Chapter 4
For the first time since starting emergency care, Daeho stood up from his spot.
Swoosh.
At the same moment, Seungmin’s parents approached.
“Doctor… how is he?”
“Standing… doctor. Seungmin… he’s… okay, right?”
Seungmin’s parents looked at him anxiously, hoping for reassurance.
But Daeho couldn’t answer carelessly.
Seungmin’s condition wasn’t good.
“…….”
“Doctor? Doctor!”
Seungmin’s mother urged him for an answer, growing desperate.
Just then, the curtain fluttered as the captain appeared.
“What’s happening? Is the patient okay?”
“Captain.”
“I’m asking how he is. Huh!”
The captain let out a deep breath, clearly noticing the emergency patient.
Daeho perked up at the captain’s arrival.
All the necessary people were now present.
He first asked the middle-aged doctor to handle emergency care.
“Could you monitor the AED and oxygen supply for a moment?”
“Doctor… suddenly? Why?”
“I think we need to fully set up now.”
Though Daeho spoke metaphorically, the doctor frowned.
“Set up?”
“Emergency surgery.”
“Huh… here?”
The doctor glanced around, alarmed.
They were, after all, inside a plane.
It was an extremely inappropriate place to even mention surgery.
Daeho knew this perfectly well.
Yet his gaze was unwavering.
“Cardiac tamponade.”
“Gasp.”
The doctor went pale instantly, realizing the severity.
Daeho exhaled deeply before speaking.
“I don’t say this lightly.”
“Success rate…?”
“Almost zero.”
The doctor’s face filled with worry.
“What if it goes wrong?”
“If we just watch, the child will die.”
“Of course… I see. It’s not my call.”
“Then please, for a moment.”
Swoosh.
Daeho entrusted Seungmin to the doctor and stood.
The remaining doctor exhaled heavily.
“Cardiac tamponade in an airplane… even with an operating room assistant, this would be tricky. What is he planning?”
Daeho called the captain and the parents aside.
“One minute, can we talk?”
“Let’s go to the galley. This way.”
Step, step.
The captain, understanding the seriousness, guided them quickly.
Soon, the four of them were inside the galley.
Thud.
With the curtain blocking outside eyes, Daeho began.
“I’ll explain briefly. Mr. and Mrs. Seungmin’s father and mother.”
“I’m Kim Hyunseok. My wife is Park Yuseon.”
“I’m Richard Choi. Please stay calm and listen.”
Daeho tried to calm the parents first.
Kim Hyunseok and Park Yuseon immediately held each other’s hands tightly.
Squeeze!
Then Kim Hyunseok spoke.
“Go ahead. Tell us.”
“The reason Seungmin kept vomiting is what caused this situation.”
“What… really?”
Kim Hyunseok looked shocked.
Daeho quickly continued before misunderstanding could grow.
“Children often can’t express their pain clearly.”
“Even so… as parents…”
“The only way they show it is through crying. Stress on the plane, a nail stuck, a fall… they cry. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s true, but…”
Kim Hyunseok hesitated to admit it.
Daeho spoke firmly.
“You two cared for this child without ever losing patience. I saw it.”
“…….”
“I repeat, you never ignored Seungmin’s pain. You observed and nurtured him more than anyone else could.”
“Phew… understood. But…”
Kim Hyunseok remained rational, trying to focus and ask why they were gathered.
“Hmm.”
Park Yuseon’s face was tear-stained, but she held herself together.
Daeho felt less burdened to speak, knowing the parents were reasonable.
“So I need to be direct. We don’t have much time.”
“What is it exactly?”
“Seungmin’s hypotensive shock has worsened, leading to cardiac tamponade.”
Daeho explained concisely.
It was simplified to the extreme, making full understanding difficult.
Then Kim Hyunseok’s expression turned cold.
“Doctor… cardiac tamponade? What does that mean?”
“Since you seem to understand, I’ll refrain from further details.”
“No! Tell me what this means!”
