zhilan shook her head. Unless you want her to never grow up.
The tiny bit of hope in Yin Xiuxiu's heart instantly plummeted.
On the other side of the hospital, Zhu Weidong and Director Liu were discussing Lin Zhilan's surgical plan.
The plan was too beautiful, too standard.
It was hard to imagine how Lin Zhilan, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, had managed to write it.
Zhu Weidong asked, Director, do you think I should do this surgery?
Director Liu grumbled inwardly. Zhu Weidong was clearly tempted by this surgery himself, yet he wanted to drag him down with him to share the risk.
Director Liu changed his mind, tapping Lin Zhilan's surgical plan and saying, You don't want to do it? Then I'll do it.
Zhu Weidong hurriedly said, Director, how could I trouble an elder like you to step in? If you agree to the surgery, I can do it on your behalf.
Both Director Liu and Zhu Weidong were in their fifties, and their careers were basically set.
They had been in surgery their whole lives. Aside from the responsibility and duty of medical personnel, fame and fortune were also a part of their life pursuits.
They were all ordinary people; who wouldn't want to make a breakthrough and at least leave their mark on medical history?
If it was truly as Lin Zhilan's plan described, that the child's urinary incontinence was caused by spinal cord tethering due to a thickened filum terminale, and that a laminectomy decompression could cure the child, this surgery would undoubtedly become the first case of pediatric spinal nerve neurolysis for non-spina bifida occulta.
Once successful, it would be a surgery worthy of medical textbooks.
Director Liu was not unswayed.
In the end, the two discussed it and decided that if this surgery was to be done, they would both be on it.
But before that, they still had to discuss it further with Doctor Lin.
For such a delicate and important surgery, without myelography and MRI technology, they could only rely on the doctors' experience and understanding of anatomy.
After repeated discussions and consultations with other departments, the hospital finally decided to perform the surgery a month later.
For the final pre-operative meeting, Yin Xiuxiu's whole family came.
It was Lin Zhilan's first time meeting Nannan's father.
Like countless ordinary soldiers here, he had dark skin and a serious expression.
But Lin Zhilan noticed that Nannan relied on him a lot.
Children were just like that; whoever treated them well, they would be close to. He must be a competent father.
Before the meeting started, Qiangzi walked up to Lin Zhilan.
You... Just as Lin Zhilan was about to ask him what was the matter, Qiangzi spoke up, Auntie Doctor, are you the one who cured my sister?
Auntie Doctor... what kind of title was that?
Lin Zhilan smiled and said, Your sister will only be better after the surgery.
Qiangzi didn't understand. Right now, apart from occasionally wetting the bed at night, his sister didn't even need to wear diapers during the day. In his eyes, she was already cured.
Jiang Chengzhou bragged about his aunt in class every day. Others didn't believe it, but Qiangzi truly did.
After all, Auntie Doctor had previously fixed his arm with a single snap.
Since she was so amazing, she could definitely cure his sister's bed-wetting.
Qiangzi, come here, Yin Xiuxiu called out. Don't bother Doctor Lin.
Qiangzi mumbled a few words and returned to his parents' side.
Once the relevant doctors had arrived, the meeting officially began.
They had discussed the surgical details countless times; this time was mainly to inform Nannan's parents of the surgical risks.
Yin Xiuxiu couldn't understand the medical jargon about infections and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. She only knew it was very serious, but she still wanted to take a gamble for her daughter.
But... she looked at Lin Zhilan. Doctor Lin, could you be the one to do this surgery?
The person Yin Xiuxiu trusted the most right now was Lin Zhilan. If Doctor Lin performed the surgery, she would be half-relieved.
Director Liu and Zhu Weidong exchanged bitter smiles. They had been doing surgeries their entire lives, yet they hadn't expected the patient to trust Lin Zhilan, a young traditional Chinese medicine doctor, more.
But that was fine too. Every generation brings forth new talents, each leading the way for their time.
The future belonged to the young anyway.
Moreover, in Doctor Lin, they also saw the importance and necessity of inheriting and developing traditional Chinese medicine.
Lin Zhilan said, Comrade Yin Xiuxiu, the child's chief surgeons will be our Director and Director Zhu from the surgical department. They are both doctors with rich clinical experience, so you can rest assured on that point.
However, I will also enter the operating room as the chief surgeon's assistant and participate throughout the entire process.
Hearing this, Yin Xiuxiu breathed a sigh of relief. Fidgeting with her fingers, she asked, I... I have one more question...
She stammered, looking as if she were too embarrassed to say it.
Nannan's father patted her hand and said in a deep voice, Hello, leaders. I am Yin Feng, Battalion Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Regiment, 5th Division of the 16th Group Army in the Guangnan Military Region.
For my daughter's surgery and other expenses, he paused for a moment before continuing, could we put it on credit for a while, and slowly deduct it from my allowance later?
They had already discussed it at home; the surgical fees would definitely be very expensive.
Fortunately, Yin Xiuxiu had a job now. In the future, Yin Xiuxiu's salary would be used to support the family, and Yin Feng's salary would be used to treat their daughter's illness.
Director Liu asked curiously, Doctor Lin, you didn't tell them?
Yin Feng and Yin Xiuxiu looked confused.
Lin Zhilan chuckled softly. Director, you should be the one to say it.
Director Liu's face was full of helplessness, assuming she was just too modest to claim credit. Doctor Lin applied for a double-without family certificate for you. All expenses for this surgery will be waived.
Yin Xiuxiu was stunned, speaking incoherently, This, this... Doctor Lin, I, I don't know what to say...
Lin Zhilan said, You don't need to thank me. This is the organization's assistance policy for families in difficulty. Just thank the organization.
Strictly speaking, since Yin Xiuxiu had a job now, it was difficult for Nannan to apply as a double-without family member. But considering that Yin Feng had two sick people at home, plus the medical certificate from the hospital, the military logistics department, after investigation, still issued the double-without family certificate for Nannan.
From now on, as long as it was within the military region's hospital system, all surgeries, treatments, and medications would be completely free.
Yin Xiuxiu wiped her tears with her sleeve, and Yin Feng's expression also softened, revealing his gratitude.
Without the financial burden, the difficult problem was now handed over to the doctors.
On the day of the surgery, after Nannan left her parents and entered the operating room, she immediately became panicked.
Lin Zhilan held her hand to comfort her. Don't be afraid. It's just like when Auntie usually gives you acupuncture. You'll be fine after a nap.
Nannan pursed her lips tightly, her face turning pale.
Lin Zhilan simply kept holding her hand until she was given the anesthesia and fell asleep, before going to wash her hands and change her clothes.
The initial procedures went smoothly. Nannan lay prone on the operating table with a soft pillow under her chest, her abdomen suspended, her lumbosacral region elevated, and both lower limbs straightened and fixed, preventing any pressure on the abdomen during the surgery from affecting her breathing and circulation.
Zhu Weidong operated the scalpel while sighing in admiration, Doctor Lin's silver needles for hemostasis are truly impressive. If you could be here for every surgery, we would have a much easier time.
Surgery requires a clear field of vision, but bleeding greatly affects this, requiring continuous flushing with saline to re-expose the area.
