Warm Heart

Surgeon Anon

 

 

The cold water splashes on your hands, rinsing all the waste and grime from your day. The stale, blue walls felt gloomy, deathly even. Looking down at your hands, you think of all the things they've been through. Collapsed tracheas, replaced joints and ligaments; the hands of a surgeon see no ends to the blood and pain. You splash the water on your face, letting the cold consume it. Reaching out, you grab a towel from the rack and dry your face. The feeling of the warm cloth brings a soothing touch upon it.

 

As you leave the room, you look over at the empty examination table. Only a few moments ago you sent. It was only a matter of time until the table had another. You close the door behind you and head to the next patient’s room. Grabbing the clipboard, you read the details and sigh in vexation. Nurse Redheart had written all the information in red ink again. As much as you loved that mare’s determination and hard work, nothing pushed your buttons more than having something important written in any color other than black or blue. It was something you would have to address at the end of the day.

 

Opening the door, you lay eyes on three ponies. A big, red stallion sits next to Applejack, both looking at you with great concern. The one who grabs your attention is the older green mare sitting on the examination table, glaring daggers at the others. Shrugging it off, you sit down next to her on the small stool at your desk. Everything was in neat order, not a paper out of place. Grabbing your quill, you ready yourself for the headache ahead.

 

“How are you all doing today?”

 

An awkward silence fills the room as your question ends. The two younger ponies stare at each other as the older one continues to glare at them. You decide to try and break this meaningless staredown.

 

“Might I ask who you two are?”

 

The orange mare looks at you as if she were rescued by her prince in shining armor. The red stallion looks down to the ground, not able to look at the older mare directly. His eyes look up to check if her glare has ended only to drop back down to the floor out of fear.

 

“My name is Applejack and this here is my brother, Big Macintosh. We’re Granny Smith’s grandchildren.” As if you didn’t know who she was, being the element of Honesty and all. The ruckus her and the other five caused around the town was kind of hard to ignore. You only asked to kill the tension in the room. However, it doesn’t seem to be working.

 

Big Macintosh was beginning to sweat bullets as her eyes stabbed him to death. Grabbing your folder, you remove all the x-ray films and spread them neatly across the desk. Looking back at your clipboard, you go over the details once again.

 

“According to this, you are in for a hip transplant, Mrs. Smith.” She rears her head to you with a pissed look still on her face.

 

“Well, I say I don’t need this newfangled hip! We have too much ta do on the fields and not enough time! It’ll be zap apple harvest in just a few days!” She slowly drops down from the examination table and brings her face to the two ponies. “And I told ya’ll that we need to worry about that first rather than my dang hip!”

 

Applejack lowers her hat and covers her face, avoiding any eye contact with her. Big Macintosh fixes his eyes on the suddenly interesting blue ceiling, whistling a tune. She makes her way back to the table and attempts to lift herself up. Big Macintosh moves from his chair in an attempt to help her back up, only to be slapped on the hoof. She struggles for about a minute, trying to lift her legs that fight against her. Looking down at the x-rays, you examine her ball and socket joints and reread the clipboard for the final time.

 

“Mrs. Smith, according to this, you’ve been feeling excruciating pain in your hips and upper thighs. Is this correct?”

 

She looks at you as if you’re crazy or just plain stupid.

 

“Of course that’s correct! But there are more important matters th-”

 

You interrupt her by raising your hand. Grabbing the x-ray films, you stand up and place them on the backlit whiteboard. Pointing at the femoral ball, you show the damages.

 

“Listen, the more important matter here is that if we don’t get this surgery done soon, as in by tomorrow, you won’t be able to use your back legs any more. I’m pretty sure some apples can wait until after the surgery.”

 

She grows angrier, crossing her forelegs and glaring at you.

 

“Zap apples only come once a year for five days. Then they disappear until the next harvest. They’re not like regular apples, they’re magic.”