He grabbed Daeho’s collar in anger.
His eyes were red and bloodshot.
Tears could fall any second.
Then unexpectedly, Park Yuseon stepped forward, dabbing her own tears.
“Honey… stop…”
“Stop what?”
“Let go of his hand… would this help Seungmin?”
Kim Hyunseok forced himself to calm down and released Daeho.
Park Yuseon stepped closer, looking Daeho in the eyes.
“So… doctor… what should we do now?”
The captain, previously silent, joined with a serious face.
“Yes, doctor. What’s your insight?”
“Seungmin has two options: emergency landing or emergency surgery.”
“I’ll request the nearest airport for an emergency landing immediately.”
The captain made the ideal decision quickly.
But Daeho’s next words complicated things.
“During landing, emergency care will be difficult. Any severe impact could cause cardiac arrest, and it would be irreversible.”
“What about surgery?”
“Honestly… in a hospital, I would be confident. Here, the maximum success is about 20%.”
“20%?” The captain exhaled heavily, unable to decide.
The decision rested with Seungmin’s parents.
Park Yuseon showed resolve.
“If we don’t operate?”
“Very difficult.”
“If we do?”
“Like I said, I believe Seungmin’s will to live is strong, just like the hand clutching the lollipop.”
Daeho answered politely, yet firmly.
Death.
At that word, Park Yuseon’s composure faltered.
She trembled slightly.
“Doctor… can you perform emergency surgery here?”
“This is my first plane surgery too. But it’s more like advanced emergency care than full surgery.”
“Emergency… care?”
“The truth is, if we don’t act now…”
Before Daeho could elaborate, Park Yuseon made the decision.
“Do it. Surgery.”
“Are you sure? A stranger, limited environment…”
“If we don’t, our child won’t survive.”
“Regrettably, that’s correct.”
“If there’s a chance to live, we must try. He will survive.”
Her gaze was unwavering.
Kim Hyunseok, having recovered from panic, added,
“We agree. He will survive. Please, I beg you.”
Bow.
Kim Hyunseok bowed deeply, trembling.
Even the strongest parents can falter before a child’s life—but they did not retract their decision.
Daeho felt captivated by their strength.
‘Incredible… they’re parents.’
Even if reckless, their resolve was unshakable.
With the surgery decision made, preparations moved quickly.
“Move the patient to the galley!”
“Bring everything needed, especially saline.”
“Careful! Don’t shake him!”
Step, step.
Flight attendants ran to assist.
Meanwhile, passengers were confused, having little information.
“What’s happening?”
“Are they continuing the flight?”
“They’re moving him out of sight… is something wrong?”
Curiosity and worry grew, but no one knew the details.
Meanwhile, Daeho entered the business area with the captain.
“Please keep the plane at the lowest safe altitude.”
“Understood. We’ll maintain that.”
“The pressure difference is critical for this surgery.”
“Got it. Good luck.”
Step, step.
The captain’s back looked heavy as he returned to the cockpit.
Daeho pulled a special emergency surgery kit from a carry-on.
‘Please…’
He gripped it tightly and turned back.
Entering the galley, Seungmin lay properly with the AED attached.
The middle-aged doctor waited, sweating.
“His condition worsened. We need to act fast.”
“Let’s set up first.”
Snap.
Daeho quickly unfolded the emergency kit.
It contained basic surgical tools, gloves, and disinfectants in small bottles—just what was needed for this urgent moment.
There was no time to admire the kit.
Seungmin’s breathing changed strangely.
Even with the portable oxygen, his breathing was weak.
His heart was struggling against cardiac tamponade.
‘No time.’
If the heart stops, it’s too late.
Something had to be done now.
The plane tilted downward slightly, and the captain’s voice came.
The drop in altitude was felt throughout the plane.
Two female attendants quickly joined the doctors.
“Tell us what you need.”
“We can help too.”
Everyone focused on one thing: helping the patient, this small life, in any way they could.
