The Cardiothocric Surgeons
Chapter 2
The Baby Boomer Generation
Ava steps out of the elevator after being paged to help with the horrendous bus versus semi accident in the ED. A first year surgical resident came running to catch up with her.
"Oh Dr. Bekker! You're late for a consult in room 214," he says with a smile.
"Remember Dr. Sørenski, this is a hospital the critical patients come first and an attending is never late," Ava reprimands him.
"Yes Doctor."
"This better be the only consult today; I'm waiting for the Medvac to bring in a heart," she sighs while they walk to the consult hallway.
"Yes it is. Here's the file," he tries to smile at her even though she terrifies him.
"Thank you, come listen in."
They reach the room and Ava knocks a few times before they enter it seeing two older women, both dressed for Saturday brunch.
"Hello there, my name's Dr. Bekker," she extends a hand to the both of them.
"June," says the one with the blue cardigan, "and this is my sister Janice." June gestures over to the lady wearing large cat earrings and a matching broach.
"I'm Dr. Sørenski it is so great to meet you ladies."
"Oh, how do you do doctor?" The two sisters became captivated by his smile and his calming presence. While they doted over the resident, Ava was focused pulling up charts trying to understand June's situation. Her history seemed to be over a mile long full of too many conditions, medications, and procedures.
Finally finding something to do with a heart, Ava began to speak, "okay, so I see here from your cardiologist that you've been experiencing chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in your left arm, along with a few other symptoms. Is that correct?"
"Yes, and it's been an absolute bear. Most days I can't even walk to Cynthia's house next door for tea and I've missed so many Sunday masses, who knows what the congregation thinks of me: a heathen!" She started to tear up thinking about how much she's changed.
Janice grabbed her hand and assured her, "oh no June! God knows the truth from up above. Just keep up with Mary's rosary."
"Okay," Ava tried to redirect the conversation, "well we'll see if we can help you out. Your doctor says the beta blockers and blood thinners then the angioplasty haven't been working so he ran some tests?"
"Oh my Lord they were terrifying! Hearing my own heart beat, it was disturbing." June gasped, the tears continued rolling down her face.
"I agree June. It's just not right, suppress and disguise I say."
The doctors didn't know how to handle the old ladies. "Sure? So the problem is that the blood vessels that support your heart are sort of clogged. So we have to open your chest…"
Janice interrupts her, "okay I give up what accent is it? French, no Irish!"
"South African. Like I said we'll open your chest and rearrange some things to bypass a couple sections of your heart. There's just a few things I'd like to check before hand, may I?"
June nodded and Ava took out her stethoscope placing it under the woman's blouse.
"Dr. Sørenski?"
He took over listing.
"I can hear it, but I think we should do an echocardiogram to get a better look," Dr. Sørenski's voice wavered and he instantly regretted it.
"Good," Ava responded in approval.
He let let a breath he didn't realize he was holding and pulled out the equipment from he cart.
"Mrs. McKay is it alright if I use an ultrasound? It won't hurt."
Before June could reply Janice butt in, "Now wait a minute, I've read in the magazines that these new technology who-haws are used for tracking devices. June you could be followed!"
"Don't be berserk Janice, I trust the young doctor," she turns to see his confused face, "go ahead sir."
He directs the device across her chest, focused on finding the defected vasculature but Ava can tell he has no clue what's happening on the monitor.
"It's right there," she points.
"Ah yes, thank you Dr. Bekker," he sighs in embarrassment.
"So I have to agree with your cardiologist, you'll need the surgery soon. I think I can do it next week; You'll have to talk to my receptionist when you leave for the exact time," Ava declares.
"Hold on, Dr. Sørenski is performing it correct?" June gazes over at him with a wide, endearing smile.
"No, he is a resident with no experience. He will watch."
"Okay, then when can we meet the surgeon? I hope he's an Oriental or a Jew; they make the most wonderful doctors!" Janice exclaims with gee.
"Oh they do, they really do!" June grins in agreement at her sister.
"Excuse me?" Ava's face was cold.
"Sorry, don't worry dearie you're a very dedicated nurse. I admire that."
"I'll have you know that I am an experienced, attending cardiothoracic surgeon." Ava spat.
The McKay sisters laugh, "That is really sweet darling, but when is the real doctor getting here?"
"Dr. Bekker is one of the best at bypass surgeries in this hospital," Dr. Sørenski tries to use his leverage with them.
"I'm sure she is. We'll take someone else though. It's no offense to you, but I don't agree with the new millennial thought processes on women. We are here to assist our men. You'll learn this someday Ms. Bekker. And don't even get me started on your immigration status," June giggles.
"I will page someone else for you, " Ava remarks than storms out of the room, down the hall, and into the on call room, fuming with anger.
"Hey hey hey! What happened to you?" Connor laughs.
"You wouldn't understand."
"What's going on Ave?" He gets up and stops her from pacing.
"I hate fucking sexist, racist bigots!"
"I'll hit him! Which room?" Connor is about to run out of the room for her.
"Stop, I don't need a big, strong man to go fix my problem," she calapses on the couch in frustration.
"Hell you won't. No one should treat you like that where is he?" Connor is now steaming upset that anyone had the nerve to upset his girl.
"'He's' two old stubborn woman. Why the fuck do you not want anther women to succeed? She said the resident was better than me, a first year resident! Oh no I couldn't possibly have a doctorate degree! I'm just this bottom class female immigrant to her."
"That's shit."
"One of them said our role was to support a men."
"I'm so sorry. What can I do. Hitting a couple old women is not below my morals." He takes her hands in his own as he sits next to her.
"No, anything but that. She does request someone else preferably a jewish 'oriental' man."
"I'll go for you."
"Thank you," she gets up to leave but he grabs her arm.
"Where are you going?"
"I've got that transplant."
"Oh please, a woman can't lead a team of nine in a pediatric orthotopic heart transplant with valve resizing, can she?" Connor jokes.
"You know I hate you right?"
"What? Too much too soon? Got it. I'm gonna go deal with the bigot in 214."
"Have fun," she moves to kiss his cheek but he turns his head and she kisses his lips instead.
"I'll text ya Ave," Connor shouts down the hallway as they separate.
xxx
"Mrs McKay, if you're expecting to get treatment here than you must start by never speaking to Dr. Bekker or hell any woman that way ever again. It was profane and absurd."
xxx
(texts later that night)
C: Hey
A: Hi
C: I hope you didn't let them get to you.
A: Never.
C: Good. One day all of that generation will be dead. In the meanwhile keep your head up high to show the kids below us what's right.
A: Okay.
C: You already have.
A: Thank you for everything.
C: Anytime.
A: By the way, please tell me you gave the McKays hell.
C: Oh you know I did Avey.
A: Thank God, good night c
C: I'll see ya tomorrow Ave:)