Chapter 1
" Cindy after work today, I need to drop off our contributions for the children's shelter for their upcoming Christmas party. We have been invited again. I have told the Executive Director, we won't be going again. He wants us to get recognition. He feels we should allow the press to know we are behind the party."
" I know, but no one needs to know it's us. Thank you for going for us. My surgeries today will be going long today. I am working on the fire victims. To me, that is more important."
We kissed one another before we leave the garages for our jobs. I am a plastic surgeon who has several clinics in California and in Arizona. My wife is a lawyer who has many employees who work for her. As I make my way to the hospital, I am praying and listening to Christmas music on my satellite radio. The traffic with the rain today is making my drive longer to arrive at the hospital. There is a vehicle accident. All the traffic comes to a stand still. I push the window on the driver side down in my green Porsche to ask the officer what is wrong.
" Good morning, Dr. Ruiz. We need your medical expertise to help some of the victims who are waiting for ambulances to arrive. Please park and come with me."
I push the window up in my car and park my car. I get my medical bag from my front seat and replace my gloves with purple surgical gloves. I exit my Porsche with my medical bag and lock my door. I make my way with my umbrella over to the area. Fire fighters are putting out several fires. The rain is helping a little bit. We all make our way to the area that they have made for the victims to stay dry underneath a opened tent. I am not the only doctor. It's chaos in there. I go to one burned victim and remove my coat. I hand Lisa my coat with my cellphone, purse, and umbrella.
I called the hospital to informdon't know how long. I ask them to see if someone can start them for me.
I make my eat to the tent. I put my purple surgical gloves on. I leave my coat and purse with my wet umbrella on a chair. I make my way to a lady who a nurse says needs my help. I make my way to her.
I assess the lady. She is a mess. I identify myself and tell her I will be the intermediate doctor who will work on stop the bleeding for now until an ambulance arrives and the paramedics will drive to her a hospital. We hear many sirens. I tell her I know she is in pain. I read the paperwork on her. I ask her for some clarification. I don't want to inject her with a medicine that will cause more harm or even death. I remove the coat with my scissors little by little. This poor lady is in pain. There is nothing I can do for her until I get her coat off of her. Once it is off of her with some help, I cut her top of the injured areas to access the damage. It's is bad. I ask for some water to clean the wounds. In the meantime, I clean an area to inject her with pain medication. She is crying bloody murder because she is in so much pain. She tells me her two children in her van didn't survive. I tell her I am truly sorry for her loss. She tells me that someone notified her husband. He is on his way. I started using the water to clean the debris on her. I place ointment on her that is provided as well as gauze bandages on her right arm. Once I am done, the parademics arrive. I tell them she has tthird-degreeburns. I tell her she will be taken to a hospital for further help.
" I will say a prayer for you and your family." " God bless you, and thank you."
I smile as they take her away. I work on several more of cuts, and bruises. Each time replacing my gloves. My scrubs are bloody. I am glad I had the foresight to wear my maroon scrubs rather than my own clothes today with my white shoes. I wash my hands and arms and then ask for my umbrella. I don't want to wear my coat. I unlock my door. I toss my medical bag, coat, and purse on the front seat. I close my umbrella and place it in my back of me seat, then get in. I start my vehicle again. I drive towards the hospital. I am thirty-five or so minutes away. I exit my vehicle and grab my bags, coat and umbrella. I lock my car. I make my way into the hospital so I can change and scrub in. I see who is next for me to operate on. They did only one surgery. My medical team is waiting for me to arrive. Each has their own medical team that works with them.
I do two surgeries and wash up. I change again and go check on my patients. Once I am done, I leave to have lunch at a nearby restaurant to relax some before my next two surgeries. I don't order any alcohol beverage as I need to be alcohol free to do my surgeries. My lunch is over. I finally arrived two hours later to start the process all over again. I finally leave after 6 pm. My wife texted me to see what time I will be home. On the way home, I call her. I updated her on my day. She says she was told by one of the deputies at the court house that I was helping out with the vehicle accident. I tell her I will be home in about twenty-five minutes pending on traffic. She asks me if anyone else is coming. I tell her just me. She says she made extra, not knowing if anyone else would be joining us. I tell her no, only me. I am tired and glad it is my Friday. It's the beginning of my vacation until after the new year. I am listening to my car stereo and singing silent night and various other Christmas songs. I finally arrived home. I park my car and retrieve my stuff. I am tired more than usual. I was expecting to start my day off working on strangers.
