Chapter 166: A Lifesaving Effort

“I’m waiting for you here!”

Zhou Can’s motivation for studying medicine differed from many others.

While many doctors pursued medicine for a decent income and social status, he was driven solely by his passion and a desire to save lives.

Every time he successfully cured a patient, easing their pain or even saving a life, he felt an immense sense of achievement.

This time, to rescue the patient in Bed 7, he had gone well beyond his official duties.

He sat quietly in the duty room, waiting for Dr. Shi to emerge.

In the meantime, he mentally reviewed the patient’s condition, pathology, diagnostic tests, and medication plans repeatedly, preparing to persuade Dr. Shi when they spoke.

During this period, doctors and nurses drifted in and out of the duty room.

Many wondered why Zhou Can was sitting there.

Later, through conversation, they learned he was determined to save the patient in Bed 7. Although some deemed his actions a bit naive, many medical staff admired his bravery and dedication.

Everyone maintained high standards, carefully avoiding any disturbance to him.

A young nurse even stole secret glances at him, her eyes filled with curiosity and warmth.

……

After over an hour, Dr. Shi finally emerged from the ward.

He looked visibly exhausted.

Caring for and rescuing critically ill patients was truly grueling.

It drained energy, stretched nerves to the limit, and kept him under constant high pressure.

“I’ll write the orders first, and then we can talk. The patient in Bed 6 is in a critical state,” he said.

Dr. Shi explained briefly before sitting down at the computer to enter the orders.

The previous patient in Bed 6 had just passed away, and the new patient’s prognosis was equally grim. Whoever said six was a lucky number clearly hadn’t worked in the ICU, where Bed 6 had almost become a death bed.

Car accident, intracranial hemorrhage, deep coma—many patients couldn’t overcome these challenges.

Even if they did, the risk of ending up in a vegetative state was high.

Once Dr. Shi finished the orders, Zhou Can quickly outlined his diagnostic reasoning.

After only a few sentences, Dr. Shi interrupted him.

“I’m pressed for time. Just give me your main line of thought and conclusion without all the details,” he said.

So, Zhou Can condensed over an hour of explanation into a brief summary.

After his rapid rundown, Dr. Shi pondered for several minutes. Gradually, his eyes brightened and set with determination.

That was good news—Dr. Shi had accepted Zhou Can’s diagnostic reasoning and conclusions.

“I’ve instructed Xiao Zhang and the nurse to collect a stool sample from the patient in Bed 7 and send it for analysis. As long as there’s any trace of parasites in his body, we’ll find it. I’ll have the lab focus on detecting parasite eggs and any larvae. Additionally, we’ll perform a detailed analysis of the stool’s components, especially testing for hormones or drugs that could cause capillary dilation,” he explained.

“Any one of these findings can serve as the basis for treatment. For now, we must wait patiently. You’re on duty tomorrow and the workload here is intense—sometimes even requiring extra hours. Get some rest, and by tomorrow you should have your answer.”

Dr. Shi was a man of direct speech.

His no-nonsense manner was reassuring.

Moreover, before leaving the ward, he had already instructed the trainee and the assisting nurse about the stool collection.

This showed that even during their first discussion, Zhou Can’s ideas had been taken seriously and thoroughly considered.

Compared to Dr. Hu’s polite evasions and reluctance to take risks or extra responsibilities, Dr. Shi earned Zhou Can’s deep respect.

It’s important to note that the trainee under Dr. Shi, Xiao Zhang, wasn’t from Zhou Can’s cohort—instead, he was an experienced resident who had already obtained his medical license and nearly completed three years of residency.

Moreover, he was a specialist in the Critical Care Department.

Many residents spend their final three or four months in their chosen departments to complete their training.

For example, those on the General Surgery rotation typically spend the last three months working in General Surgery.

This helps them adapt to their future roles.

Once they receive their medical license, they can immediately begin as qualified resident doctors.

“Alright, I’m counting on you!”

Zhou Can stood up to take his leave.

After waiting for over an hour, his wait had not been in vain.

“Oh, by the way, which type of parasite do you suspect? It’d be best if you offered a treatment suggestion,” Dr. Shi called after him.

Dr. Shi called him back.

“Personally, I think it’s most likely a worm-type parasite. If it is, I recommend using albendazole. Considering the patient’s tolerance and intestinal condition, it would be ideal if he could also take a small dose of raw tea oil,” he advised.

Zhou Can believed the parasite was of the worm type rather than a protozoan, based on several factors.

The key reason was that he thought the parasite was cunning and territorial, confined strictly to the patient’s small intestine.

Moreover, its excretions or secretions could cause capillary dilation—a trait not typically seen in protozoan parasites.

As for his medication recommendation…

His grasp of pharmacology was sound, but since he hadn’t yet obtained his medical license, he lacked prescribing authority.

Thus, he couldn’t write any prescriptions.

His medical orders were very limited.

He was essentially still an intern.