 

You were growing impatient with this now. As much as she loved working, she had to get this surgery or she’d be in deep shit. Putting back the films back neatly on top of the desk, you sit on the corner of the desk right in front of her. Putting on the most serious face, you look her in the eyes. She begins to blush from the sudden aggressiveness and averts her eyes.

 

“Listen to me. Better yet, listen to reason. You NEED this surgery. It’s not optional. It’s not something that you can put off until next week. It needs to be done. Now. And I’m not going to let a patient of mine lose their function to walk for the sake of a few apples.” You turn to Applejack and Big Macintosh. “Is there no one who can cover her spot while she’s being tended to?”

 

Applejack looks down at the ground, deep in thought. Her eyes follow the grout lines around the tiles as if she was trying to find an answer at the end of them. The silent Big Macintosh is the one to speak up this time.

 

“Applebloom.”

 

Applejack’s eyes widen as if she had found the end of all her troubles. She quickly perks her head back up and looks to Big Macintosh. Wrapping her forelegs around him, she entangles him in a bear hug.

 

“Big Mac, yer a genius! Granny taught everything to Applebloom last season! She could take the jam making into her hooves and Granny can get her surgery done!”

 

She releases her grip and Big Mac takes in a deep breath. That mare must have some powerful legs to take the breath away from such a big stallion. Granny Smith puts a hoof to her chin and thinks for a moment.

 

“Well, I suppose she could until I come back. How long will I need ta stay here Doc?”

 

Looking back at the x-rays, you skim the details.

 

“About a week or two if everything goes well with the surgery.” Everypony looks at each other, excited to hear the good news. They begin to plan out the next few days among each other as you patiently wait to get the rest of the details needed for the surgery.

 

Hopping of the desk, you walk around back to your seat. As you sit back down, you look over to the cup of pencils on your desk and instantly grow annoyed. Nurse Redheart left a single red pencil in the cup of yellow ones. You stare at it, growing even more disturbed as its mere presence mocks you. Grabbing the red pencil, you throw it into your drawer along with the other office supplies.

 

“Are you okay, Doc?” You look up to see Applejack’s face looking deeply concerned. Sweat was dripping from your brow like a river and your mouth was twitching. A surgeon should not be looking like this, especially in front of their patient. Grabbing the handkerchief from your jacket pocket, you wipe the sweat away and calm yourself.

 

“My apologies. Back on topic now!” You clap your hands and look at them all. “Any questions about the surgery?” They look at each other and then back to you, shaking their heads. “Alright, Mrs. Smith, please be punctual. The surgery will start at tomorrow at noon. You’ll have to stay overnight so we don’t stress the joint any more.”

 

After having a nurse escort Granny Smith to her bedroom and the two grandchildren leave, you head for the all-familiar sink. Picking up the bar of hoof soap, you lather it into a fine coat onto your hands. The cold water splashes on fingertips as you rinse it off. There was one last patient that had to be seen. A special case, if you will, and one of your favorite patients.

 

        Drying off you hands, you look at the examination table. The paper on top of it was partially bent on the corner. You quickly grab the sheet and roll it out, tearing the bent corner. Looking around the room, everything seems in neat order and to your liking.

 

        You exit out of the room and make way to room 203. Grabbing the clipboard from the door, you look at the details. This was the room of the little filly unicorn, Starlight. As you enter, her face lights up. Taking a seat on the chair next to the bed, you place the clipboard on the edge of the bed. Starlight lays herself down next to you and smiles.

 

        “Hi Dr. Anonymous! How are you doing?”

 

        You return the warm smile and look into her eyes.

 

        “I’m doing fine. How about you? Still getting headaches?”

 

        She nods, rubbing the side of her head. Starlight was constantly getting headaches, much like unicorn fillies of her age. This was normal with most unicorns, but something about her seemed off. She didn’t get random spurts of magic and her headaches were severe. Taking her in and monitoring her was the best option at this point. Her parents came to visit her, but paying off the medical bills wasn’t exactly a cheap route. They were constantly working to ensure that their daughter would be okay.