“Using raw tea oil to protect the intestines, combined with a drug that also exhibits parasiticidal effects to weaken the parasites… Your treatment suggestion is as unconventional as your diagnostic reasoning,” Dr. Shi remarked.

Dr. Shi promptly understood Zhou Can’s intention regarding medication.

No wonder he was on the fast track to becoming an Associate Chief Physician—his abilities clearly surpassed those of Dr. Hu.

……

The next day, Zhou Can arrived at the hospital for his shift, his thoughts still with the patient in Bed 7.

He wondered how the patient was faring.

“Good morning, Dr. Hu!”

Seeing Dr. Hu rush into the office, Zhou Can greeted him cheerily.

“Morning! Follow me to the Critical Care Unit—it’s time to get to work,” Dr. Hu replied.

Dr. Hu made no mention of last night’s incident.

Adults often offer polite reassurances in person and then quickly move on.

Fortunately, Zhou Can had already found a breakthrough from Dr. Shi’s side the previous night.

Trailing behind Dr. Hu, he entered the ICU for the handover.

Yesterday afternoon, Dr. Shi and resident Xiao Zhang had completed the shift handover. This morning, however, a new doctor took over.

Due to the ICU’s high workload, doctors typically work three shifts.

Nurses, on the other hand, rotate in two shifts.

From the duty schedules, it was evident that nurses had it considerably easier than doctors.

This isn’t to belittle nurses—in critical situations, doctors bear the brunt of the pressure, while nurses face far less.

Most tasks here involve patient care and medication.

In many cases, even dressing changes for ICU patients are handled by doctors themselves.

“Dr. Hu is here!”

A group of young doctors managing several beds greeted Dr. Hu cheerfully.

Even casual greetings among doctors can hint at their rank or status.

One young doctor, around thirty-one or thirty-two, still appeared remarkably youthful.

Whether he had been promoted to Attending Doctor was uncertain.

Some doctors are promoted to Attending as early as 31—like Dr. Shan in Orthopedics.

“How are the patients doing on these beds?”

Dr. Hu began checking the monitors at each bedside.

“The car accident patient in Bed 6 experienced several critical episodes—Director Liu had to assist multiple times. Meanwhile, the gastrointestinal bleeding patient in Bed 7 has been treated with medication and seems to be improving. The patient in Bed 8, though running a slight fever, is generally stable,”

the young doctor reported the conditions of three patients.

It was a routine handover.

When Dr. Hu heard that the Bed 7 patient had been given medication, his face darkened slightly. Instead of immediately checking the patient, he shot Zhou Can a resentful look.

There was an unmistakable note of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

Zhou Can pretended not to notice.

Damn it—all he had done was report immediately last night, but Dr. Hu, unwilling to take responsibility, had mumbled a string of excuses before hanging up.

With the patient’s condition so critical, any delay—even a single night—would have worsened his state.

Now he was blaming Zhou Can for secretly colluding with another doctor. No wonder Zhou Can kept a poker face.

“Dr. Zhou, you’re quite impatient! Did you call other doctors again last night?” Dr. Hu remarked sarcastically.

His tone dripped with irony.

“I was worried that any further delay would harm the patient, so I quickly ran to see Dr. Shi,” Zhou Can explained cautiously, unable to feign ignorance.

“Administering the medication so quickly—Dr. Shi is really bold. The patient’s condition was already dire. If the medication isn’t used cautiously and something goes wrong, what then?”

Dr. Hu scolded both Zhou Can and Dr. Shi as he approached the patient’s bed to assess his condition.

The patient’s complexion was even paler. His limbs felt icy to the touch.

His breathing remained relatively stable.

No other signs of improvement were apparent at that time.

At that moment, a middle-aged doctor, appearing to be around forty-seven or forty-eight, approached.

“Good morning, Director Liu!”

Dr. Hu forced a smile as he greeted him.

The young doctor also greeted him respectfully.

Director Liu nodded, then turned his kindly gaze towards Zhou Can.

“You must be Zhou Can, right? From Biquge?”

“Yes, I am!”

Facing a Chief Physician, Zhou Can dared not show any disrespect.

Whether they were department heads, chiefs, or associate chiefs, everyone deserved respect.

After all, they had all risen through the ranks on merit.

“Dr. Shi mentioned during yesterday’s handover that he had praised you highly. Upon re-examination, we did find parasite remnants and eggs in the stool of the patient in Bed 7. This is an entirely new type of worm. Considering the patient’s recent time in tropical rainforests, it’s highly likely he contracted this parasite abroad,” Director Liu explained.

Director Liu’s words allowed Zhou Can’s anxiety to finally ease.

A clear diagnosis was what mattered most.

In fact, when the experience system awarded him points yesterday, he already knew his diagnosis was correct.

However, his reasoning couldn’t serve as grounds for prescribing medication.

Now that the stool test confirmed the presence of the parasite, further treatment would be much more straightforward.

“So it turns out to be a foreign parasite—no wonder it was so peculiar,” he added.

Parasites from tropical rainforests can be truly terrifying.

Some soldiers even reported that each jungle mission felt like a full-blown battle against insects and worms.

Aside from swarms of mosquitoes that invade every crevice of exposed skin and leave behind countless bite marks, there are countless leeches that latch on, burrowing into flesh to suck blood.

In short, the very thought of these parasites was enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.

Nearby, Dr. Hu listened as Director Liu praised Zhou Can, his feelings mixed.

He hadn’t expected the parasite to actually be detected in the patient.

“This parasite is truly extraordinary. It seems to reside in the small intestine and avoids venturing into the stomach’s pylorus—presumably because stomach acid is fatal to it. However, it dies upon entering the large intestine, which remains a mystery. Also, we hardly found any larvae in the stool—only adult parasites and a few eggs,” Director Liu elaborated.

He continued to describe the parasite’s characteristics.

“I suspect that something in the large intestine prevents the parasite from entering there, confining it to the small intestine until it dies and is expelled with the stool. This is likely due to the patient’s chronically diseased colon, which impairs absorption and allows us to detect some parasite remnants that would otherwise be missed.”

“Additionally, the eggs produced by this parasite must have strong adhesive properties, clinging tightly to the small intestine wall. The eggs are extremely rare in the stool sample, and if the sample is too small, they might easily go undetected.”

The evolved capability of this parasite was indeed terrifying.

It was almost as if it were tailor-made for humans, effortlessly evading detection in the scant stool samples typically collected.

Laboratories usually test only a tiny amount of stool, while the daily volume of samples is enormous.

If one test fails to detect it, a repeat test is nearly impossible.

This only increased the likelihood that the parasite’s remnants or eggs would escape detection.

And thus, the chance of missing them grew even larger.

“Even if these characteristics alone weren’t so unusual, many parasites can evolve similar adaptive traits. The crucial point is that we detected trace amounts of a hormone in the stool that can dilate capillaries. Whether this hormone is produced by the patient or is a product of the parasite, remains to be determined.”

Director Liu, with years of experience, admitted that this was perhaps the first time he encountered such an extraordinary parasite.

“After treatment, the patient’s vital signs have stabilized. Judging by his bowel movements this morning, his gastrointestinal bleeding has clearly improved. Both Dr. Shi and I are confident in his recovery. Of course, the biggest credit belongs to you,” he said.

Director Liu looked at Zhou Can with genuine admiration.

“Your readiness to put the patient’s needs first, your relentless pursuit in diagnosing the issue, and your tireless efforts to track down the cause are not only signs of profound dedication, but also immense courage. Dr. Zhou, you did an outstanding job.”

Director Liu lavished praise on him, giving him an enthusiastic thumbs up.

“Thank you for your kind words! I was only doing what any good doctor should do,” Zhou Can replied, a bit embarrassed by all the praise.

He felt shy under all the accolades.

“Those who know me know that I’m usually quick to criticize and rarely offer compliments. I’ve even scolded Dr. Guan and Dr. Hu before,” he added.

This comment drew shy smiles from both the young doctor and Dr. Hu.

“Your solid medical foundation, unconventional diagnostic approach, and genuine compassion for your patients are remarkable. Honestly, I’d love to have you continue working in the Critical Care Department. Our team truly needs a talented young doctor like you,” Director Liu remarked.

Sweat!

After showering him with praise, the department chief began trying to recruit Zhou Can.

“Thank you for your confidence. I will work even harder during my three-month residency in Critical Care and maintain my responsible work ethic,” Zhou Can responded.

Many department chiefs had tried to recruit him before, but he had declined them all.

He had a reputation for turning down offers.

“I always knew you couldn’t be kept for long. I’m truly envious of Director Lou over in the Emergency Department! Starting tomorrow, you’ll no longer follow Dr. Hu—you’ll be under my direct supervision,” Director Liu declared.

With that single sentence, Director Liu stripped Dr. Hu of his supervising rights.

Only then did Dr. Hu realize just how sought-after Zhou Can truly was.

He couldn’t help feeling a tinge of regret. When Zhou Can was assigned to his team last night, he hadn’t taken him seriously at all.

It had been done merely for appearances.

If only Dr. Hu had taken Zhou Can’s diagnostic advice seriously when he called last night—what a difference that would have made!

Saving the patient in Bed 7 would have been a significant achievement.

It might even have led to a noteworthy paper.

Now, that great opportunity had been handed over to Dr. Shi.

Who could say there wasn’t regret in his heart?

It felt like selecting lottery numbers only to not place a bet, then watching someone else win.

The next day, the winning numbers were announced.

Dr. Hu’s mood was akin to losing a lottery.

“Thank you, Director Liu, for your guidance! When should I see you tomorrow?”

Zhou Can was overjoyed—learning from a department chief far surpassed following Dr. Hu by miles.