 

        Looking back at the clipboard, you notice a detail written in by Nurse Coldheart. Finally somepony who knew how to properly use  red ink. It looked like she had scheduled a MAT, or a Magicked Axial Tomography scan. It was the same thing as a CAT scan, but run by unicorn magic instead. With this, it should determine whether she was just going through a growing phase or if she had a condition of some sorts.

 

        You place the clipboard down on the bed and grab her hoof.

 

        “Listen, I know this is a lot for you, but rest assured, I will take care of you.”

 

        She smiles and shakes her head.

 

        “Dr. Anonymous, I know that already. I have nothing to worry about. You’re the best doctor ever.” You give off a small chuckle and reach into your pocket. Grabbing a piece of candy, you hand it to her. She giggles as she pops it into her mouth. You both continue to talk, telling each other stories of your outside life. She would tell you how the fillies and colts at school kept sending her cards and some would come to visit her during the afternoons.

 

“I wish I wasn’t different, though. I wish I could be like the other fillies and colts and just go to school and come home right after. I wish I could play with my friends and go to the park and swing on the swings. I hate being sick.” Hearing that brings an ache to your heart. Her face goes completely sour after letting out her frustration. You lower your head down and look her in the eyes.

 

“Listen, I know this is hard for you. You shouldn’t be going through something like this at such a young age. But trust me, I will make sure you get better.”

 

She smiles and jumps down from the bed. Leaping onto your lap, she wraps her forelegs around your neck and embraces a hug. “You’re the best doctor ever.”

 

        The door to the room opens slowly. Starlight’s parents walk into the room as she jumps from your lap. They scoop her up and hug her. Her father places her on his back and walks back to the bed as her mother walks to you.

 

        “Is everything alright?”

 

        You shake your head and chuckle. “Just mending the heart, if you will.” She gives you a faint smile which quickly fades away.

 

        “Any news about whether she’s okay or not?” You grab the clipboard and show her the appointment.

 

        “She just has to get this scan done. It should determine whether my theory of a tumor is right or not.” Her mother gives a long, hollow sigh. This kind of news had to be a horrible toll on a parent. Awaiting results of the test would be quick, but the wait until then would not be. You place a hand on her shoulder and give her a smile.

 

        “Listen, I will take care of her, no matter what. Don’t you worry.” A small smile forms on her face. Hopefully it put some ease on her heart.

 

        “I’ll let you be now. I have to take care of a few things and I’d presume you would like some time to spend with your daughter.” She gives a single nod as you head out. A familiar squeaky voice stops you before you leave.

 

        “Dr. Anonymous? Thank you for everything. You have a warm heart and nothing bad ever happens to ponies like that!” You turn to her and give her a gentle smile. A child so naive was such a refreshing thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Notes to go by

 

//Ohh that's simple. well way before tools are sterilized and autoclaved. Main tools are MEchanical cutters, suction tips, sealing devices, irrigation needles, scopes and probes, ultrasound, and measurement devices.For the sealing perhaps Anon can specialize in suturing since ponies can't really into that, whereas ponies would probably use staplers, save for unicorns. As for procedure the scalpel is used first mainly to line things out and cut the top layer of the skin. Everything else is used with a cautery to prevent internal bleeding. And for an omnivore Anon might find the smell very nice where as assistant ponies might find it repulsive. You don't really need scopes for anything away from most smooth muscles, ultrasound is used for everything else mostly, or perhaps X-ray or both. Probably only x-ray if it's just a bone fracture and you need to drill in a steel plating.

 

Ohh, also before the operation we insert a 3 inch needle into the spine which is connected to the smallest catheter you've ever seen. And we feed it with anesthetics every 10-15 mins. to keep the patient knocked out. After the operation we will give the patient frequent doses of morphine not exceeding 40 ml a day. It's usually mixed in with dextrose or sodium chloride in a soluset or something. Also the patient must have a catheter because they have to stay in bed or the sutures might tear open.

 

Digoxin: Used to bring a revitalize a patient in the event of cardiac arrest.//